13WHAM ABC News
George Soros' foundation pledges $300M to defend civil liberties, critics point to timing
- Title
- George Soros' foundation pledges $300M to defend civil liberties, critics point to timing
- Runtime
- 3:22
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- The Open Society Foundations, founded by George Soros, announced this week that it’s pledging $300 million toward initiatives it says will defend democratic rights and advance economic security over the next five years.
"This is both a moral and material response to a time when rights and freedoms are being rolled back across the country, and far too many people cannot afford the basics even though we live in the wealthiest country in the world,” said Laleh Ispahani, managing director for the U.S. at Open Society, in a press release.
The initiative is structured across two core pillars. Defending civil liberties and the rule of law and expanding civil rights and creating economic opportunity. The funding serves as the first major U.S.-focused initiative approved under the leadership of Alex Soros, George's son.
"Democratic governments must create opportunity for all Americans—not just in principle, but in their daily lives. Guaranteed rights...
- Title
- Miracle the dog loses leg after shooting in her own front yard; suspect charged
- Runtime
- 2:45
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Miracle, a 5-year-old French bulldog, survived the unthinkable earlier this month.
"It may be a dog, but it's my dog, and it's like, that's my child," said owner Caneia Hall.
Miracle was shot May 5 around 8 p.m. in the front yard of her home on First Street in Rochester.
"I let her out, and she went right to the bush right there to go and use the bathroom, and I turned my back for two seconds, and it was like, 'Pop!', like a gunshot," Hall recalled. "I then ran, but then I thought about it, like, 'Oh no, my dog.'"
Hall said that's when Miracle came running into the house with her right hind leg clearly injured.
"I took the shirt and applied pressure, and my fiancée called 911," she said. "They directed us to go out in East Rochester to the vet people."
Miracle needed emergency surgery and her leg had to be amputated.
READ MORE: https://13wham.com/news/local/miracle-the-dog-loses-leg-after-shooti...
- Title
- Minnesota fraud 'mastermind' gets 40+ years in Feeding Our Future case
- Runtime
- 2:25
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- A judge on Thursday handed down an extraordinary prison sentence — nearly 42 years — to the former leader of a Minnesota nonprofit who was convicted in a staggering $250 million fraud case that helped ignite an immigration crackdown by the Trump administration.
Aimee Bock ran Feeding Our Future, which had claimed it helped provide millions of meals to needy children during the pandemic. The U.S. Justice Department, however, said she was atop the “single largest COVID-19 fraud scheme in the country.”
“I understand I failed. I failed the public, my family, everyone,” Bock, 45, said in federal court.
After the hearing, authorities announced charges against 15 more people accused of fraud in receiving federal payments for a variety of social services administered through Minnesota’s state government. The FBI said one man jumped from a fourth-floor balcony to avoid arrest.
“We will claw back every dollar you have stolen fro...
- Title
- Ebola travel restrictions, airport screenings begin after outbreak in Africa
- Runtime
- 1:20
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Starting Thursday, some international flights will be rerouted to Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia so passengers can go through screening for Ebola.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that all travelers who have recently been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan will now be required to land at Dulles. That includes U.S. citizens.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin issued the order Wednesday night. It will remain in effect until further notice.
The move comes amid an ongoing Ebola outbreak in parts of Central and East Africa. Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease that spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids.
Health officials said at least 130 people have died in the current outbreak.
Anyone who has been in those countries within the past 21 days will be subject to the screening at Dulles, the order states. Crew members and cargo-only flights are not i...
- Title
- Veterans Outreach Center hosts 'Vets with Pets' program (ARC Rochester, May 21, 2026)
- Runtime
- 1:15:48
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- ARC Rochester: Thursday, May 21, 2026
- Title
- After 'teen takeover' brawls, sheriff says there's 'no teeth' in laws to hold people accountable
- Runtime
- 2:25
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- From a stabbing at The Mall at Greece Ridge earlier this year, to fights at the Rochester Lilac Festival and Ontario Beach Park within the last week, Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter said so-called "teen takeovers" can leave police with their hands tied.
"We want to make the arrest, but the point is there's no teeth in the system," Baxter said. "We know that we created this culture of lawlessness."
Fighting in public, if no one is hurt or no property is damaged, would likely only lead to a disorderly conduct charge, which is a violation.
"Disorderly conduct is an instant appearance ticket," Baxter said. "(It) used to be maybe an hour and a half of paperwork. Now it's three or four. Throw a juvenile in there, it's five or six man hours. That's a police officer not doing their function of patrolling or helping out with that crowd that's still there, right? You also have a person laughing in us in the back seat of the car."
Baxter said ...
- Title
- Good Samaritan honored for helping woman during brawl at festival
- Runtime
- 0:52
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- A good Samaritan was recognized for doing the right thing during Sunday's fight at the Rochester Lilac Festival.
People's Choice Kitchen partnered with seven other businesses to celebrate 24-year-old Davionte Terrel, who jumped into the chaos to help a woman who was knocked down.
"I didn't really see how it started, I just saw the commotion, but I didn't notice the lady on the floor until I heard her yelling" Terrel said. "So I heard yelling and then I saw her, but you could literally just see everyone staring at her, so I just grabbed her."
"It's probably because I was raised by my grandma and mom, so it was just instinct," Terrel continued. "I got two daughters, too."
READ MORE: https://13wham.com/news/local/good-samaritan-honored-for-helping-woman-during-brawl-at-rochester-lilac-festival-davionte-terrel
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- Title
- Man stabbed on Perinton trail takes stand in suspect's hate crime trial
- Runtime
- 1:34
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Dylan Ghaemi took the stand Thursday in the trial of the man accused of attempting to kill him in a hate crime while he was hiking on a Perinton trail last summer.
Ghaemi testified he said hello to Derrick Van Epps as they passed each other June 23 on the Indian Hill Trail, before Van Epps ran at him from behind and started stabbing him.
Ghaemi said he managed to wrestle Van Epps off him. He told the jury he thought it would be his last moment on Earth.
A Joint Terrorism Task Force deputy also testified, describing his experience investigating terrorism and white supremacist groups. He said certain symbols and numbers can be related to those groups and beliefs.
The jury saw photos of Ghaemi's extensive injuries, photos of evidence collected from Van Epps' vehicle at Egypt Park when he was taken into custody, photos of journal entries, several knives and machetes, and a hatchet.
READ MORE: https://13wham.com/news/local/man...
- Title
- ARCHIVE: Kyle Busch does donuts, burnout in downtown Rochester (July 11, 2013)
- Runtime
- 1:48
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- One month before NASCAR's visit to Watkins Glen International in 2013 (a race he ended up winning), star driver Kyle Busch visited downtown Rochester to put on a show for fans on city streets. 13WHAM's Jon Doss filed this report.
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WHAM is a NY based station and a ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Deerfield Media, Inc and receives cer...
- Title
- Low-tax southern states see population booms as affordability reshapes where people live
- Runtime
- 2:23
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Americans are continuing to relocate away from some of the nation’s highest-tax states and into lower-tax states, particularly across the South, according to new population and tax migration data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Internal Revenue Service.
The figures show states including California, New York, Illinois, New Jersey and Massachusetts experienced some of the largest net population losses in recent years. Meanwhile, states such as Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Arizona posted some of the strongest gains in new residents.
Economists and tax policy analysts say affordability is increasingly shaping where Americans choose to live as inflation, housing prices and overall living costs remain top concerns for many families.
“People are bringing their businesses, their money and their resources to live and work in states that are much more hospitable from a taxpayer perspective,” said Brandon Arnold, executive vice ...
- Title
- Ex-Minnesota nonprofit leader sentenced in $250M fraud case
- Runtime
- 2:23
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- The former head of a Minnesota nonprofit convicted of fraudulently receiving $250 million in federal funds meant to feed underprivileged children was sentenced to 500 months -- or 41-and-a-half-years -- in prison.
Aimee Bock, 45, who ran Feeding Our Future, was sentenced on Thursday.
“I understand I failed. I failed the public, my family, everyone,” Bock said in federal court.
Ahead of her secetening, prosecutors argued in a court filing that the organization "operated like a cash pipeline, open to anyone willing to submit fraudulent claims and pay kickbacks."
“The ripple effects of her actions are profound, immeasurable, and will have lasting consequences for both Minnesota and the nation,” prosecutors wrote.
Bock previously maintained her innocence in an interview with CBS News, describing the guilty verdict as “heartbreaking.”
“If I had done this, I would've pled guilty. I wouldn't have gone ...
- Title
- Charges dropped in Perinton abduction case that prompted Amber Alert
- Runtime
- 1:00
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Charges against four men accused of kidnapping a woman and two children from a "safe harbor" house in Perinton earlier this month have been dropped, according to two defense attorneys in the case.
"I think anybody who would have watched this scene develop in real time ... there's no doubt that this was never a crime."
WATCH MORE: https://youtu.be/uvGnejHXsOo
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Call th...
- Title
- Charges dropped in abduction case that prompted Amber Alert
- Runtime
- 3:18
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) — Charges against four men accused of kidnapping a woman and two children from a "safe harbor" house in Perinton earlier this month have been dropped, according to an attorney for one of the men.
Attorneys representing two of the suspects said the incident was rescue, not a kidnapping.
David Stern said his client was retrieving his younger siblings from "unlawful placement" by Child Protective Services. James Doyle said CPS took them April 30 from their home in Rochester and placed them in the Perinton home.
The Monroe County District Attorney's Office presented the case to a grand jury, which decided not to indict the men, Stern said.
READ MORE: https://13wham.com/news/local/charges-dropped-against-perinton-abduction-suspects-attorney-safe-harbor-house-child-protective-services-cps-amber-alert-rochester-kidnapping
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- Title
- Jan. 6 officers sue Trump over $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund that could pay rioters
- Runtime
- 2:11
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Senate Republican leaders are expected to abandon a proposal for $1 billion in security money for the White House complex and President Donald Trump’s ballroom amid backlash from members of their own party.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune hopes to pass the bill this week and send it to the House before leaving for a weeklong Memorial Day recess. But the bill’s text has still not been released as leaders were wrangling over the security proposal and new GOP concerns over the Trump administration's $1.776 billion settlement fund.
The “anti-weaponization” fund, part of a settlement that resolves Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns, unexpectedly has become one of the main complications in the bill. Democrats said they would force votes to block it or place restrictions on it.
Democrats have an opening because Republicans are trying to pass the immigration enforcement bill through a complicated budget process th...
- Title
- Another Iran-flagged oil tanker boarded by U.S. military as Trump says 'no hurry' on deal
- Runtime
- 3:19
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- The U.S. military said Wednesday that it boarded an Iranian-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman that was suspected of trying to violate the American blockade, the latest action by the Trump administration to try to push Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
But President Donald Trump is facing his own pressure at home for shipping to resume through the vital corridor off Iran's coast. Fellow Republicans in Congress are battling political headwinds ahead of November's midterm elections as gasoline prices skyrocket and global energy markets churn.
Meanwhile, the Senate on Tuesday advanced legislation seeking to force Trump to withdraw from the Iran war, with a growing number of Republicans defying the president in the 50-47 vote.
U.S. Central Command said on social media that the M/T Celestial Sea was searched and redirected after being suspected of trying to head to an Iranian port. It’s at least the fifth commercial vessel to be boarded sinc...
- Title
- Grand jury declines to indict men accused of Perinton kidnapping
- Runtime
- 1:08
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- United Way's Day of Caring, four men walk free after a grand jury declines to indict them on kidnapping charges and a delay in EV school bus mandates — @sjreports has the latest in today's Morning Minute.
- Title
- "Stunted" - author on hormone disorder, masculinity, delayed growth
- Runtime
- 4:25
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- A St. John Fisher alum has written a book about his rare hormonal disorder and how it affected his development as a man.
Fran DiClemente's book "Stunted: A Memoir of Delayed Manhood" covers a turbulent adolescence and young adulthood. At 15, DiClemente was diagnosed with hypopituitarism, uncovering a tumor on his pituitary gland. Its removal didn't fix the problem. He physically didn't pass into adulthood alongside his peers.
DiClemente joined ARC Rochester to talk about the coming-of-age story covered in the book, and what he learned about the definition of manhood.
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- Title
- LIVE: DOJ announces criminal case against former Cuban President Raúl Castro
- Runtime
- 44:31
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- The Trump administration is expected to announce a criminal case against former Cuban President Raúl Castro. That's according to two people familiar with the matter. The announcement was expected Wednesday. The move comes as the U.S. is escalating pressure on the socialist government. Federal prosecutors in Miami have been preparing an indictment related to Castro’s role in the 1996 shootdown of two planes operated by the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue. Castro was Cuba's defense minister at the time. Top Justice Department officials are expected to be in Miami for a ceremony to honor the victims of the shootdown.
- Title
- Southern Poverty Law Center under microscope on Capitol Hill as lawmakers clash
- Runtime
- 3:20
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- The House Judiciary Committee convened on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to examine recent allegations against the Southern Poverty Law Center. Specifically, whether or not it diverted donor funds and mislabeled conservative groups as hate organizations. Republican Chairman, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, opened the hearing with an explosive statement, accusing the SPLC of running a scam.
"Turned out for them creating hate was more profitable than fighting it. That's exactly what they did,” said Jordan.
Among the witnesses who testified on Wednesday was Maya Wiley, who serves as President & CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
"The attack on SPLC is nothing more than part of a larger, broader, coordinated attack on civil rights organizations,” Wiley said.
Another witness, Dr. Carol Swain, who said she faced a smear campaign after publishing an article over 15 years ago arguing the SPLC drifted from targeting hate group...
- Title
- Rep. Ilhan Omar rips DOJ investigation into alleged immigration fraud
- Runtime
- 0:56
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar said Wednesday that any alleged connections to the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme in her state are "flat-out false."
"Any claim that I had knowledge of this scheme is flat-out false," Omar told Fox News.
"The MEALS Act was signed into law by President Trump and passed with bipartisan support as part of a broader legislative package," she said. "Trump’s USDA Secretary set the regulatory framework during the rollout of the program. I have always championed feeding kids and will continue to ensure our children do not go hungry."
Omar added that the "moment this fraud came to light," she "immediately sent a letter to the USDA Secretary demanding answers and accountability."
"As I stated from the beginning, stealing millions of dollars under the guise of feeding hungry children to bankroll lavish lifestyles and extravagant expenses is reprehensible," she noted. "I’m grateful that Aimee Bock and eve...
- Title
- MAGA movement rapidly expanding as Trump-backed candidates win primaries in several states
- Runtime
- 3:30
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- One day after the primary election in Kentucky, a jubilant President Donald Trump celebrated yet another takedown of a Republican lawmaker he deemed disloyal.
“I know how to win. I think I’ve proven that, haven’t I?” Trump told reporters.
"We had a great number of victories. Not just Massie; Massie’s a lowlife. We had a great number of victories," he said.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., lost his primary to challenger Ed Gallrein by 10 percentage points, after being outspoken against Trump’s war in Iran and about making the Jeffrey Epstein files public and holding those involved in alleged sex trafficking accountable.
He spoke about his effort to supporters Tuesday night.
"We've taken out 2 dozen CEOs, an ambassador. A prince A prime minister. A minister of culture. And that was just 6 months. I got seven months left in Congress," Massie said.
Following Massie's loss, former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene...
- Title
- GOP lawmakers worry MAGA wave helping them now could hurt them in November
- Runtime
- 2:31
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- One day after the primary election in Kentucky, a jubilant President Donald Trump celebrated yet another takedown of a Republican lawmaker he deemed disloyal.
“I know how to win. I think I’ve proven that, haven’t I?” Trump told reporters.
"We had a great number of victories. Not just Massie; Massie’s a lowlife. We had a great number of victories," he said.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., lost his primary to challenger Ed Gallrein by 10 percentage points, after being outspoken against Trump’s war in Iran and about making the Jeffrey Epstein files public and holding those involved in alleged sex trafficking accountable.
He spoke about his effort to supporters Tuesday night.
"We've taken out 2 dozen CEOs, an ambassador. A prince A prime minister. A minister of culture. And that was just 6 months. I got seven months left in Congress," Massie said.
Following Massie's loss, former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene...
- Title
- Vance says Rep. Ilhan Omar under DOJ investigation for immigration fraud
- Runtime
- 1:02
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday said the Justice Department is looking into whether Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., committed immigration fraud, citing longstanding allegations that she married a man critics claim is her brother.
Speaking to reporters, Vance was asked about the administration's anti-fraud task force — established by President Donald Trump to combat fraud, waste, and abuse across federal benefit programs — and whether it would focus on Omar, a frequent Trump critic.
"You read the things about Ilhan Omar… who she married and whether she didn't marry this person or that person," Vance said. "It certainly seems like something fishy is there, but everybody's entitled to equal justice under the law."
The comments follow a podcast interview in March, during which Vance told conservative commentator Benny Johnson that he had spoken with White House immigration advisor Stephen Miller about potential legal action against the congresswoma...
- Title
- San Diego mosque shooters' manifesto targeted many groups, sought 'destruction of political system'
- Runtime
- 1:25
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Two teenagers who shot and killed three people in an attack on a California mosque were radicalized online where they first met and shared white supremacist views, according to authorities and writings they authored.
The pair “didn’t discriminate on who they hated,” Mark Remily, the lead FBI agent in San Diego, said Tuesday.
The writings, obtained by The Associated Press, include hateful rhetoric toward Jewish people, Muslims and Islam, as well as the LGBTQ+ community, Black people, women, and both the political left and right. Both express beliefs that white people are being eliminated, and one writes about mental health struggles and being rejected by women.
Investigators also found at least 30 guns, ammunition and a crossbow at two residences after Monday’s attack in San Diego and were trying to uncover whether the shooters had broader plans, Remily said. The shooters, Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Vazquez, 18, killed themselves, according ...
- Title
- Trump endorses Ken Paxton over Cornyn in Texas Senate runoff, rattling GOP
- Runtime
- 1:27
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Senate Republicans, who have spent the past year and a half mostly aligned with President Donald Trump, found themselves at odds with his endorsement against their colleague on Tuesday.
Many Republicans reportedly appeared surprised by Trump’s show of support for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is competing with incumbent Senator John Cornyn for the state’s GOP nomination. The president announced in a social media post on Tuesday that Paxton has his “Complete and Total Endorsement.”
“None of us control what the president does,” Majority Leader John Thune said after Trump’s post. “He made his decision about that. That doesn’t change the way I feel, and I am certainly supportive of—will continue to be supportive of Senator Cornyn and his reelection.”
Thune and many of his colleagues have backed Cornyn’s campaign over the past year, even as the president withheld an endorsement for either of the two candidates. Lawmaker...
- Title
- Trump scores more primary wins against foes, showing his powerful hold on GOP
- Runtime
- 4:02
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- President Donald Trump’s retribution campaign steamrolled another Republican rival on Tuesday, with a Trump-backed challenger ousting one of the president’s leading intra-party antagonists, Rep. Thomas Massie, in a Kentucky primary.
Former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein’s win over Massie continued a May political payback tour that has seen Trump take down five Indiana state senators who voted against his redistricting push two weeks ago, and two-term Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, who voted to impeach Trump in 2021, on Saturday.
It was one of two key races on Kentucky’s primary ballots in which Trump demonstrated his lasting influence with Republican voters.
Kentucky’s polls were the most closely watched on a day in which Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Oregon and Pennsylvania were also holding primaries.
Here are takeaways from Tuesday’s contests:
Trump has vowed retribution against a number of Republicans over slights real an...
- Title
- Rochester man who was pepper-sprayed, stunned with Taser by federal officers faces charges
- Runtime
- 1:55
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- A Rochester man who was pepper-sprayed and stunned with a Taser by federal officers during a traffic stop on the city's northeast side is now facing federal charges, according to court paperwork.
"I've got to protect myself. I was not interfering with what they were trying to do, but you're not going to go back and just push me around and then mace me and then tase me."
READ MORE: https://13wham.com/news/local/rochester-man-pepper-sprayed-tased-by-federal-officers-faces-charges-department-of-homeland-security-northland-avenue
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- Title
- Raúl Castro indicted on criminal charges of murder, conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals
- Runtime
- 2:14
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- The Justice Department was expected to announce a criminal case Wednesday against former Cuban President Raúl Castro as the Trump administration escalates pressure on the socialist government, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Federal prosecutors in Miami were preparing an indictment related to Castro’s alleged role in the 1996 downing of two planes operated by the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue. Castro, now 94, was Cuba's defense minister at the time.
The expected charges include murder and destruction of an airplane, one of the people familiar with the matter said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the case ahead of the announcement.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and other top Justice Department officials were expected to be in Miami on Wednesday for a ceremony to honor those killed in the shootdown.
President Donald Trump has been thre...
- Title
- Dramatic Coast Guard rescue over High Falls in Rochester caught on camera
- Runtime
- 0:44
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Video shared with 13WHAM shows a Coast Guard helicopter crew rescuing a man stranded on an island near High Falls in downtown Rochester.
READ MORE: https://13wham.com/news/local/coast-guard-rescues-person-stranded-on-island-near-high-falls-downtown-rochester-pont-de-rennes-bridge-rope-rescue-helicopter-fire-department
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- Title
- White House reviews Iran peace proposal after Trump delays strikes at request of Arab partners
- Runtime
- 1:43
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Appearing at the construction site for the updated White House ballroom, President Donald Trump spoke Tuesday about his military plans for Iran, suggesting an attack was imminent.
But he said he decided to once again hold off, after being asked by multiple Arab nations to give negotiations a little more time.
For now, negotiations remain deadlocked with an Iranian counterproposal viewed as insufficient. It is said to include no commitments about suspending uranium enrichment, but it does have demands that the U.S. lift sanctions and end the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz.
READ MORE: https://13wham.com/news/nation-world/trump-suggests-iranian-attack-was-imminent-but-will-hold-fire-at-request-of-arab-partners-white-house-ballroom
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- Title
- Former School No. 20 sold
- Runtime
- 1:08
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- A murder conviction, a former school building sold and votes on school budgets — @sjreports has the latest in this Wednesday's Morning Minute.
- Title
- Several razor-thin primary races take over election night across US
- Runtime
- 2:17
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Republican primaries unfolded on Tuesday across Kentucky, Georgia and Alabama, shaping up as another test of President Donald Trump’s grip on the GOP, particularly for Republicans who have challenged him.
First results to come in from Kentucky ended with Republican Rep. Thomas Massie defeated by Ed Gallrein, who Trump handpicked. Rep. Thomas Massie broke with Trump on several high-profile issues, including the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files, U.S. involvement with Iran and Trump’s signature tax legislation.
Trump has endorsed political newcomer Ed Gallrein in an effort to unseat Massie, who has represented Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District since 2012. In a post on Truth Social, Trump called Massie the "Wost Congressman in the Republican Party."
In the Kentucky Republican Senate primary, Rep. Andy Barr won the nomination to succeed retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell.
Over in Georgia, where the Senate race remains crowded ...
- Title
- LA women who paid homeless to register to vote pleads guilty to election fraud charges
- Runtime
- 3:07
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- A Los Angeles County woman has agreed to plead guilty to paying people on Los Angeles’ Skid Row to register to vote.
Federal officials announced the felony count of paying another person to register to vote against Brenda Lee Brown Armstrong this week, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.
"We're committed to protecting the integrity of all American elections at the DOJ Civil Rights Division but there needs to be a commitment from people and leaders here in California,” Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, Harmeet Dhillon, said while announcing the charge.
According to her plea agreement, for nearly two decades, Brown Armstrong worked as a petition circulator. Being paid by coordinators to gather signatures to qualify initiatives, recalls and referendums for California state ballots. She allegedly paid the homeless around $2 or $3 to fill out voter registration forms, instructing them to ...
- Title
- Massie loses KY primary to Gallrein after battle with Trump administration
- Runtime
- 3:16
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Republican primaries unfolded on Tuesday across Kentucky, Georgia and Alabama, shaping up as another test of President Donald Trump’s grip on the GOP, particularly for Republicans who have challenged him.
First results to come in from Kentucky ended with Republican Rep. Thomas Massie defeated by Ed Gallrein, who Trump handpicked. Rep. Thomas Massie broke with Trump on several high-profile issues, including the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files, U.S. involvement with Iran and Trump’s signature tax legislation.
Trump has endorsed political newcomer Ed Gallrein in an effort to unseat Massie, who has represented Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District since 2012. In a post on Truth Social, Trump called Massie the "Wost Congressman in the Republican Party."
In the Kentucky Republican Senate primary, Rep. Andy Barr won the nomination to succeed retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell.
The dynamic played out again this month in Indiana, whe...
- Title
- Putin-Xi talks could heighten US-China tensions over Ukraine & energy, analyst says
- Runtime
- 3:20
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for an official visit to China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping.
China expert and political analyst Gordon Chang told The National News Desk he expects Putin to use the visit to discuss Russia’s war in Ukraine and energy ties with China.
“I think that Putin certainly wants to talk about his failing effort in Ukraine,” Chang said. He added that “China can't be too pleased about it because it's been backing Putin,” and said the leaders are also likely to discuss “Russian energy sales to China,” noting China “right now needs a lot of energy, needs a lot of oil and gas.”
Asked whether the visit could increase tensions between the United States and China, Chang said it should. “Well, it should, because we know that China has been backing this effort in Ukraine. And that is attacks on the West,” he said. “So, yes, the United States should be very upset.”
- Title
- Iran warns retaliation if US resumes strikes; Trump gives Iran weekend deadline to make deal
- Runtime
- 1:22
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Appearing at the construction site for the updated White House ballroom, President Donald Trump on Tuesday spoke about his military plans for Iran, suggesting an attack was imminent.
“I was an hour away. We were all set to go. It would’ve been happening right now, the boats and the ships are all loaded. They’re loaded to the brim. We were all set to start.”
But he said he decided to once again hold off, after being asked by multiple Arab nations to give negotiations a little more time.
“Primarily Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, a little bit and Bahrain and some of the others," Trump said.
We have them negotiating with. We’re all working together. It’s like they had heard I made the decision, they said can you give us a couple more days?
But the stops and starts may also be part of the problem, according to leaders in Iran.
Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Thursday:
"T...
- Title
- Massive brawls at beach park prompt calls for increased safety measures
- Runtime
- 3:18
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- It's not even Memorial Day weekend and Ontario Beach Park in Charlotte has already had two brawls this season.
A witness who provided videos of two fights, which happened Sunday and Monday, said it was many of the same people both times. Parents at the nearby playgrounds grabbed their children and fled the scene. The witness estimated some 200-300 people started running away from the fray.
Tom Beaman Jr., owner California Rollin’ II at the Port of Rochester, said the fights are concerning and it's way too early in the season for them to be happening.
"It's just the riffraff that comes down on the on the buses, it needs to be needs to be monitored," Beaman said.
The Port of Rochester, operated by the city, is actually quite safe, Beaman said. Ontario Beach Park is run by Monroe County. Beaman said beach brawls have been a recurring issue since the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It's to the point where it's kind of embarrassing on t...
- Title
- WATCH: Dramatic Coast Guard rescue of man stranded on island in river
- Runtime
- 0:59
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued a man stranded Sunday on an island near High Falls.
The Rochester Fire Department said it responded just before 5:40 p.m. for a report of someone trapped. Firefighters found the man stranded on an island near the Pont de Rennes pedestrian bridge.
The fire department said it prepared for a rope rescue, but the "extremely strong current and hazardous river conditions" prevented firefighters from deploying a rescue craft. Two firefighters were thrown into the water. One needed help getting back to shore, but both returned safely.
Worsening conditions led to the Coast Guard being called in, according to the fire department. A Coast Guard helicopter rescued the man within minutes of arrival.
Video shared with 13WHAM shows a crew member rappelling from the helicopter, landing on the island and strapping the man into safety equipment before they were pulled up to the helicopter together — all in l...
- Title
- Man pepper-sprayed & tased while interrupting federal officers faces charges, court papers say
- Runtime
- 3:01
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- A Rochester man who was pepper-sprayed and tased by federal officers during a traffic stop near Northland Avenue Monday is now facing federal charges, according to court paperwork.
The paperwork said Hipolito Mateo blocked federal officers from performing official duties during the stop as officers tried to encounter three people they believed were undocumented immigrants. Federal court records said the traffic stop involved members of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Mateo spoke with 13WHAM News before his arrest later Monday. Standing with advocates outside his Newcomb Street home, Mateo said he and his landscaping workers were driving to work when the altercation occurred.
“I’m a United States citizen, my family was born here at Highland Hospital,” Mateo said. "I've got to protect myself. I was not interfering with what they were trying to do, but you're not going to go...
- Title
- Trump suggests Iranian attack was imminent but will hold fire at request of Arab partners
- Runtime
- 2:17
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Appearing at the construction site for the updated White House ballroom, President Donald Trump on Tuesday spoke about his military plans for Iran, suggesting an attack was imminent.
“I was an hour away. We were all set to go. It would’ve been happening right now, the boats and the ships are all loaded. They’re loaded to the brim. We were all set to start.”
But he said he decided to once again hold off, after being asked by multiple Arab nations to give negotiations a little more time.
“Primarily Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, a little bit and Bahrain and some of the others," Trump said.
"We have them negotiating with. We’re all working together. It’s like they had heard I made the decision, they said can you give us a couple more days?"
But the stops and starts may also be part of the problem, according to leaders in Iran.
Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Thursday:
...
- Title
- Deadly Ebola outbreak in Africa triggers new US travel restrictions
- Runtime
- 2:30
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- As health leaders grow concerned about the rapid spread of the Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda, the U.S. has imposed travel restrictions and additional screening measures for some international travelers.
Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said Tuesday that at least 131 people have died in the latest outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Three deaths have also been reported in Uganda, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said people without U.S. passports who have traveled to those countries — or South Sudan — within the past 21 days will face new restrictions when entering the U.S.
“Effective immediately, additional entry restrictions will apply to non-U.S. passport holders who have traveled through affected areas in Uganda, the DRC, or South Sudan within the past 21 days,” the CDC said.
The agency added that the risk ...
- Title
- Boy with autism finds his voice through groundbreaking therapy
- Runtime
- 2:55
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- If there's one thing to learn from Tommy Klein, it's that joy can exist everywhere, every single day.
"Tommy, out of all the kids, has a love for life, which truly he just emulates," said Emma Beach, behavior analyst for developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Golisano Children's Hospital.
Tommy was a happy but quiet baby, and at only 3 months old, his mother Suzanne and father Mike noticed he was developing differently.
"Tommy, right when he was born, he didn't like being held as much as my daughter," Suzanne said. "He seemed internally uncomfortable, and I was concerned. Then as the months went on, he was real happy, but almost too complacent. Just fine sitting in the corner just hanging out, smiling."
As Tommy began to miss milestones, the Kleins began looking for some kind of explanation.
At 20 months old, doctors officially determined Tommy had autism. Suzanne and Mike knew early intervention could make a big diff...
- Title
- FULL: Vance briefs press after Trump puts Iran attack on hold, says US remains 'locked and loaded'
- Runtime
- 55:10
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Vice President JD Vance held the White House briefing Tuesday as press secretary Karoline Leavitt is on maternity leave.
Vance addressed President Donald Trump's decision to delay strikes on Iran amid "serious negotiations" to end the war.
READ MORE: https://13wham.com/news/nation-world
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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 Tel...
- Title
- Rochester police look to active-duty military to fill ranks amid 'staffing crisis'
- Runtime
- 1:40
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Facing a shortage of about 120 officers, the Rochester Police Department is utilizing a program that allows active-duty military servicemembers to fill openings during their last 180 days of enlistment.
"We're talking about every single branch — Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines — and bringing them into our organization."
READ MORE: https://13wham.com/news/local/amid-staffing-crisis-rpd-turning-to-active-duty-military-to-fill-ranks
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13 WHAM Daily Local News Digest: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuTJB6tta5ar3Fu5CumAvlvVunEP6bc9A
For more information, visit https://13wham.com/
Have a news tip? S...
- Title
- Acting AG Todd Blanche faces Senate questioning after DOJ unveils nearly $1.8B fund for Trump allies
- Runtime
- 2:12
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, during a Congressional hearing Tuesday, wouldn't rule out the possibility that people who carried out violence during the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol will be considered for payouts from a new $1.776 billion fund to pay individuals who believe they were targeted politically.
Tuesday’s hearing was meant to address the Trump administration’s budget request for the Justice Department but quickly delved into other controversies that have escalated concerns about the erosion of the law enforcement agency’s tradition of independence from the White House. Blanche defended the creation of the fund without any acknowledgment that the Trump administration has pursued investigations of President Donald Trump's political opponents, sparking criticism that the department is being weaponized in precisely the same way they allege it was under the Biden administration to prosecute Trump.
READ MORE: https://13wham.com/news/n...
- Title
- Investigators trying to figure out motive behind deadly shooting at San Diego mosque
- Runtime
- 2:06
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Hours before an attack at a San Diego mosque that killed three men, including a security guard being hailed as a hero, police were racing to find the two teenagers who would ultimately be deemed responsible.
The search began after the mother of one of the teens reported that her son was suicidal and had run away, according to Police Chief Scott Wahl, who said weapons and her vehicle were missing from the family's home.
Two hours later, the shooting started at the Islamic Center of San Diego, which also houses a school.
The suspects, ages 17 and 18, were found in a vehicle after killing themselves near the site of the shooting.
Authorities planned to execute search warrants Tuesday as they piece together how and why the attack happened. There was no specific threat against the Islamic center, which is the largest mosque in San Diego, but authorities found that the suspects engaged in “generalized hate rhetoric," Wahl said, adding tha...
- Title
- Trump holds off on Iran attack, says 'serious negotiations' in place
- Runtime
- 2:49
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- President Donald Trump said he is holding off on a planned military strike on Iran for Tuesday at the request of several allies in the Middle East because “serious negotiations” are underway. The Monday social media announcement comes a day after Trump warned Tehran the “clock is ticking” to strike a deal, his latest threat to end the ceasefire struck in mid-April. Trump didn’t offer details about the planned attack but said he instructed the U.S. military to be prepared for a possible “full, large-scale assault of Iran.”
Earlier in the day, world shares mostly retreated and oil prices jumped after Trump warned Tehran that the “clock is ticking” as U.S.-Iran negotiations over a permanent end to the war stall. U.S. futures fell and markets in Japan and South Korea pulled back from their records.
READ MORE: https://13wham.com/news/nation-world/president-trump-holds-off-on-iran-attack-serious-negotiations-in-place-secretary-war-pete-hegseth-midd...
- Title
- Abbott's Frozen Custard celebrates 100th anniversary
- Runtime
- 23:33
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Abbott's Frozen Custard began its existence as a stand at the corner of Lake and Beach Avenues in 1926. 100 years later, it now has more than 40 locations in seven states and even has some outlets in Japan.
Chris Lopez headed to Abbott's to find the source of this delicious magic.
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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 affi...
- Title
- Sabres' playoffs run ends with 3-2 loss to Canadiens
- Runtime
- 1:05
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- A crushing end to the Sabres' run in the playoffs, an update on a Lake Avenue house explosion and a massive brawl at Ontario Beach Park — @sjreports has the latest in today's Morning Minute.
- Title
- Sound Stage: Rylee Pierce's "Whiskey Over Me" and "Montana"
- Runtime
- 14:23
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- A 20-year-old singer-songwriter from Brockport has been captivating people in our area with her personal and honest songs.
Now Rylee Pierce makes her ARC Rochester debut in this week's Sound Stage.
You can catch Rylee Pierce on the following dates:
May 28 — 585 Back Porch (Brockport) from 6:30 to 9:30
May 29 — Bones and Barley (Spencerport) from 6 to 9
May 30 — Green Harbor Resort (Lyndonville) from 7 to 10
June 5 — Songwriters Circle at Rustic Roots (Spencerport) from 6 to 9
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13 WHAM Daily Local News Digest: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuTJB6tta5ar3Fu5CumAvlvVunEP6bc9A
For...
