Local middle schoolers vie for chance to compete in National Civics Bee
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – Middle school students sharpened their knowledge of civics Monday night for a chance to participate in the 2025 National Civics Bee.
The Rochester Chamber of Commerce invited local students to address various topics designed to allow them to share their thoughts on important issues impacting their communities.
(WROC/Trinity Wilson)
Nineteen students from nine counties in and around Rochester competed in three rounds Monday night.
Gates-Chili students spoke with News 8 about two topics: Students not getting enough sleep, and gang violence.
Gananda cheer celebrates state title
'I wanted to focus on that cause I am many different things, and I feel like it's a large problem cause that's what we look up to in the world as it is – and I feel like kids should understand, that's not what you should look up to,' said Brycen Ashten. 'I think it's very important for students to get their education and if they get enough sleep, that may help them.'
The competition includes various prizes, including a $1,000 cash prize for the state champ.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
4 hours ago
- New York Post
Bill Gates pleaded with Marco Rubio to reverse Elon Musk's DOGE cuts to USAID: report
Bill Gates paid a secret visit to the White House on Friday to personally plead with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reverse cuts to foreign aid that were spearheaded by tech rival Elon Musk, according to a report. Gates, the Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist who has been vocal in his opposition to cuts made by Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, sought an audience with Rubio after his boss's fallout with the Tesla mogul, former Puck reporter Tara Palmeri reported on her Red Letter newsletter. President Trump and Musk, once close political allies, traded barbs on social media last week — ending a partnership that began during the 2024 presidential campaign. Advertisement 4 Bill Gates paid a secret visit to the White House on Friday to personally plead with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reverse the cuts made to foreign aid, according to a report. REUTERS 'With Musk on the outs, Gates clearly saw an opportunity to argue for the reversal of the DOGE cuts,' Palmeri reported. DOGE slashed more than $8 billion in funding for the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which provides assistance in the areas of HIV and AIDS prevention in Africa as well as treating malaria and other infectious diseases on the continent. According to Palmeri, however, Gates' pleas fell on deaf ears as Rubio told the software mogul that there are no plans to reverse the USAID cuts. Advertisement '[Rubio] said the country is insolvent, we can't pay back our debts,' a source with knowledge of the situation told Palmeri. Gates was likewise observed in the West Wing and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on Friday, making his appearance around 4 p.m., according to Palmeri. The mogul appeared just after Trump's departure for his Bedminster golf course. Advertisement Officials within the administration would neither confirm nor deny that Gates met with the president, whose attention on Friday was reportedly consumed by calls from journalists inquiring Elon Musk. Anna Kelly, a White House spokesperson, told The Post: 'We don't comment on private meetings that may or may not have occurred.' The New York Times' Teddy Schleifer reported over the weekend that Rubio had refused to meet with Gates for months despite Gates's repeated attempts. Advertisement 4 Secretary of State Marco Rubio rebuffed Gates, according to a report in Red Letter. AFP via Getty Images 4 Gates was incensed by the DOGE cuts, accusing Musk of 'killing the world's poorest children.' REUTERS Senior State Department officials told Palmeri that Gates sought a meeting with Rubio in April. 'The Secretary's position on making important and necessary cuts to foreign aid has not changed,' a senior State Department official told Palmeri, confirming the meeting. 'He does not believe US taxpayers should be burdened with covering the costs for progressive projects abroad, including funding contraceptives, electric buses, and DEI.' The official added that 'as the secretary has repeatedly mentioned, the future of foreign aid under the Trump Administration means that we will only be funding true lifesaving programs and initiatives that advance our national interests.' 4 Musk's DOGE made more than $8 billion in cuts to the US Agency for International Development. AP The Post has sought comment from Gates and Rubio. Advertisement Gates was incensed by the DOGE cuts, accusing Musk of 'killing the world's poorest children.' Musk hit back last month, lashing out at Gates over his past ties to the late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. 'Who does Bill Gates think he is to make comments about the welfare of children given that he frequented Jeffrey Epstein?' Musk said during an interview on Tuesday at the Bloomberg Qatar Economic Forum. 'I wouldn't trust that guy to baby-sit my kids, I can tell you that.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
‘An issue of democracy': Activists against book bans hold panel discussion in Rochester
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – Across the nation, schools and libraries are opting to ban books in response to community feedback on the subject matter they portray. Those in support of these bans argue it's a necessary step in protecting young children and families. Local community members against book bans came together Wednesday evening for a discussion at St. John Fisher University, during which a panel of literature experts spoke on why they believe book bans are harmful to society. Associate Professor of English at SUNY Brockport Cody Miller was on the panel and explained why he believes this discussion to be important now more than ever. 'Access to books through both public libraries and public schools is inherently an issue of democracy,' Miller said. 'When we limit access to books and information, you can't be a well-informed, well-rounded citizen to then participate in the democracy at large.' West Irondequoit School Board Member Tamara Wall, Henrietta Library Director Adrienne Pettinelli and Churchville-Chili student and activist Jaise Newman were also on the panel. Newman says the discussion of book bans is personal to him. 'There's a lot of books that I really love and have done important things for me,' Newman said. 'It's a little scary to hear that books that I love, my friends love or even my English teachers love are at risk of being banned.' Some of the sub-topics discussed by the panel include censorship, autonomy, diversity and inclusion. Event organizers also summarized how they believe book bans have impacted culture in Rochester since the 1950s. Newman and Miller share the perspective of books continuing to hold heavy influence in the way we function as a society, especially when it comes to policy-making. 'I think everybody's read something that's really connected with them, and people see the power books have and that they can impact students and young people,' Newman said. The panel also discussed New York Senate Bill S6350B, which is in Assembly review. If passed, it would implement 'The Freedom to Read Act', requiring the Commissioner of Education, school systems and libraries to establish policies to adhere to when selecting and removing books from shelves statewide. The full Senate bill can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Rochester nonprofit ends refugee resettlement program following federal immigration freeze
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – Catholic Charities, a Rochester-based nonprofit, has had to end its refugee resettlement program and other related services following changes to the federal immigration policy. News 8 has learned that about 800 refugees who would have relocated to Rochester through the organization are no longer able to, as the agency is losing capacity to resettle the population over the federal freeze. That freeze, which started in January, has halted refugee resettlement and immigration programs across the country and has forced some locally-based programs to make adjustments. Immediately after the freeze took place, representatives for Catholic Charities say the nonprofit chose to raise funds and underwrite costs for existing clients. In April, their contractor agency ended its relationship with the Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, which left the organization no choice but to cut the primary program and other specialized services for refugee families. 'The main change is to our refugee resettlement program. Before the main freeze and last year in 2024, we welcomed 1,100 refugees in our community through Catholic Charities. We're unfortunately no longer able to do that because of the federal pause on refugee resettlement. What that means for us is we're losing that capacity to resettle refugees. We've lost staff as well in this process. We've had to reduce staff in a few layoffs, but we've been very successful with moving many of our people into other positions in the department or agency,' said Jim Morris, who serves as vice president for family prosperity programs at Catholic Charities. Morris added the agency is committed to working with families on next steps in the midst of uncertainty. 'What's very important to us is to maintain the capacity to assist refugees that are already here. We're doing that through programs like our refugee employment program, which places hundreds of refugees to work in our community every year. These closures are not of our own design or desire. We have had closures and funds frozen. If it were up to us, of course we would keep these programs open,' said Morris. Morris noted these changes at the federal level were seen in President Trump's first term, but says the results were not as severe. 'This time around, there's been a complete halt to refugee settlement. There was a promised review from the administration 90 days after that halt. We have not seen a review and we are not sure that exists. That report was supposed to describe the conditions under which refugee resettlement would continue. We're still not sure that is going to happen,' said Morris. In part of a statement, Catholic Charities representatives added, 'Despite these changes, CCFCS is still delivering a wide range of refugee and immigration services, including job preparation and placement, post-resettlement integration and self-sufficiency services, refugee health, and legal immigration services. If the federal administration decides to restart the admission of refugees to the U.S., CCFCS stands ready to resume that work as well. The Greater Rochester region has a long history of embracing refugees from around the world. CCFCS is proud of the role we play in this work. As we move forward, we remain most grateful for the community's support of our mission.' Meanwhile, Keeping Our Promise, a Rochester-based 501(c)(3) resettlement organization, has helped to resettle 181 individuals from Afghanistan since the federal freeze took effect in January. A spokesperson for the organization added, 'Thanks to grants from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation and the Asian American Federation, we are able to cover staff salaries. A United Way grant, and a grant from the Greater Rochester Health Foundation, is helping to cover the loss in some of the resettlement funds that would leave these families homeless and without food, but KOP must raise money to help with the resettlement of our wartime allies from Afghanistan.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
