Live, Local, and Commercial-Free
Listen now at 89.7FM, 88.1FM in Ithaca, or 91.9FM in Watkins Glen, using our web player.
Tompkins Ethics Board Finds City And County Violated Policies The Tompkins County ethics board has finished its investigation of Ithaca’s Re-Imagining Public Safety process. It reports that Ithaca and Tompkins County officials violated existing policies when selecting the consultants and advisors for the city’s public safety initiative. The County Ethics Advisory Board issued its report on Monday. The board spent over a year investigating allegations brought by Ithaca Alderperson Cynthia Brock. The report also concluded that then-Mayor Svante Myrick did not properly disclose conflicts of interest relating to his paid consulting work for an organization he now works for. And the report says he created an appearance of a conflict of interest in…
It’s been over a week since Ithaca CarShare temporarily closed. The nonprofit stopped operating on May 19 because of an insurance problem that can only be solved with new state legislation. I called Ithaca CarShare members – Ellie Santoro, Jayne Soulman, and Marybeth Michelson-Theiry to find out how not having access to the car share…
Read More
Ithaca CarShare is closing down today. They intend for this to be a pause but they are facing insurance problems that can only be solved by the state legislature. I spoke with Executive Director Liz Field about the situation, how it’s affecting their members, and what comes next. We talked on the day before the…
Read More
In this week’s episode of The Scene, photographer and art professor Dan Torop discusses his recent work in the exhibitions Falling Water and Three Rainbows; the science and technology that he has used in rendering images of the physical world; and the social and cultural histories that accompany and shape tools of photography and other forms of visual rendering.
Read MoreLatest from the WRFI News Team
Daily features and interviews from our community
Local News for June 7, 2023
– Air Quality Warning Stays In Effect – The state Department of Environmental Conservation has issued another air quality warning for today. Smoke from Canadian wildfires is causing hazy skies and poor air quality across most of New York state including the southern Finger Lakes. Joanne Labounty is with the Binghamton office of the National…
Read More
Local News for June 6, 2023
– Ithaca Police Expand Search For Missing Man – Ithaca Police expanded their search for a missing man to include part of Newfield on Friday. Police say Thomas Rath went missing on May 19 under suspicious circumstances. Rath was first reported missing from the encampment known as “The Jungle” along Ithaca’s inlet. He is 6…
Read More
Local News for June 5, 2023
Tompkins County Announces $700,000 In Grant Funds For Nonprofits Tackling Opioid Crisis Tompkins County nonprofits can now apply for some of the opioid settlement funds. The County’s Opioid Task Force will distribute $700,000 in grants for work related to the opioid crisis. The money comes from settlements paid by drugmakers and distribution companies. Information about…
Read More
Local News for June 2, 2023
– Tompkins County Considering A 2 Percent Tax Levy Increase – Tompkins County Administrator Lisa Holmes is proposing a 2 percent tax levy increase in the 2024 budget. She says it’s necessary to cover rising energy costs and emergency services. It would cost the average homeowner about $50 more. To pay for it the county…
Read More
Local News for June 1, 2023
– State Regulators Vote To Settle Lawsuit Preventing Marijuana Retail Licenses In Finger Lakes – Retail marijuana licenses can now be issued in the Finger Lakes Region. The state’s Cannabis Control Board agreed to settle a lawsuit during their meeting on Tuesday. The Albany Times Union reports a Michigan resident sued New York because he…
Read More
Local News for May 30, 2023
– Ithaca Common Council Members Introduce Gun Storage Legislation – The Ithaca Common Council is considering a gun storage law. It would require gun owners to lock up or disable their firearms in their homes. The issue was discussed at last week’s City Administration Committee meeting. The Ithaca Voice reports the legislation would carry fines…
Read More