Omar Ramos Jimenez, a Mexican citizen who has lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years, went to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Batavia facility two months ago for a routine check-in. Instead, he was taken into custody.

Recent Stories

Community

Hochul visit highlights child care pilot program

By NARM NATHAN | January 23, 2026

The governor attended the official opening of Penfield’s new Irene Skalny Childcare Center to underscore a $20 million effort to improve access to child care throughout Monroe County.

Culture

Sambas join Shakespeare at the RPO’s Dance Festival

By DAVID RAYMOND | January 23, 2026

Over two weekends, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra will collaborate with Garth Fagan Dance and Rochester City Ballet to present Philip Glass’ “Days and Nights in Rocinha” and excerpts from Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet.”

Culture

When the Times sees fit to unleash the F-bomb

By GARY CRAIG | January 23, 2026

Changing times bring changing standards on profanity, even at the Gray Lady and other newspapers.

Environment

Will Seneca Meadows stay open in 2026?

By JACOB SCHERMERHORN | January 22, 2026

With legal issues now in court, the fate of the landfill and its expansion plans are up in the air.

Economy & Business

French company Reju to build $390 million facility here

By PAUL ERICSON | January 21, 2026

Reju has selected a site at Eastman Business Park for its first U.S.-based textile regeneration hub, a move it expects will create about 70 jobs.

Economy & Business

Taking stock of a changing Rochester beer scene

By WILL CLEVELAND | January 20, 2026

After a bruising start to 2026, reflections on loss, resilience, and why the story isn’t finished yet.

Economy & Business

GRE, photonics group form strategic alliance

By SMRITI JACOB | January 19, 2026

Greater Rochester Enterprise and New York Photonics will jointly promote the region’s strengths in optics, photonics, imaging and laser technologies.

Four Questions

Is ‘crowd-checking’ a cure for misinformation?

By PAUL ERICSON | January 19, 2026

New research by Simon Business School Huaxia Rui shows how crowdsourced fact-checking may help turn the tide against the flood of misleading content on social media.

Culture

‘Are You My Mother?’ comes to the stage

By JACOB SCHERMERHORN | January 16, 2026

TYKEs kicks off its latest season with an adaptation of a classic children’s book.

Government & Politics

Are City Council members underpaid?

By NARM NATHAN | January 15, 2026

Backlash prompted Rochester councilmembers to rescind the big raise they approved in December, but those who supported the increase say it’s still needed given the work required by their elected positions.

GUEST OPINION

Does telling students to exercise help them academically?

By AMITRAJEET A. BATABYAL | January 13, 2026

New research provides credible evidence to support the contention that healthy bodies lead to healthy minds.

Economy & Business

A mixed picture for stocks in 2025

By PAUL ERICSON | January 12, 2026

The benchmark S&P 500 registered its third straight year with a double-digit increase, but two dozen stocks of local interest together ended the year with only a small gain.

Community

An icon in Rochester’s Black community

By JUSTIN MURPHY | January 9, 2026

Midge Thomas, who mentored countless young people and created spaces that provided intellectual and cultural opportunities for the community, died Jan. 8.

Community

Flower City Warriors return to Blue Cross Arena

By JACOB SCHERMERHORN | January 9, 2026

For the second year in a row, the recreational hockey team for veterans will be honored as part of the Rochester Amerks’ Military Appreciation night

Justice & Public Safety

Rochester’s peace wave

By JACOB SCHERMERHORN | January 8, 2026

In 2025, the number of violent crime incidents in the city was lower than almost any year since 2011. And property crime incidents hit a record low.

Justice & Public Safety

Students charged in ‘Wanted’ posters case accept plea deal

By NARM NATHAN | January 7, 2026

The four students, who had faced a felony count, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of intentionally damaging University of Rochester property.

Justice & Public Safety

Federal judge questions legality of Greece automobile tracking

By GARY CRAIG | January 7, 2026

The new town administration, led by Jeffery McCann, a Democrat and former deputy county executive, has been saddled with ongoing lawsuits.

GUEST OPINION

Why schools need programs like ShinShinim

By MONICA GEBELL | January 6, 2026

Sustained, structured intercultural contact improves critical thinking, empathy, and students’ ability to engage constructively with difference. Seeking to eliminate a program because some students are not comfortable with it runs counter to the purpose of a liberal education.

Community

The Good Phone Project adds more free payphones

By JACOB SCHERMERHORN | January 6, 2026

The three repurposed payphones, with free VoIP calling, are part of the nonprofit’s effort to give city residents without cellphones access to phone service.

Economy & Business

At Steuben Brewing, good beer gets a thoughtful tablemate

By WILL CLEVELAND | January 5, 2026

The Pulteney brewery is launching a partnership with Butcher’s Son of Corning, creating a dedicated food presence at Steuben’s property overlooking Keuka Lake.

Education

The ShinShinim divide in Pittsford

By NARM NATHAN | December 31, 2025

The ShinShinim program run by the Pittsford schools and the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester is a cultural exchange that brings Israeli high school graduates here. Some parents praise the program, but others say Muslim students have felt traumatized by it.

Economy & Business

Region gets new economic development funding

By SMRITI JACOB | December 30, 2025

Nearly $43 million in Regional Economic Development Council funding will support 48 projects in the Finger Lakes region.

Four Questions

A connecting force in extended reality

By SMRITI JACOB | December 30, 2025

Hired by UR to lead its Center for Extended Reality, Meta veteran Barry Silverstein says immersive technologies like virtual and augmented reality should operate as a system. “When we pull the pieces together,” he says, “the outcomes become more meaningful and valuable.”

Beacon Notes

The best of the Beacon in 2025

By PAUL ERICSON | December 29, 2025

Among the hundreds of articles published by the Rochester Beacon over the last 12 months, a number of them were favorites—for readers and the Beacon’s writers alike.