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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 deer ticks survive in warmer winters. However, researchers say there’s no one cause for the recent rise in illnesses and it may take a few more years for them to understand all the reasons for the increase in tick-caused diseases. – Interlaken takes public stance against landfill expansion – The Village of Interlaken Board voted unanimously at its…

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LISTEN: Memories of Lost Cat, Gavin Mahoney

By Celia Clarke

The Ithaca artist known as Lost Cat died in April. His name was Gavin Mahoney and he was 55. Mahoney was best known for the many stick cat figures he painted around the city. Shortly after his death friends, admirers, and fellow artists put on a memorial art exhibition. And in July, a sculpture was installed downtown in his memory. I spoke with a few of his friends at both events. Here’s some of what they said about Mahoney’s life and how they will remember him.

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LISTEN: Interview with Dareth Glance, New York Department of Environmental Conservation Director, Region 7

By Celia Clarke

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation divides the state into nine regions. Dereth Glance is the new Region 7 Director. It covers Onondaga, Tompkins, Cortland, Chenango, Oswego, Madison, Cayuga, Tioga, and Broome counties. Glance most recently oversaw the DEC Environmental Remediation, Materials Management, and Mineral Resources divisions. Before joining the DEC, she served…

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CREATIVES: Quintron and Miss Pussycat [AUDIO]

By Felix Teitelbaum

Felix Teitelbaum interviews New Orleans-based artists Quintron and Missy Pussycat on August 24, 2023. They’ll be appearing in Ithaca at the Cherry Arts, Sept. 11. The show is a benefit for WRFI. You can learn more about the duo and get tickets to the show here.

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This Week on The Scene: Desiree LeClercq on the Battle for Workplace Democracy at Starbucks

By Chantal Thomas

In this week’s episode of The Scene, international labor law expert Desiree LeClercq breaks down the 2023 National Labor Relations Board proceeding that held three Ithaca store closures by Starbucks to be in violation of federal protections for organizing workers, and discusses the larger contexts in national and international worker rights.

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Latest from the WRFI News Team

Daily features and interviews from our community

Lisa Hoeschele of Cortland discusses her candidacy for NY Assembly [Audio]

By Fred Balfour | February 17, 2020 | Comments Off on Lisa Hoeschele of Cortland discusses her candidacy for NY Assembly [Audio]

We’re joined in the studio by Lisa Hoeschele of Cortland. She has announced her bid to represent the 125th district in the New York State Assembly. Current assembly person Barbara Lifton recently announced her resignation completing 18 years representing Tompkins and part of Cortland county.

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XR Ithaca’s Art Weaver on Feb. 13 Chase Bank protest, subsequent arrests [AUDIO]

By WRFI News Staff | February 14, 2020 | Comments Off on XR Ithaca’s Art Weaver on Feb. 13 Chase Bank protest, subsequent arrests [AUDIO]

Extinction Rebellion Ithaca organizer Art Weaver speaks about the group’s protest on Thursday, February 13th at the downtown Chase Bank, which ended in a dozen arrests. WRFI’s Michayla Savitt and The Ithaca Voice’s Anna Lamb produced this report.

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Community member Angela Zhang on the Coronavirus – Your Morning, February 14th, 2020 [AUDIO]

By WRFI News Staff | February 14, 2020 | Comments Off on Community member Angela Zhang on the Coronavirus – Your Morning, February 14th, 2020 [AUDIO]

The Novel Coronavirus — or Covid 19 — emerged in Hubei Province of China last year, and since then has spread around the globe, raising fears of a global pandemic. While there have been no cases of this strain of the Coronavirus found in New York yet, the outbreak has affected people’s lives here in…

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Extinction Rebellion Ithaca calls for Chase Bank to divest from fossil fuels, will protest Feb. 13 [AUDIO]

By WRFI News Staff | February 13, 2020 | Comments Off on Extinction Rebellion Ithaca calls for Chase Bank to divest from fossil fuels, will protest Feb. 13 [AUDIO]

Dr. Art Weaver, an organizer with Extinction Rebellion Ithaca, joined WRFI’s Michayla Savitt and contributor Finley Frenchette on “Your Morning” Feb. 12th to speak about a protest being held at noon on Feb. 13th calling on Chase to divest from fossil fuels. The local chapter of the social justice movement delivered a letter to the…

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