Posts by WRFI News Staff
Coronavirus Update, November 19, 2020
At its regular meeting Tuesday night, the Tompkins County legislature voted unanimously to approve its 2021 budget, WSKG news reports. The total budget, at just under $52.4 million dollars, is 6 percent less than the 2020 budget. The budget reflects decreased revenues in the current year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. County comptroller…
Read MoreCoronavirus Update, November 18, 2020
The Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency, or TCIDA, awarded emergency grants to local childcare providers to provide financial support for COVID-19 facilities upgrades. The Ithaca Times reports that TCIDA approved the grant program in order to improve coronavirus safety measures at childcare centers. Since June, eligible nonprofits and small businesses statewide have been able to…
Read MoreCoronavirus Update, November 16, 2020
There was a public COVID exposure involving an employee at the Ithaca Texas Roadhouse restaurant. According to the Ithaca Voice, the exposures occurred on Tuesday, November 10th from 3PM-10PM, and Wednesday November 11th from 3:30PM-8PM. Tompkins County Health Officials are urging diners who were present at those times to get tested, and monitor any symptoms…
Read MoreInterview: Leslie Danks Burke, State Senate democratic challenger [AUDIO]
On the day after election day, WRFI General Manager Felix Teitelbaum interviewed State Senate Democratic challenger for the 58th District, Leslie Danks Burke. Burke was the most popular candidate in Tompkins County, but ultimately lost to Republican incumbent Tom O’Mara, who won the 2020 election. Listen to the full interview below, and hear local news…
Read MoreCoronavirus Update, November 5, 2020
Kendal at Ithaca retirement community announces that it will reopen to visitors as early as next week following nearly 3 weeks of closure due to residents and staff testing positive for COVID-19. The Ithaca Voice reports that during the three-week shutdown, Kendal administrators published daily updates on positive tests and steps being taken to reduce…
Read MoreCoronavirus Update, November 4, 2020
The Tompkins County Health Department recently received a $40,000 grant from the Kresge Foundation, according to the Ithaca Times. The money was given as part of a rapid response effort to support local health departments during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Health Department said that they are using the money to fund a mobile COVID-19 testing…
Read MoreCoronavirus Update, November 3, 2020
Looking at the local COVID-19 caseload, the latest numbers, released today by the Tompkins County health department, indicate that there is 1 additional positive case, and 10 new recoveries. According to the County Health Department, that leaves 47 active cases of COVID-19 in Tompkins. In Schuyler County, there are 6 new cases of COVID-19 and…
Read MoreCoronavirus Update, November 2, 2020
The Tompkins County Health Department says an individual who tested positive for COVID-19 and works at the Dryden VFW organization located at 2272 Dryden Rd in the Town of Dryden may have transmitted the virus to persons who were at the VFW last week. This person is a resident of another County, according to a…
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