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Local News: September 22, 2023

– Health insurance costs for Cortland County employees, retirees may rise – Cortland County retirees and employees may see their health insurance contributions rise by 10% in 2024. The Cortland Voice reports the county is facing a $1.3 million gap in the 2024 budget. The insurance increase would close that gap.  The legislature is set to vote on the resolution at their September 28 meeting. – State mandates push Tompkins County budget up – Tompkins County’s 2024 budget recommendations were presented to the legislature earlier this week. County Administrator Lisa Holmes submitted the $254 million budget includes a 2% tax levy increase. It also contains increases of several million dollars because of state…

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2019 Spring Writes Literary Festival in Ithaca [AUDIO]

By Esther Racoosin

Kathy Henion, Artistic Director of Spring Writes, and Robin Schwartz, Program Director of the Community Arts Partnership, talk about the literary festival, now in its 10th year. The event takes place from Thursday, May 2nd to Sunday, May 5th, and includes 43 individual events.                    

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From left to right, at NYSBA Luncheon in Binghamton on Apr. 18: WRFI General Manager Felix Teitelbaum; News Director Laura Rosbrow-Telem; Producer Elena Piech; Producer Skylar Eagle; and Ithaca Voice Managing Editor Kelsey O'Connor. Photo credit: Ofri Telem

WRFI Wins NYSBA Award for Outstanding Public Affairs Program or Series for ‘The Loneliness Radio Project’

By WRFI News Staff

WRFI was recently honored by the New York State Broadcasters Association with a 2019 Excellence in Broadcasting Award for “The Loneliness Radio Project.” We are thrilled to say we won a first place statewide award in the category of Outstanding Public Affairs Program or Series and are so proud of all our collaborators who made…

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Will Food Motivate People to Take Action on Climate Change? [Audio]

By WRFI News Staff

This feature is excerpted from a seminar Cornell Professor Mike Hoffman delivered, titled Our Changing Menu: What Climate Change Means to the Foods we Love and Need. Professor Hoffman is the Executive Director for the Cornell Institute for Climate Smart Solutions. Featured Music Credit : Aourourou – Blue Dot SessionsFeatured Image Credit: Cornell Universityhttp://events.cornell.edu/event/our_changing_menu_what_climate_change_means_to_the_foods_we_love_and_need Produced…

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Ithaca Descendants of Holocaust Survivors Sponsors Program [AUDIO]

By Esther Racoosin

Jennifer Herzog, member of the organization Ithaca Descendants of Holocaust Survivors, talks about the upcoming event, “Considering our Artifacts: Keeping Their Stories Alive”. At this event, Judith Cohen, Chief acquisitions curator at the US Memorial Holocaust Museum in Washington DC, will talk about her museum’s archives and about how artifacts are cared for and exhibited.…

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Local News: September 22, 2023

By Celia Clarke | September 22, 2023 | Comments Off on Local News: September 22, 2023

– Health insurance costs for Cortland County employees, retirees may rise – Cortland County retirees and employees may see their health insurance contributions rise by 10% in 2024. The Cortland Voice reports the county is facing a $1.3 million gap in the 2024 budget. The insurance increase would close that gap.  The legislature is set…

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Local News: September 21, 2023

By Celia Clarke | September 21, 2023 | Comments Off on Local News: September 21, 2023

– Ithaca Leaders Postpone Vote on Cornell Funding, Approve Homeless Encampment Policy – The Ithaca Common Council held a special meeting Wednesday night to vote on two highly significant matters. But, they postponed a vote on the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Cornell until an October meeting. Mayor Lewis said that would give Alderpersons…

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Local News: September 20, 2023

By Celia Clarke | September 20, 2023 | Comments Off on Local News: September 20, 2023

– Tick-borne illnesses double in Tompkins County – Tick-borne illnesses are on the rise in our region and across the country. According to The Ithaca Voice, the number of cases of Lyme disease in Tompkins County has doubled in the past year. Part of the reason is milder winters because of climate change. Ticks, especially…

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Local News: September 19, 2023

By Celia Clarke | September 19, 2023 | Comments Off on Local News: September 19, 2023

Opponents of the draft payment agreement between Cornell and the City of Ithaca protested on campus Monday evening. The new proposal would require Cornell to pay Ithaca $4 million a year over the next 21 years with regular increases for inflation. That’s up from the $1.6 million currently paid. Opponents like Kay Minnix don’t think…

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