Posts by WRFI News Staff
As State Legislative Session Nears End, Cuomo Proposes Legislation to Waive Taxes on Grants From $800 Million Pandemic Small Business Recovery Program
Photo by Mike Petrucci on Unsplash On Tuesday, Governor Cuomo proposed legislation to waive taxes from money given through the COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program. The Program was passed in the state budget in April. It includes $800 million dollars to be given in direct grants to small business, micro business, and for-profit…
Read MoreCoronavirus Update, June 8, 2021
On Monday, Governor Cuomo announced that New York would end it’s COVID-19 restrictions once the adult vaccination rate reached 70 percent. It’s currently at 68.6 percent in New York. These changes would lift COVID-19 capacity restrictions in most commercial settings in New York state, i,.e. disinfecting requirements, health screening to inform contact tracing, social distancing.…
Read MoreForum Features Primary Candidates for Ithaca Common Council’s 1st and 5th Wards
On Monday, a partial forum was held for candidates running for Ithaca’s Common Council in its 1st and 5th wards. The event was hosted by the City of Ithaca Democratic Committee and the Tompkins County Democratic Committee. The forum functioned in a round-table style Q&A. Candidates spoke to nine questions asked by Democratic Committee Moderator,…
Read MoreEnvironmentalists Go to the DEC’s Doorstep, Demand for Regulations on Cryptocurrency Mining
Environmentalists rally outside of the DEC’s Avon, NY offices on June 5th, 2021. (Jimmy Jordan/WRFI) UPDATE: Cuomo Addresses Bitcoin Mining: “There Are Serious Concerns” ITHACA, NY — The fight to regulate energy-intensive cryptocurrency mining in New York reached the DEC’s front door on Saturday. Close to two-hundred people rallied outside one the DEC’s regional headquarter…
Read MoreNY State Bills to Regulate Cryptocurrency Mining Have Uncertain Future
SUMMARY Cryptocurrency mining might just make it impossible for New York State to meet it’s climate goals, outlined in the New Your State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. There’s a bill in the New York State Legislature calling for a moratorium on cryptocurrency mining, but with the end of this Legislative Session coming up…
Read MoreCoronavirus Update, June 3, 2021
Tompkins County is reporting 8 new cases of the Coronavirus, and a total of 30 active cases. Active COVID hospitalizations have dropped from 4 to One, with all three Tompkins County residents being released. Schuyler County is reporting no new cases of the virus, and a total of 4 active cases of COVID-19.
Read MoreStabbing on Ithaca Commons Under Investigation
A stabbing occurred on the west end of the Ithaca Commons at approximately 4:39am. The Ithaca Police Department is reporting that the victim sustained serious injuries and significant blood loss. The victim was able to walk to a nearby gas station, call 911, and was transported by helicopter to a regional hospital. The IPD press…
Read MoreTompkins County Supports State Moratorium on Cryptocurrency Mining
The Tompkins County Legislature unanimously passed a resolution supporting a state moratorium on Cryptocurrency mining. The moratorium is a part of a bill before the New York state legislature, drafted by Assemblymember Anna Kelles. Cryptocurrency mining can be very energy intensive. Greenidge Generation LLC is a gas-fired power plant on Seneca Lake. They’re currently mining…
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