Alex Crichton

A new sports festival is coming to Monroe County  later this summer.

County officials announced the inaugural “Amerks Street HockeyFest" for kids will be held August 25th.

Amerks Hall of Famer Jody Gage says he's excited to have the tournament come to Rochester. 

He says he probably played ten or twenty times more street hockey than ice hockey as a kid.

The long, hot summer continues, and more people are trying to cool off at area beaches, lakes, and swimming pools.

Health officials are advising they get the facts to prevent drowning -- the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury death according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Dr. Sandra Schneider is professor of emergency medicine at Strong Memorial Hospital. She says, first and foremost, young children need to be watched at all times when they're in or near the water.

Paychex CEO Martin Mucci says the company achieved solid results in fiscal 2012.

During the company's first ever Investor Day Wednesday, he outlined past accomplishments and where the company is headed.

Mucci said Paychex is focused on top-line growth, as it has been since he took over leadership of the company about a year and a half ago.

Mucci says in fiscal 2012, Paychex reported a record high total service revenue of $2.2-billion.

Tuesday's high temperature hit 97 degrees topping the record of 95 degrees set in 1900.

The city has announced a Heat Emergency is in effect, in conjunction with the Cool Sweep Program.

Select city branch library locations will also serve as cooling centers.

You'll find more information and Cool Sweep locations here.

The American Hockey League was founded in 1936, but the league is using 21st century technology to connect with its fans and gain new ones.

Rochester is hosting the annual marketing meetings for the AHL this week.

David Andrews, League President and CEO, says the meetings bring people from the business side of the sport with league executives and industry experts to discuss best practices and innovative ideas.

Mayor Tom Richards has declared a Cool Sweep Heat Emergency is in effect for Friday, with temperatures expected over 90 degrees.

Several city branch library locations will also serve as cooling centers today.

Here's a link to the city's Cool Sweep program and locations.

The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at the Rochester Institute of Technology is awarding grants around the state to implement programs that will raise awareness about pollution prevention.

The aim is to establish prevention practices and at a local level.

WXXI’s Alex Crichton spoke with Anahita Williamson, Director of the Pollution Prevention Institute, during Morning Edition on WXXI-AM 1370 Thursday.

Click on the audio player above to listen to the interview.

Operation Cool Sweep is back on again.

With temperatures reaching well into the 80s, the city is enacting its program designed to help residents who have limited opportunities to find relief from the summer heat.

That includes spray parks, Cool Sweep hydrant locations, city swimming pools, extended hours at Durand Eastman Beach, and if the temperature exceeds 90, air-conditioned city library branches will be available as cooling centers.

The city’s list of cool sweep resources can be found here.

Another hot day in Rochester, and another Cool Sweep is in effect.

With temperatures expected in the 90s, the city is putting the program into operation that is designed to help residents who may have limited opportunities to find relief from the heat.

Here's a link to the city's website and Cool Sweep locations: http://www.cityofrochester.gov/coolsweep/

Kodak says a bankruptcy court has approved an auction of its imaging patent portfolios over the objections of Apple and FlashPoint Technologies, giving the photography pioneer clarity on ownership claims.

The company announced a year ago it was looking to turn 1,100 digital imaging patents into ready money.  The patents then represented about 10 percent of Kodak's total portfolio.

Analyst George Conboy with Brighton Securities says the sale of its patents is essential for the company to meet obligations and eventually emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.