Today's headlines for August 7

You're listening to WXXI Daily News. I'm Michaela Singleton. A report on mental health treatment recommends changes to state policy before a New York law expires. Police continue searching for the shooters behind deadly incidents after the Puerto Rican Festival, so Rochester City Council President weighs in on initiatives to prevent future violence. Plus, one of the Republican gubernatorial candidates claims he has a better solution for prediction markets like Kalshi. It's Friday, August 7th. A new report commissioned by the state legislature takes a look at New York's court-ordered mental health treatment program. More than a quarter century after Kendra's law first took effect. As Samuel King with the New York Public News Network reports, some advocates say the findings show cause for concern. Kendra's law allows a court to order assisted outpatient treatment or aOT for people who have been determined to be at risk of harming themselves or others. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and the Human Services Research Institute found those who went through voluntary treatment mostly had similar outcomes to those who went through court-mandated treatment. Luke Sikini is with the Alliance for Rights and Recovery. He says the report highlights concerns about due process and access to services. So for us, that really says that, you know, it's up to the state to really advance and expand the services so more people have access to them without having a court order. Speaking on public radios, the Capitol Press Room, Dr. Miriam Tepper, with the State Office of Mental Health, says officials are reviewing the report's recommendations. We really feel it is for this very small group of people for whom it is appropriate. It is a really important tool in the toolbox, and we want to be sure that it continues to be available for those who need it. Kendra's law expires next year unless the legislature renews it. In Albany, I'm Samuel King for the New York Public News Network. The president of Rochester City Council says there is no easy solution to the kind of gun violence that took two lives last weekend. Police are still searching for the shooters who fired into large crowds that were gathered after the sanctioned events of the Puerto Rican Festival. Miguel Melendez joined WXXI's connections with Evan Dawson to discuss what happened and why it will take many people getting involved to prevent future violence. We've never had this level of incident occur after the festival. The festival happens on a particular weekend. The parades happen on a particular weekend. It happens to be the same weekend. But when you go to the festival, there's thousands upon thousands of people celebrating at the festival and enjoying the music. It's a great, great opportunity for our community to showcase our pride and to have music that is our music played in Center City of Rochester. But... What happens on the street is these are individuals who more than likely did not show up at the festival, at least the starting organizing of it. Or after the, on Saturday night, typically, we do see some people who leave the festival to parade a little bit. The gatherings, one of the things that we've tried to do is work with organizers to break them up as early as possible. Do you think the new policy from the city that seeks to prevent gatherings of more than 10 after 11 p.m.? Do you think that failed? Do you think that was a bad idea? I wouldn't say it was a bad idea. I would say that the concept of trying to tell the public that nothing good really happens after 11 p.m. in terms of some of the gatherings that occur. I mean, I understand that people want to come together and socialize and party. It's a summer. But unfortunately, we've also seen, after that hour, situations that have turned violent. You know, whether this was the solution to the problem is a question.