Live, Local, and Commercial-Free
Listen now at 89.7FM, 88.1FM in Ithaca, or 91.9FM in Watkins Glen, using our web player.
Station News and Events
Here are the latest announcements and opportunities to get involved in WRFI, follow along with us on this journey of serving Ithaca and Watkins Glen with community radio. We love hearing from you! Contact us anytime.
On this week’s episode of The Scene, host Chantal Thomas interviews Rachel Rebouché about the potential for interstate conflict following the Supreme Court’s decision last week in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to overturn Roe v. Wade. Read Rachel Rebouché’s article, The New Abortion Battleground (co-authored with David Cohen and Greer Donley), here. The Scene also…
Read More
On today’s episode of The Scene, host Chantal Thomas interviews Eric Miller, one of the lawyers on the case for reparations for the victims of the 1921 Tulsa race massacre. Incredibly, there are still a few living survivors, all over 100 years old. Listen to the episode here. You can learn more about the Tulsa…
Read More
We’ve got some really exciting news here at WRFI. Starting today, June 6, we’re launching a brand new program schedule. The new format that can best be summed up as AM News, PM YOUs! Every morning tune in for hard-hitting independent news and analysis. Then, starting at noon, check out some of the best music…
Read MoreLatest from the WRFI News Team
Daily features and interviews from our community
Local News for Thursday, March 23, 2023
Village Election Results are in for Tompkins and Schuyler Counties Area village elections were held on Tuesday. In the Tompkins County village of Dryden, Democratic incumbents won re-election in three positions. Michael Murphy was reelected mayor with 61% of the vote over his Republican opponent Thomas Corey who got 39%. Jason Dickinson and Thomas Sinclair…
Read More
Local News for Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Caroline Broadband Expansion Gets Boost The town of Caroline is taking steps to expand broadband access to its residents. The expansion effort was awarded more than $130,000 from the Tompkins Community Recovery Fund. Caroline is investing additional $330,000 of its American Recovery Act funds toward a feasibility study and partial buildout of broadband. At its…
Read More
Local News for Tuesday, March 21, 2023
New Proposal Filed to Expand Ithaca’s Learning Farm The Learning Farm in Ithaca is planning to expand. The organization filed documents with the town’s planning board for a kitchen facility, guest housing, parking areas, and walkways. A proposed second phase would include a welcome center and a juicing and bottling building. According to the Ithaca…
Read More
Local News for Monday, March 20, 2023
Cornell Hosts Debate on Urgency of Climate Crisis Cornell hosted a debate Friday on the urgency of reducing climate warming pollution. Professor Robert Socolow of Princeton argued that “climate science compels us to make rapid and large reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.” Professor Steven Koonin of New York University argued that it doesn’t. Both are…
Read More
Local News for Thursday, March 16, 2023
New Law Enforcement Pilot Program to Start in Tompkins County A new program to divert people away from incarceration will start in Tompkins County later this year. The pilot program is a partnership between the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department and Tompkins Whole Health. It will pair a licensed clinical therapist and a specially-trained sheriff’s deputy…
Read More
Local News for Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Seneca Lake Fish Contaminated Thanks to a Freedom of Information Act or FOIA filing, a 2020 report from the New York DEC has come to light showing that Seneca Lake fish are highly contaminated with PFAS chemicals. According to environmental reporter Peter Manius, the samples of lake trout and yellow perch contain hundreds of times…
Read More