Good news for Verizon customers.The wireless provider has activated 23 new 4G LTE cell sites throughout the Rochester area, expanding and enhancing coverage on the high-speed wireless data network the company launched locally and nationwide in 2010

The network enhancements were part of nearly $158 million the company invested in its Upstate New York wireless network in 2011.

Verizon Wireless added 4G LTE to sites in Rochester, Gates, Farmington, Henrietta, Brighton, Greece, Geneseo, Churchville, Pittsford, Charlotte, Manchester, Phelps

The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network was named the 'Fastest 4G Network Yet' by Popular Science's Best of What's New awards and ranked No. 1 on PC World's 100 Best Products of 2011.

When I visit schools, I’m often asked how I became interested in the weather. Observing the weather as a high school student and as a college student studying meteorology at Lyndon State College in Vermont played a very important role in my professional growth. Growing up in eastern Massachusetts, I had many opportunities to be an eyewitness to a number of major weather events like Hurricane Gloria in 1985, and the March “Superstorm” of 1993.  I also had the unique opportunity and privilege to work at and intern at the Blue Hill Observatory, which holds the title for the longest, most homogeneous climate record in the United States. They’ve never missed a day of weather observations since April 1, 1885. Now that’s what I call dedication!

Congresswoman Kathy Hochul was in Rochester Monday to tour the Monroe County 911 call center on West Main Street.

Hochul is working with lawmakers to update 911 centers across the nation. She wants people to be able to send text messages, photos, and videos to emergency dispatchers.

The Buffalo-area Democrat believes lives might have been saved during the 2007 shooting rampage on the campus of Virginia Tech if 911 centers were able to accept text messages.

"There were literally scores of young people who tried to send text messages to let people know that there was a shooter on the campus and those were all unresponded because the technology was not there to receive these messages," Hochul told reporters in Rochester on Tuesday.

John Merklinger is the director of the Monroe County 911 Call Center. He says the major obstacle is funding.