Rochester natives brought home Olympic gold x2 🥇

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Friday that the president's tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were unconstitutional. The Greater Rochester Chamber called it a relief for the local business community, noting one member had reported losing over $2 million a month on steel and aluminum tariffs alone. The IEEPA tariffs are done, but Section 232 tariffs on metals remain in place, and Trump announced a new 10% global tariff under a different law within hours. The trade chaos isn't over, but Friday was a big shift.

Rochester hosted the Special Olympics NY Winter Games this weekend. Nearly 900 athletes and coaches from across the state competed in seven sports — from alpine skiing at Swain to figure skating at Tim Hortons Iceplex — during the 2026 State Winter Games on Friday and Saturday. The Riverside Convention Center hosted opening and closing ceremonies, and the Rochester Ice Cats Friendship Tournament ran alongside the Games at the Iceplex in what organizers called a "Day of Inclusion." This is the second of a three-year run for the Games in Rochester.

Wicked is back and it's selling out. The touring production returned to the West Herr Auditorium Theatre last Tuesday for its first Rochester run in nine years. It took 10 semi-trucks of equipment to build the set. Shows run through March 1^st, and limited tickets are still available through RBTL or Ticketmaster.

Governor Hochul's proposed state budget includes $300 million for the Rochester-Monroe Transformation Initiative, with $75 million earmarked for the new High Falls State Park and the remaining $225 million up for grabs across riverfront projects. The Roc the Riverway initiative, Red Wings stadium upgrades, and the former Riverside Hotel redevelopment are all on the list. The Legislature has until April 1 to approve the budget.

Mamma G's opened a second location at Pittsford Plaza. The family-owned Italian spot, known for homemade pasta and a loyal following at its Henrietta location, opened last Wednesday in a 5,000+ square foot space next to Stretch Lab. The full hours (11am–9pm, Tuesday through Sunday) start tomorrow, February 24. People rave about their service, authenticity, and huge portions.

Rochester hosted the first NY State Special Olympics Games in 1970. Two years after Eunice Kennedy Shriver launched the Special Olympics movement nationally, Rochester was chosen as the host, and has hosted the state-level games 7 times since. This weekend's Winter Games were backed by local organizations like the Golisano Foundation, Wegmans, and M&T Bank, and featured athletes competing at Bristol Mountain, the Tim Hortons Iceplex, and venues across the Finger Lakes.

Pittsford native Chris Lillis won his second Olympic gold medal on Saturday in mixed team aerials alongside teammates Kaila Kuhn and Connor Curran, defending Team USA's title from 2022. Lillis, who trained at Bristol Mountain since age three, scored 117.19 on his final jump to seal the win. The mountain hosted a watch party at the Rocket Lodge during the event.

Five Bishop Kearney graduates, including Webster's Haley Winn, won gold with the U.S. women's hockey team after a thrilling overtime victory over Canada on Thursday. It's the third time the U.S. women have won Olympic hockey gold, and all three were against Canada. Bishop Kearney had eight total alumnae competing in women's hockey across multiple countries, including players on the German and Czech teams.

Rochester might be the most Olympic-connected mid-size city in the country right now. Not a bad week for the 585.

If you hit a pothole on a state highway, there's a number for that — but there's a catch. Call 1-800-POTHOLE to report damage on any state road (like 390, 490, or 590). Here's what most people don't realize: New York State is only liable for pothole damage between May 1^st and November 15^th. If your tire blows outside that window, the state won't pay. For city streets, Rochester will cover repair costs, if the pothole was previously reported before your incident. So even if your car is fine, reporting a pothole now could save someone else hundreds later. Report city potholes at cityofrochester.gov/311.

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— Nick