13WHAM ABC News
Calls grow to oust Cornell leaders over handling of rape allegations
- Title
- Calls grow to oust Cornell leaders over handling of rape allegations
- Runtime
- 1:59
- Date posted
- 18 days ago
- Description
- Pressure is growing on Cornell University leadership over its handling of sexual assault cases as faculty members consider a vote of no confidence and the university launches an independent review.
Students held a town hall Tuesday night, where several expressed frustration with the university's handling of allegations that a former student, identified as Jane Doe, was gang raped by several Chi Phi fraternity members in 2024.
The men named in a civil lawsuit over the allegations have denied wrongdoing.
"I think a lot of us have lost faith in this institution," associate professor Julia Chang said. "Trust is just completely broken."
Cornell's Faculty Senate is now preparing for a vote of no confidence in the administration's handling of sexual assault cases.
"Many women on this campus do not feel safe walking even during the daylight at Cornell University," professor Paul Ortiz said. "Sexual assault is a perennial problem ...
- Title
- Cornell rape allegations: Ex-police chief warns against ‘rush to judgment’
- Runtime
- 4:34
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- A former police chief is urging investigators and the public to avoid a "rush to judgment" as authorities continue investigating rape allegations involving members of a Cornell University fraternity.
Six people connected to the investigation have been released on bail as authorities continue reviewing evidence surrounding the allegations.
Jody Weis, a former Chicago police superintendent and former FBI official, said investigators will need to carefully examine the available evidence and determine whether it supports criminal charges.
"We don't want to have a rush to judgment," Weis said. "You want to make sure you get all the facts."
The investigation stems from allegations by a woman identified as Jane Doe, who has accused members of Cornell's Chi Phi fraternity of sexually assaulting her at the fraternity house in October 2024.
The woman has alleged she was intoxicated, given sedatives and sexually assaulted while surrounded ...
- Title
- Iran conflict widens as Saudi-led forces enter fight in Yemen
- Runtime
- 2:00
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- The conflict involving Iran is expanding further across the Middle East as Saudi-led forces move against Iran-aligned Houthi fighters in Yemen, opening another front in an increasingly regional confrontation.
The latest developments come as countries across the region reassess their involvement and military posture amid continued fighting.
Saudi-led forces have launched a new offensive against the Houthis in Yemen, who have long received support from Iran.
The developments also put renewed attention on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategically important shipping route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea.
The narrow waterway is critical to international trade and has already faced prolonged disruption from Houthi attacks on commercial vessels.
The Houthis have previously targeted ships traveling through the Red Sea and surrounding waterways, saying their actions were connected to conflicts elsewher...
- Title
- Fort Hood mass shooter to be executed by firing squad, a first in 60 years
- Runtime
- 1:29
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- Nidal Hasan, the former Army psychiatrist convicted of killing 13 people in the 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood, is set to be executed by firing squad.
Hasan was convicted in 2013 of killing 13 people and wounding more than 30 others when he opened fire at the Texas military installation, now known as Fort Cavazos, in November 2009.
A military jury sentenced Hasan to death following his conviction.
The attack remains one of the deadliest shootings at a U.S. military installation.
Hasan was paralyzed after being shot by responding officers during the attack and has remained on military death row in the years since his conviction.
The planned execution would be carried out by a U.S. Army firing squad, an uncommon method of execution that comes after years of legal proceedings surrounding Hasan's death sentence.
The case has drawn renewed attention as the military prepares to carry out the sentence more than 15 years a...
- Title
- US evacuates B-1 bombers over fears of Iranian drone attack
- Runtime
- 1:07
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- The U.S. military has moved B-1 bombers from a base where officials believed the aircraft could be vulnerable to Iranian drone attacks, as American forces reposition assets amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The movement comes as the U.S. military remains on heightened alert and keeps other assets on standby in the region.
Video showed B-1 bombers taking off as part of the military movement. The aircraft are long-range strategic bombers capable of carrying large conventional weapons payloads.
The decision reflects the threat posed by Iranian drones, which can potentially target military installations and aircraft on the ground.
Military analyst and former Pentagon official Mick Mulroy said moving valuable aircraft away from potential threats is a standard precaution when commanders believe a base could come under attack.
The U.S. has been shifting military resources as officials assess Iran's ability to retaliate and de...
- Title
- Televangelist Jim Bakker dies at 86; a look back at his life
- Runtime
- 1:44
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- Jim Bakker, who built a huge TV following and evangelical empire with his first wife, Tammy Faye, which later collapsed in a sex scandal and financial crimes, has died. He was 86.
Bakker died Monday, his second wife, Lori Bakker, said in a statement. The cause of death was not provided.
“He was a pioneer of Christian television, but to me, he was my husband, my best friend, and the man I was honored to walk beside through so many seasons of life and ministry,” she said.
The pair lived near Branson, an entertainment destination in Missouri, where they had filmed their TV show “The Jim Bakker Show” since its launch in 2003. Bakker suffered a stroke in 2020.
But it was the “The PTL Club,” which at its peak in the mid-1980s drew 13 million nightly TV viewers, that made Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker cultural icons — so much so that they were often skewered in the 1980s and ‘90s by late-night comedians and parodied on “Saturda...
- Title
- Declassified docs reveal scope of FBI Trump probe, tracking of family travel
- Runtime
- 2:13
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- Newly declassified documents are shedding more light on how far-reaching the investigations into President Trump went after his first term, as former Special Counsel Jack Smith began building cases against him between his two terms in office.
The White House released the documents this week, which relate to the FBI investigation into Trump's handling of classified documents. The probe, code-named "Plasmic Echo," included tracking the travel of Melania Trump and the couple's son Baron before the raid on Mar-a-Lago. The documents also show that cell phone records for Susie Wiles, now the White House chief of staff, were monitored in real time.
House Judiciary Committee member Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, called the revelations a serious institutional concern while speaking with "Just the News, No Noise."
"That is a separation of powers concern. It's all scary, but again it underscores just how committed these guys were, just how focused they were on sto...
- Title
- New emails reveal DOJ pushback over Biden-era school board investigations
- Runtime
- 2:23
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- Newly released internal emails show that more than a dozen Justice Department and FBI officials raised concerns about the Biden administration’s federal response to threats tied to heated school board meetings, with some warning the effort seemed political or risked implicating constitutionally protected speech.
The emails are included in a new Justice Department report examining an October 2021 memo issued by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland. The Trump administration says the findings show the Justice Department was weaponized against parents, an assertion tied to a broader review of alleged politicization within the department.
According to the report, people inside the Justice Department raised objections before Garland issued his memo.
“This is ridiculous,” one attorney in the deputy attorney general’s office wrote.
Another senior DOJ official described the effort as “stupid, stupid, stupid,” while another warned ...
- Title
- Russia reveals little as US monitors potential pneumonic plague threat
- Runtime
- 2:26
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- The Trump administration's ability to appropriately respond to the potential spread of pneumonic plague in Russia appears to be compromised by a lack of transparency from the Kremlin.
“Maybe, you know, there’s nothing there. Maybe it’s bigger than we thought. We don’t know," said Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday.
The death of 28-year-old Darya Shipilova, a laboratory worker at an anti-plague research institute in Siberia, is suspected to have been caused by pneumonic plague. Independent Russian media outlets reported 200 people were quarantined and that some state media outlets and local officials deleted posts acknowledging pneumonic plague related to Shipilova's death.
Russian health officials claimed the situation is under control and that Shipilova died of an unspecified type of pneumonia.
The U.S. Department of State has long assessed Russia to violate the Biological Weapons Convention, a treaty prohibiting biowe...
- Title
- Fatal crash, 100+ incidents prompt change at intersection; neighbor says it's 'not enough'
- Runtime
- 2:35
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- Raymond Wolfgram has lived along Freshour Road in Hopewell for six years, and says he's watched the intersection with State Route 488 become a trouble spot in that time.
"Usually, it's like a rear-end accident or they’re trying to turn the corner," Wolfgram said of crashes at the intersection.
Ontario County records show more than 100 incidents reported at the intersection since 2014.
One of them recently had a devastating outcome. A dump truck collided with a medical transport bus Aug. 19, killing Tiffany Stewart, 33, and injuring six others.
Now, the state is changing the way drivers move through the intersection. Freshour Road and Route 488 will become a four-way stop. New stop signs and stop-ahead signs are being installed to give drivers more warning.
The New York State Department of Transportation said work will begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday and will be done by the end of the day.
Wolfgram said more still...
- Title
- AG launches criminal probe into Cornell fraternity rape allegations
- Runtime
- 2:46
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- The investigation surrounding an alleged 2024 sexual assault at a Cornell University fraternity house is escalating, with the New York attorney general launching a criminal investigation and university faculty pursuing a no-confidence vote over the administration's handling of the allegations.
Cornell has also selected an outside law firm to investigate the university's response to the alleged sexual assault at the Chi Phi fraternity house. Former Deputy U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates will lead that investigation.
The developments come as ABC News obtained additional records from the investigation, including videos of witness interviews, text messages and a secretly recorded phone call involving one of the fraternity members accused in a lawsuit.
In one video reviewed by ABC News, a Cornell police officer questions a witness about whether fraternity members held a meeting after the alleged incident.
"So, I need you to be honest wit...
- Title
- Rochester Regional Health sees rise in self-pay patients after Essential Plan changes
- Runtime
- 2:49
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- Three months after roughly 450,000 New Yorkers were required to leave the state’s Essential Plan because of federal changes, Rochester Regional Health says it is beginning to see the impact.
"The number one thing we're seeing is a lot of confusion and real terror."
MORE: https://13wham.com/news/local/rochester-regional-health-sees-rise-in-self-pay-patients-after-new-york-state-essential-plan-insurance-changes-nys-federal-cuts
_______________
Stay up to date with our social media:
13 WHAM on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/13WHAM
13 WHAM on Twitter: https://twitter.com/13WHAM
13WHAM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/13whamtv/?hl=en
13WHAM on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@13wham?lang=en
13 WHAM Daily Local News Digest: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuTJB6tta5ar3Fu5CumAvlvVunEP6bc9A
For more information, visit https://13wham.com/
Have a news tip? Send i...
- Title
- Possible pneumonic plague case poses 'very low' risk outside Russia, World Health Organization says
- Runtime
- 1:51
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- The World Health Organization says a possible case of pneumonic plague in Russia presents a “very low” risk outside the country as investigators look into what caused the death of a lab employee there last week.
The U.N. health agency said Tuesday that it has been in contact with Russian authorities following reports of the death last week of a woman who worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that he was watching the situation with concern and that the United States would be willing to help, though he said he had not spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the case.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Russian authorities to share more information.
“Maybe there’s nothing there. Maybe it’s bigger than we thought. We don’t know,” he said at a news conference in Iceland.
“We encourage Russia to be more transparent...
- Title
- Man arrested in Greece homicide as family remembers victim
- Runtime
- 1:48
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- Family and friends are remembering Renard Willis IV as a hardworking man with a big heart and big dreams after the 33-year-old was killed in Greece, with a suspect now behind bars.
"He lit up the room."
MORE: https://13wham.com/news/local/greece-police-arrest-suspect-in-fatal-shooting-at-stone-road-apartment-complex-imperial-manor-homicide
_______________
Stay up to date with our social media:
13 WHAM on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/13WHAM
13 WHAM on Twitter: https://twitter.com/13WHAM
13WHAM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/13whamtv/?hl=en
13WHAM on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@13wham?lang=en
13 WHAM Daily Local News Digest: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuTJB6tta5ar3Fu5CumAvlvVunEP6bc9A
For more information, visit https://13wham.com/
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@13wham.com
Call the Newsroom: (585) 3...
- Title
- Trump says Iran could 'take out' Los Angeles and San Diego as he tries to rally Republican support
- Runtime
- 2:06
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- President Donald Trump was discussing the Iran war and the resulting high gas prices that have become a midterm liability for Republicans during remarks Monday night in Nebraska when he mentioned the possibility of an Iranian attack on U.S. soil.
“It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe,” he said of the war and its economic fallout. “They can take out a city. Let ’em take out Los Angeles, let ’em take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay.”
The commentary, including Trump's casual mention of the two California cities, was delivered in the familiar meandering style that he uses at campaign rallies, when he speaks for extended periods — often an hour or more — and is only occasionally following prepared remarks on a teleprompter.
The White House clarified Trump's comments, explaining that the president was not insinuating that he wanted Iran to attack U.S. cities but instead wants t...
- Title
- Students call on Cornell to revoke degrees of men accused in rape investigation
- Runtime
- 2:16
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- Cornell students thronged a campus plaza to protest the university's response to allegations of sexual assault at a fraternity house, and the school's main administration building was splashed with graffiti and damaged overnight.
At a demonstration that overflowed the large space in front of the school's student center, students, faculty members and others wore purple ribbons and held signs with such messages as “support survivors, expel rapists” and “Justice 4 every Jane Doe" — the name by which the woman who reported the assault is known in court papers.
Jane Doe alleges that she was sexually assaulted by multiple Chi Phi fraternity members in October 2024 after being pressured into drinking and taking drugs. She was a Cornell student at the time.
The woman recently sued the university, seven former students, the fraternity and others. Her lawsuit said that she became fully incapacitated as fraternity members assaulted her, and that one...
- Title
- Governor declares a state of emergency for Measles outbreak
- Runtime
- 1:23
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- A state of emergency for Measles outbreak, a vote on the city's only sanctioned homeless encampment, and voter education week for midterm elections.
@cloreports has Tuesday's Morning Minute.
_______________
Stay up to date with our social media:
13 WHAM on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/13WHAM
13 WHAM on Twitter: https://twitter.com/13WHAM
13WHAM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/13whamtv/?hl=en
13WHAM on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@13wham?lang=en
13 WHAM Daily Local News Digest: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuTJB6tta5ar3Fu5CumAvlvVunEP6bc9A
For more information, visit https://13wham.com/
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@13wham.com
Call the Newsroom: (585) 334-8700
WHAM is a NY based station and a ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Deerfield Media, Inc and receives certain services from an affiliation of S...
- Title
- 'He lit up the room': Family remembers homicide victim after suspect’s arrest
- Runtime
- 2:42
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- A man has been charged with second-degree murder after he shot and killed another man at an apartment complex early Friday, according to the Greece Police Department.
Police said Troy Sowell, 36, of Rochester, fatally shot Renard Willis IV, 33, at the Imperial Manor Apartments on Stone Road, where officers responded around 3:30 a.m. Sowell was arrested later that evening and remains in the Monroe County Jail without bail.
Police said surveillance video and license plate reader technology helped investigators make an arrest, though they said there is still a significant amount of investigative work to be completed.
As the investigation continues, Willis' family and friends gathered Sunday for an emotional balloon release to celebrate his life and remember the man they said could light up a room with his smile.
“He was such a beautiful spirit,” said Willis' stepmother, Vanessa Powell. “He walked into a room and he smiled. He lit u...
- Title
- Trump rallies for Ricketts in Nebraska, unveils plan to lower diesel prices
- Runtime
- 3:05
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- President Donald Trump hit the campaign trail in Nebraska on Monday, rallying support for Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts as he faces a competitive challenge from independent Dan Osborn.
Trump appeared alongside Ricketts as Republicans work to hold the Nebraska Senate seat ahead of the midterm elections.
Recent polling has shown a relatively close contest. A Wedgewood poll featured in the report showed Ricketts leading Osborn 52% to 48%.
Trump urged supporters to back Ricketts, praising the Republican senator while warning voters against supporting his independent challenger.
The president also used his appearance to focus on energy costs, touting steps aimed at lowering diesel prices.
Trump recently signed an executive order allowing broader use of dyed diesel fuel, which is typically reserved for off-road uses such as farming and construction and is not subject to the same federal taxes as regular on-road diesel.
- Title
- Tennessee prison chief resigns after failed execution
- Runtime
- 1:07
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- The head of Tennessee's prison system has resigned following a failed attempt to execute death row inmate Christa Pike, as her attorneys push for her sentence to be commuted.
Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Frank Strada resigned from his position amid fallout from the failed execution, according to state officials.
Pike's execution was halted after officials were unable to establish an IV line needed to administer the lethal injection drugs.
Pike, who has spent decades on death row, was convicted of murdering 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer in Knoxville in 1995.
Her attorneys are now calling for Pike's death sentence to be commuted, arguing that the failed execution attempt subjected her to unnecessary suffering and should not be repeated.
Attorney Stephen Ferrell said the problems surrounding the execution raise serious concerns about putting Pike through the process again.
The failed attempt has...
- Title
- Cornell students protest university’s handling of sexual assault case
- Runtime
- 1:30
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- Cornell students thronged a campus plaza to protest the university’s response to allegations of sexual assault at a fraternity house, and the school’s main administration building was splashed with graffiti and damaged overnight.
At a demonstration that overflowed the large space in front of the school’s student center, students, faculty members and others wore purple ribbons and held signs with such messages as “support survivors, expel rapists” and “Justice 4 every Jane Doe” — the name by which the woman who reported the assault is known in court papers. Other people watched from pathways, windows and a nearby hill.
“Too often, we are met with silence, we are met with statements, we are met with procedures, but not enough support,” student Athena Holloway told the crowd. “How much does it take for our university to stand with survivors?”
Hispanic studies professor Julia Chang added to applause: “Rape should not be inevi...
- Title
- US monitoring suspected pneumonic plague case in Russia
- Runtime
- 3:12
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- Russian authorities have quarantined a hospital and are monitoring people who came into contact with an employee at a plague research institute who died after developing pneumonia of an unknown cause.
The woman worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East in southeastern Siberia. Local state television reported she died last week at a hospital in Shelekhov, just outside Irkutsk.
Unconfirmed media reports have suggested the woman may have died from pneumonic plague, a rare but severe form of plague that can spread from person to person. Russian health authorities, however, have not confirmed plague as the cause of her illness.
Russia's public health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, said extensive testing found no microorganisms associated with the woman's work and no incidents involving dangerous pathogens at the institute.
The hospital where the woman was treated has stopped admitting or discharging patie...
- Title
- Cornell gang rape case puts spotlight on campus safety, Greek life and hazing
- Runtime
- 2:35
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- The sexual assault allegations at Cornell University have renewed scrutiny of Greek life and raised broader questions about the prevalence of sexual violence and hazing on college campuses.
The Cornell case involves a former student who alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted by members of the Chi Phi fraternity in 2024. She later filed a civil lawsuit against Cornell and seven fraternity members.
Cornell conducted its own investigation and disciplined students involved, including expulsions and suspensions, and the university shut down the fraternity chapter. The local district attorney initially declined to bring criminal charges. The investigation has since been reopened and New York officials have moved to pursue the case further. The allegations have not been proven in criminal court and some of the accused have denied wrongdoing.
The case has also drawn attention to Cornell's own data on sexual misconduct. Recently, Cornell vowed to t...
- Title
- Fall fun activities for seniors and the Calamari Sisters at OFC Creations
- Runtime
- 41:14
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- ARC Rochester: Monday, October 5, 2026 (Part 3 of 3)
- Title
- Why Congress still hasn't banned lawmakers from trading stocks
- Runtime
- 5:40
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- The Senate last week killed a bill that would ban members of Congress and their spouses from buying individual stocks. Every Senate Democrat voted "no" on the bill that passed the House in July.
Autopilot co-founder and creator of the Nancy Pelosi stock tracker Chris Josephs told The National News Desk the bill failed due to a fundamental disagreement on how lawmakers treat stocks, despite bipartisan concern.
He said Democrats want members of Congress to fully divest from stocks, while Republicans believe lawmakers can keep what they own. The bill Democrats voted down allowed lawmakers to keep what they already own. It also included a voter ID provision requiring photo identification for federal elections.
"And that, I think, is where the gridlock and the standstill will happen, which is why this, in my opinion, is not going to get passed before the midterm," Josephs said.
Autopilot launched in 2023 and was created to mimic politician...
- Title
- ARC Rochester: Monday, October 5, 2026 (Part 2 of 3)
- Runtime
- 21:31
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- Title
- Canadian liquor could become harder to find under Trump ban
- Runtime
- 0:57
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- President Donald Trump's ban on Canadian imports took effect earlier this week, and one of the biggest industries being hit is alcohol and spirits.
As customers made their weekend purchases on a busy day at the East Avenue Liquor Store, owner Nelson Habecker expects some things to start changing.
Running a business heavily reliant on imports has him paying close attention to the news.
“What I look at is, with Canadian products, I’ll take a closer look at something I normally buy for six months out,” said Habecker. “I’ll look to see if I can go a year to make sure that I get one of those. And hopefully those problems will be solved by then.”
He says his wholesalers will have built up inventory on popular Canadian spirits, like Crown Royal.
READ MORE: https://13wham.com/news/local/local-liquor-store-owner-reacts-to-ban-on-canadian-imports-east-avenue-liquor-and-wine-trade-war-tariffs-ban-canadian-liquor-canadian...
- Title
- ARC Rochester: Monday, October 5, 2026 (Part 1 of 3)
- Runtime
- 30:06
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- Title
- Woman raised replica revolver before officer fatally shot her, police say
- Runtime
- 1:59
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- A woman raised a realistic-looking replica revolver at an officer before the officer fatally shot her early Sunday, according to the Gates Police Department.
Chief Robert Long said an officer on routine patrol saw Haley Rodriguez, 27, of Rochester standing in the middle of Spencerport Road near Baier and Karl Fuchs drives around 1 a.m.
Long said the officer pulled over to check on Rodriguez, saw that she had what appeared to be a revolver in her hand.
"The officer immediately gave clear, awesome directions to drop the revolver to talk to him, wanted to figure out what was going on," Long said.
Rodriguez raised the revolver toward the officer, who opened fire and struck Rodriguez, Long said. Rodriguez was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital, where she died.
Long said police later determined the revolver was a realistic-looking replica.
"This was not the outcome that that officer wanted at all," Long said.
...
- Title
- Convicted felon sentenced to 30 years for 2 separate killings
- Runtime
- 0:46
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- A convicted felon who admitted to killing two people in separate incidents in Rochester received his sentence Monday.
Police said Tovontay Haygood shot Derrick Ellis, 48, Sept. 19, 2023, on the porch of a home on Diringer Place. Ellis died two days later.
Haygood was not taken into custody until July 16, 2025, when he was charged with murder for the killing of Karen Wargo, 46, who police said Haygood beat to death one week earlier at Pleasant Street and North Clinton Avenue.
While awaiting his murder trial for Wargo's death, Haygood was charged with murder for Ellis' death. He later pleaded guilty to manslaughter in both cases. Judge Tom Moran sentenced Haygood, now 33, Monday to a total of 30 years in prison, along with five years of post-release supervision.
Assistant District Attorney Jessica Wagner said there was surveillance video of both incidents.
"The one for Mr. Ellis that stems from 2023 was very dark, which is ...
- Title
- Trump blasts Supreme Court justices he appointed as new term begins
- Runtime
- 2:08
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- The U.S. Supreme Court began its new term Monday amid growing criticism from President Donald Trump, who has expressed frustration with several of the justices he appointed during his first term.
Trump has repeatedly criticized the court over the past month following rulings that went against his administration.
After the Supreme Court blocked his restrictions on mail-in voting in September, Trump wrote on Truth Social that the justices were "not the people I interviewed to serve on the United States Supreme Court," adding that they were "merely a shell of their original selves."
Trump also told Time magazine that he regretted nominating Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, criticizing their rulings on issues including birthright citizenship and tariffs.
"What can I do? I put them in. They voted against me too often," Trump said. "Very disappointing for the country — their decisions."
Justice Sa...
- Title
- Major gun rights fight heads to Supreme Court
- Runtime
- 5:04
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- The Supreme Court begins a new term Monday with major Second Amendment questions on its docket, while new disclosures about former special counsel Jack Smith's investigation of President Donald Trump are fueling a separate debate over the scope of federal investigative power.
Among the most closely watched cases before the justices are challenges to state restrictions on AR-15-style rifles and large-capacity magazines.
The court agreed to hear challenges involving bans in Illinois and Connecticut, setting up what could become one of its most consequential Second Amendment decisions in years. The cases ask whether states can prohibit semiautomatic rifles commonly described in state law as assault weapons and magazines capable of holding more than a specified number of rounds.
Former federal prosecutor Jonathan Fahey joined The National News Desk to discuss the constitutional questions facing the court and what its eventual ruling could mean for gun...
- Title
- Data centers emerge as major issue in midterm elections
- Runtime
- 2:25
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- During the home stretch of campaigning before Election Day, debate over data center construction has dominated some decisive races.
In Ohio, a state with more than 220 data centers, incumbent Republican Sen. Jon Husted is fighting to keep his seat against Democratic challenger Sherrod Brown, a former senator. Brown has accused Husted of leading the charge for new data centers in Ohio during his time in state government.
In the latest New York Times/Siena University poll, Brown narrowly led Husted by three points. When voters were asked which candidate they think would do a better job on data centers, Brown was favored by 11 points.
After a leaked National Republican Senatorial Committee memo this summer called data centers "the anchor hanging around Husted’s neck," the senator made an effort to distance himself from the issue.
“Local elected officials, local citizens should decide whether they want a data center or not. No one in ...
- Title
- DOJ plans election monitors at polls nationwide as Democrats raise concerns
- Runtime
- 2:23
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- With less than one month to go before Election Day, the Trump administration is laying out what voters can expect at polling places nationwide, including Justice Department election monitors — a move critics say could threaten the election process.
In an interview on Fox News Sunday, Attorney General Todd Blanche said federal election monitoring is not new.
"Since the 60s, the Department of Justice has monitored elections. Every single election's been monitored. We can't mean this administration, President Trump, is doing the same thing that every single of ministration has done in our generation and in multiple generations,” Blanche said.
Top Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee have sent a letter to the Justice Department demanding documents related to the deployment of election monitors for the 2026 primary and general elections.
The request asks for a list of names, departments, and job titles, along with all training ma...
- Title
- Thousands lose low-cost health coverage in NY as hospitals see impact
- Runtime
- 3:58
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- Three months after roughly 450,000 New Yorkers were required to leave the state’s Essential Plan because of federal changes, Rochester Regional Health says it is beginning to see the impact.
According to data from the Healthcare Association of New York State, about 26,000 people in the Rochester and Finger Lakes region were affected by the July 1 transition.
A state update released in late August found 59% of those affected had enrolled in other coverage. The remaining 41% had not enrolled in a new plan through the state marketplace; some may have shifted to employer-sponsored insurance, while others may be uninsured.
Rochester Regional Health said it saw "a notable increase in patients presenting as self-pay at some of our hospitals in July and August compared with the same period last year," although the impact varied across the system.
The Community Service Society of New York, a nonprofit that helps people enroll in and use heal...
- Title
- Convicted felon sentenced for 2 separate killings
- Runtime
- 2:11
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- A convicted felon who admitted to killing two people in separate incidents in Rochester received his sentence Monday.
Police said Tovontay Haygood shot Derrick Ellis, 48, Sept. 19, 2023, on the porch of a home on Diringer Place. Ellis died two days later.
Haygood was not taken into custody until July 16, 2025, when he was charged with murder for the killing of Karen Wargo, 46, who police said Haygood beat to death one week earlier at Pleasant Street and North Clinton Avenue.
While awaiting his murder trial for Wargo's death, Haygood was charged with murder for Ellis' death. He later pleaded guilty to manslaughter in both cases. Judge Tom Moran sentenced Haygood, now 33, Monday to a total of 30 years in prison, along with five years of post-release supervision.
Assistant District Attorney Jessica Wagner said there was surveillance video of both incidents.
"The one for Mr. Ellis that stems from 2023 was very dark, which is ...
- Title
- Woman raised replica revolver before officer fatally shot her, police say
- Runtime
- 3:10
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- A woman raised a realistic-looking replica revolver at an officer before the officer fatally shot her early Sunday, according to the Gates Police Department.
Chief Robert Long said an officer on routine patrol saw Haley Rodriguez, 27, of Rochester standing in the middle of Spencerport Road near Baier and Karl Fuchs drives around 1 a.m.
Long said the officer pulled over to check on Rodriguez, saw that she had what appeared to be a revolver in her hand.
"The officer immediately gave clear, awesome directions to drop the revolver to talk to him, wanted to figure out what was going on," Long said.
Rodriguez raised the revolver toward the officer, who opened fire and struck Rodriguez, Long said. Rodriguez was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital, where she died.
Long said police later determined the revolver was a realistic-looking replica.
"This was not the outcome that that officer wanted at all," Long said....
- Title
- Supreme Court takes on guns, immigration, climate in new term
- Runtime
- 2:01
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- The Supreme Court is beginning a new term with a slate of high-profile cases involving issues ranging from climate change and gun rights to immigration and abortion.
The nation's highest court kicked off its new term Monday as the justices prepare for another potentially consequential year.
Among the issues before the court is a climate case involving activists and major energy companies that could help determine whether companies can be held financially responsible for their alleged contributions to climate change.
The justices are also expected to weigh challenges involving bans on AR-15-style rifles in Illinois and Connecticut.
"The question is going to be whether or not there are five justices who believe AR-15s are within the Second Amendment, or whether states have the right to regulate AR-15s," legal analyst James Sample said.
The court will also confront several cases with implications for President Donald Trump's...
- Title
- Music therapy helps man with dementia return to stage
- Runtime
- 1:49
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- Music is helping a Pittsford man living with dementia reconnect with his past — and regain confidence — through therapy sessions that have taken him from his living room to the stage.
Meredith Conklin, a music therapist with Finger Lakes Music Therapy, has been working with Grant Fowler to strengthen his memory and confidence while helping him reconnect with his love of music.
During their sessions, the two strum along to the Kingston Trio's version of "Sloop John B," a song tied to Fowler's earlier years.
"There's a great history there," Fowler said. "It is something I can understand. I have dementia, in case anybody doesn't know. ... Well, it's tough to play the guitar when you can't remember the notes, and she's been terrific."
Conklin said familiar songs can help bring muscle memory back more easily. Early in their work together, she noticed Fowler's hands naturally gravitated toward the key of E, so she began arranging the mu...
- Title
- TIMELINE: Taxi driver's brutal murder leads to life sentence
- Runtime
- 21:01
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- A Rochester man will spend the rest of his life behind bars for the brutal 2024 murder of a taxi driver — a killing captured on cameras inside the victim’s cab.
According to 13WHAM reports, David Treese, 45, was working as a driver for Associate Cab Company when he was called to pick up a fare on First Street shortly after 3 a.m. April 22, 2024. Police said David Lee Porter climbed into Treese’s cab, pistol-whipped him and demanded money before firing several shots at close range. Treese managed to get out of the cab before collapsing and dying on a Bay Street sidewalk.
Police said Porter then took Treese’s taxi and later crashed it into a tree on Central Park. Investigators arrested Porter the following day.
The case went to trial, where jurors were shown graphic video capturing Treese’s final moments. Porter’s defense focused in part on his drug use and whether prosecutors had proven he intended to kill Treese. Porter testified that ...
- Title
- Some students accused in Cornell rape case tried to contain allegations, ABC News review finds
- Runtime
- 2:36
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- Some of the fraternity brothers accused of sexual assault at Cornell University attempted to contain the allegations in the weeks following the October 2024 incident, apparently worried about what would happen to their own reputations and futures on campus, according to text messages, phone calls and documents reviewed by ABC News.
Three weeks after the incident, the accuser called Matthew Ingalls, the friend who invited her to the Chi Phi frat house that night, and recorded the entire conversation. She told him she spent time in the emergency room and therapy "because there's so much damage on my body and my brain" and "if I wanted to take this somewhere, what y'all did would be classified as gang rape...you already knew when I came in...I was 10 shots deep."
Ingalls responded with a different recollection.
READ MORE: https://abcnews.com/US/damage-control-phone-calls-records-suggest-cornell-frat/story?id=136987960
_______________...
- Title
- Family seeks justice for 21-year-old killed in wrong-way crash
- Runtime
- 1:53
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- A family is seeking justice after a horrific wrong-way crash on Rochester's Inner Loop claimed the life of 21-year-old Quincy Battle.
"I wish you would have had a chance to meet Quincy," said Tracy Langley, Quincy's aunt. "Quincy was an awesome person. He had a huge heart but a very quiet spirit."
Quincy's life was tragically cut short June 26.
New York State Police said Nayomi Flores, 39, was driving the wrong way on the Inner Loop when she collided head-on with a vehicle driven by Charles Barnes, with Quincy as his passenger.
Both men, who were 21, died at the scene, according to police.
For the people who knew Quincy, there is no shortage of things to remember.
"He lit up every room he walked in with his smile," Langley said.
She described Quincy as the family comedian, always joking with his siblings and making people laugh. But behind the jokes was a young man focused on his family and his f...
- Title
- LIVE: Gates police address fatal shooting involving officer
- Runtime
- 15:40
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- The Gates Police Department is sharing more information about a fatal shooting involving an officer.
- Title
- Liquor store owner reacts to ban on Canadian imports
- Runtime
- 2:17
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) — President Donald Trump's ban on Canadian imports took effect earlier this week, and one of the biggest industries being hit is alcohol and spirits.
As customers made their weekend purchases on a busy day at the East Avenue Liquor Store, owner Nelson Habecker expects some things to start changing.
Running a business heavily reliant on imports has him paying close attention to the news.
“What I look at is, with Canadian products, I’ll take a closer look at something I normally buy for six months out,” said Habecker. “I’ll look to see if I can go a year to make sure that I get one of those. And hopefully those problems will be solved by then.”
He says his wholesalers will have built up inventory on popular Canadian spirits, like Crown Royal.
READ MORE: https://13wham.com/news/local/local-liquor-store-owner-reacts-to-ban-on-canadian-imports-east-avenue-liquor-and-wine-trade-war-tariffs-b...
- Title
- Gates Police say an Officer was involved in a fatal shooting
- Runtime
- 1:15
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- A Gates police officer involved in a fatal shooting, the US removes bombers from a base in the UK -- and the Bills have their first loss of the season. @cloreports had the Monday Morning Minute.
_______________
Stay up to date with our social media:
13 WHAM on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/13WHAM
13 WHAM on Twitter: https://twitter.com/13WHAM
13WHAM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/13whamtv/?hl=en
13WHAM on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@13wham?lang=en
13 WHAM Daily Local News Digest: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuTJB6tta5ar3Fu5CumAvlvVunEP6bc9A
For more information, visit https://13wham.com/
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@13wham.com
Call the Newsroom: (585) 334-8700
WHAM is a NY based station and a ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Deerfield Media, Inc and receives certain services from an affiliation...
- Title
- Sound Stage: Jill Anne Collins
- Runtime
- 12:11
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- Singer-songwriter Jill Anne Collins performs on the ARC Sound Stage.
She performed the title track of her album "Wishing Well."
She will be part of a Women's Singer-Songwriter Showcase Thursday, October 8th at Biltmore Bar and Lounge.
_______________
Stay up to date with our social media:
13 WHAM on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/13WHAM
13 WHAM on Twitter: https://twitter.com/13WHAM
13WHAM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/13whamtv/?hl=en
13WHAM on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@13wham?lang=en
13 WHAM Daily Local News Digest: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuTJB6tta5ar3Fu5CumAvlvVunEP6bc9A
For more information, visit https://13wham.com/
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@13wham.com
Call the Newsroom: (585) 334-8700
WHAM is a NY based station and a ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Deerfield Media, In...
- Title
- TIMELINE: Deadly wrong-way crash leads to DWI, vehicular homicide charges
- Runtime
- 6:40
- Date posted
- 21 days ago
- Description
- A woman has been indicted on 10 charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide and aggravated DWI, in connection with a deadly wrong-way crash on Rochester's Inner Loop over the summer.
Nayomi Flores, 40, was driving an SUV into oncoming traffic around 1:25 a.m. June 26 when she collided head-on with a Ford, according to New York State Police. The impact sent the Ford into the path of a Jeep, causing a second collision.
The Ford's driver, Charles Barnes, and his passenger, Quincy Battle, both 21, both died at the scene, police said.
Flores was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital with critical injuries but has since been released. The Jeep's driver was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
An indictment unsealed against Flores charges her with:
Three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide
Two counts of second-degree manslaughter
Two counts of vehicular homicide
Aggravated DWI
DWI with a ...
- Title
- TIMELINE: School fights spark community outcry & security changes in Rush-Henrietta
- Runtime
- 18:00
- Date posted
- 21 days ago
- Description
- For a second night in a row, more than 100 members of the Rush-Henrietta school community packed a public meeting Wednesday, demanding stronger security measures following a series of fights at the high school.
Superintendent Barbara Mullen said seven fights have occurred across the district since the start of the school year, including one that left a student hospitalized with a head injury.
"To our superintendent, it's good that you're here because this falls on your shoulders," one community member said during Wednesday's meeting. "You get paid a lot of money, a lot of money."
Wednesday's community safety forum came days before Homecoming, with parents pressing district leaders about how students will be protected during the weekend's events.
"What specifically will you do when our kids are out after school hours at Homecoming and this entire weekend to keep our students safe?" asked Heather, a parent and teacher in the district.
- Title
- Couple honored for decades of Special Olympics coaching
- Runtime
- 1:29
- Date posted
- 21 days ago
- Description
- Our Bright Spot shines on inspiring coaches.
Stan and Annette VanSavage have dedicated decades to supporting Special Olympics athletes in Monroe County.
Their son, John VanSavage, said the couple first became involved with Special Olympics more than 50 years ago when their daughter began participating. About 35 years ago, Stan and Annette took on coaching roles.
Roughly 20 years ago, they started a training club called the Great Tigers with just four athletes. The program has since grown to more than 100 athletes.
The Great Tigers held their annual pizza party Thursday, where Stan and Annette received a surprise recognition arranged by their son.
Monroe County Executive Adam Bello honored the couple for their decades of dedication to local athletes, proclaiming Sept. 28 a day in their honor across the county.
Stan said he isn't accustomed to being recognized for his work because he typically prefers to remain...
- Title
- Music therapy helps man with dementia return to stage
- Runtime
- 2:17
- Date posted
- 22 days ago
- Description
- Music is helping a Pittsford man living with dementia reconnect with his past — and regain confidence — through therapy sessions that have taken him from his living room to the stage.
Meredith Conklin, a music therapist with Finger Lakes Music Therapy, has been working with Grant Fowler to strengthen his memory and confidence while helping him reconnect with his love of music.
During their sessions, the two strum along to the Kingston Trio's version of "Sloop John B," a song tied to Fowler's earlier years.
"There's a great history there," Fowler said. "It is something I can understand. I have dementia, in case anybody doesn't know. ... Well, it's tough to play the guitar when you can't remember the notes, and she's been terrific."
Conklin said familiar songs can help bring muscle memory back more easily. Early in their work together, she noticed Fowler's hands naturally gravitated toward the key of E, so she began arranging the mu...
