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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.
Starting April 6, tune in every other Wednesday at 2pm for “Speaking of Migration.” The program will bring you the voices of Central American immigrants and migrants, their stories, perspectives, and a visions for a more just immigration system and world. Transnational political and economic forces have depleted rural Salvadoran communities, driving Salvadorans to flee…
Read MoreNew York’s redistricting process remains unresolved. But you can still tune in for WRFI’s live interviews with candidates in the primaries for what may be New York’s 22nd US Congressional District and the 53rd NYS Senate District Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 6pm. Hosted by Fred Balfour and George Christopher. Interview Schedule Expand The interviews…
Read MoreAs part of our ongoing efforts to engage the community in important local issues, WRFI and the Ithaca voice are working together to provide coverage on recent Good-Cause evictions legislation and the surrounding conversation. Should laws be passed to establish a tenant’s right to an automatic lease renewal? Good-cause eviction laws are being considered at…
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Daily features and interviews from our community
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 MoreLocal 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 MoreLocal 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 MoreLocal 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 MoreLocal News for Tuesday, March 14, 2023
New York Governor Declares Emergency for Storm Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency for today’s winter storm. All five regions of New York State, including the Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes, are expected to receive heavy snowfall and high winds. Utility companies are prepared for widespread power outages from possible downed trees…
Read MoreLocal News for Monday, March 13, 2023
New Bus Hub Sought for Tompkins County Officials from Ithaca and Tompkins County are working with the Downtown Ithaca Alliance to find a new location for an intercity bus hub. Since the bus depot in the West End shut down in 2018, intercity buses have regularly stopped at either the Seneca Street area outside Starbucks…
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