Racquel Stephen

4 days ago | wxxinews.org | Racquel Stephen

Smoke from the Canadian wildfires is expected to drift over Rochester in the coming days and experts are warning that the air quality will worsen. Dr. Daniel Croft, a pulmonologist for UR Medicine who also studies air quality and its effect on our health, said individuals with pre-existing conditions, like asthma, COPD, and heart disease, should exercise more precautions over the next few days.

5 days ago | wxxinews.org | Racquel Stephen

By the end of the year Rochester Regional Health is hoping to recruit up to 100 nurses from around the world to work across its system. The health care network has partnered with the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce to tap into a program called Greater ROC Global, which was launched in conjunction with an organization called inSpring. The Great ROC Global initiative will hire experienced international nurses for RRH with hopes of them staying permanently.

2 weeks ago | wxxinews.org | Racquel Stephen

New legislation has been introduced in Congress that backers said would make childbirth free for families with private insurance. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who sponsored the legislation, announced the Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act on Wednesday during a news conference. She said the bill will categorize all prenatal and postpartum expenses as essential health benefits, which means insurance companies will be required to fully cover the cost of all childbirth related services.

3 weeks ago | wxxinews.org | Racquel Stephen |Veronica Volk |Megan Mack

It's prom season, and for high schoolers across the region, prom isn’t just a rite of passage anymore. It’s a stage. We’re talking crystallized corsets, embroidered tuxedos, motorcades, professional photographers, and send-off parties that look more like weddings. In many Black communities, prom has become a dazzling display of creativity, self-expression, and joy. Think of it as a teen Met Gala—shaped by tradition and TikTok.

3 weeks ago | wxxinews.org | Racquel Stephen

One year and 54 bargaining sessions later, UR Medicine Home Care workers have their first union contract — pending ratification. The 1199 SEIU members reached a tentative agreement late Tuesday afternoon with the University of Rochester Medicine Home Care. The caregivers providing in-home services across a seven-county region, including Monroe County, voted to unionize in early 2024.