Rochester
Morning News
Friday, February 20th, 2026
Good morning, Rochester. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 20th of February.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Urban League of Rochester president Seanelle Hawkins honored Jesse Jackson’s 60-year civil rights legacy during a Zoom call with ARC Rochester, sharing how his passing sparked thousands of tributes nationwide. Her remarks underscore the lasting impact of his work on local and national communities. FOX Rochester
- ➤ The City is inviting vendors for International Plaza’s 2026 season, running May through October with events including an Opening Ceremony on May 3 and a Mother’s Day Celebration on May 10. An interest session will be held in person Friday from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Ibero Action Development Corporation Offices. News 10
- ➤ The City of Rochester is hosting the fifth annual ROC Youth Community Resource and Employment Fair at East High School on Saturday, Feb. 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. The event will offer job opportunities, financial wellness advice, and voter registration for young people aged 14 to 21. News 10
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Tarshia Shanai Franklin, owner of Sky High Society—one of the top-ranked travel agencies—explained that a cancelled girls’ trip sparked her journey to help hundreds explore destinations during her interview on Connections with Evan Dawson on Feb. 18. Her conversation is part of a Black History Month series spotlighting local entrepreneurs. WXXI News
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Buildings in downtown Rochester will glow green tonight to celebrate the Broadway musical Wicked’s return. The event is coordinated by the Rochester Broadway Theatre League — working with the city and local development groups — and the lights will stay green through March 1. Democrat & Chronicle
- ➤ New York museums dominated USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The Rochester Museum and Science Center’s Strasenburgh Planetarium placed seventh among planetariums, highlighting state diversity in museum excellence. Democrat & Chronicle
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Local RIT professor Ashique KhudaBukhsh and his team tested five AI chatbots using a method called HAUNT (Hallucination Audit Under Nudge Trial) to see if they maintained truth under user pressure. Their study revealed that models like Gemini and DeepSeek provided false responses more readily than Claude. WXXI News
- ➤ Yesterday, the 'Connections with Evan Dawson' livestream on WXXI News featured ROC the Future Alliance assessing local youth wellbeing — highlighting federal challenges for families and a school cell phone ban. Students from Fairport High, Brighton, Pittsford Sutherland and Greece Arcadia shared their experiences. WXXI News
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Water levels and lingering ice below Main Street Bridge suggest that the Genesee River could form ice jams — a potential flood risk — as temperatures warm. Experts say rain, melting snow and ice breakup may lead to local flooding downtown. News 10
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ City officials announced that Rochester will get $2 million in state funding today for a Daniel's Law pilot program to help the Person In Crisis team hire peer navigators for follow-up calls. Similar funding will be provided to Nassau and Jefferson counties & expand services. NewsRadio WHAM
- ➤ The New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection warned recently engaged New Yorkers to beware of wedding scams—citing risks from fake vendors and too-good-to-be-true online offers—and advised couples to carefully review contracts to secure their payments. Democrat & Chronicle
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Weight Watchers Med+ now offers Novo Nordisk's new Wegovy pill, the first FDA-approved oral GLP-1 for weight loss. Rochester residents can get a 30-day supply at $149 per month until Wednesday, Apr. 15 after a licensed clinician's consultation. Democrat & Chronicle
- ➤ A recent study shows colorectal cancer has become the leading cancer cause of death for young men and the second for young women (with high risks for those with a family history); experts advise starting screenings at 45 or earlier for high-risk patients. WXXI News
- ➤ A doctor at Rochester General Hospital who also serves on the Bristol Mountain Ski Patrol advises skiers to stay fit and consult their primary care doctor to manage the strain skiing puts on knees, hips, and back. His advice helps skiers build strength for safer runs. News 10
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Pittsford native Chris Lillis will compete in the aerial freestyle ski qualifiers today at Bristol Mountain. A watch party+ will welcome fans with doors opening at 7 a.m.+ to support his journey. News 10
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Seven Wonders - A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac
7:30-11:30 p.m. — The Theater At Innovation Square — Tickets available — Experience the energy and legacy of Fleetwood Mac through this stunning tribute band.
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Family Chess Club
3-4 p.m. — Winton Branch Library — Free entry — Everyone from grand masters to rookies can come play and share strategies at this welcoming chess gathering.
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Rochester Speed Dating for Singles Age 31-44
6:30-8:30 p.m. — The Hideaway — Ticket required — Meet up to 12 potential matches in a fun and friendly environment.
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Electric Feels - Indie Rock and Electronic Dance Party
9-11:30 p.m. — Anthology — Tickets start at $48 — Experience an unforgettable indie rock and electronic dance party in Rochester.
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Casting Connections: Ice Fishing Edition
8:00 AM - 3:30 PM — Braddock Bay Park — Cost included — Experience a unique outdoor adventure focused on building connections through ice fishing.
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Family Chess Club
3-4 p.m. — Winton Branch Library — Free entry — Engage in chess strategy and fun for all skill levels at this family-friendly club.
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Nintendo Switch Thursday
4:00 – 5:30 PM — Winton Branch Library — Free entry — Experience gaming fun with Mario, Link, and Pokémon at this family-friendly event.
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Grease School Edition
7 p.m. — OFC Creations Theatre Center — Ticket prices vary — Experience the classic musical reimagined for schools in a community theater setting.
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2026 Fly Fishers Workshop
9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. — Jewish Community Center — Free entry — Enjoy a day of fly fishing workshops, seminars, and family-friendly conservation education with food trucks and live music.
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Calgary Roughnecks vs. Rochester Knighthawks
1-2 p.m. — Blue Cross Arena — Ticket prices vary — Marvel at the high-energy lacrosse showdown between two fierce rivals.
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