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Local News: April 25, 2024

Student Protestors Occupy Cornell’s Arts Quad- Activists at Cornell set up an encampment Thursday morning in the university’s arts quad. The Coalition for Mutual Liberation (or CML) called the encampment a “liberated zone” meant to further pressure Cornell to divest from what they call the university’s complicity in genocide in Gaza.  Malak, a fourth year undergrad explained why she is participating: “So I’m a student here at Cornell. But I’m also Palestinian. And I have family in Gaza that has been surviving this genocide for like the past, what is it, 200 days? I’ve lost family members. I have uncles that were killed in their homes because they were bombed. Others that are…

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FEATURE: Governor’s budget plan could cost rural schools millions of dollars in state aid

By Celia Clarke

Rural school districts across New York face a significant loss in state funding this year. Governor Hochul’s 2024 executive budget proposal would change the allocation of “foundation aid”. That’s the money the state gives each school district to close the gap between what a community can afford to pay and what is needed to provide…

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The value of rural libraries: A look inside Odessa’s public library

By Celia Clarke

Public libraries have been in the news a lot over the past few years. There have been calls to ban books, pull funding, or cancel certain events. But not all events or books are controversial and not all libraries are dealing with efforts to censor their collections. Odessa Library in Schuyler County is that kind…

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CREATIVES: Natalia Khoma and Volodymyr Vynnytsky of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine

By Felix Teitelbaum

WRFI’s Felix Teitelbaum and Dr. Deborah Justice of the Cornell Concert Series speak with cellist Natalia Khoma and pianist Volodymyr Vynnytsky of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine about the power of music in times of turmoil and about the orchestra’s upcoming performance at Cornell (February 10, 2024 at 3pm). More at www.cornellconcertseries.com

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FEATURE: A new call to address harmful algal blooms in Cayuga Lake and beyond

By Celia Clarke

This interview has been edited for clarity. Harmful algal blooms, HABS, occur in the summer months in waterbodies across the country. But winter is when researchers and activists review the data and assess the impact of the season’s blooms. The toxins are dangerous to human and animal life. More of them are showing up in…

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Local News: April 25, 2024

By Felix Teitelbaum | April 25, 2024 |

Student Protestors Occupy Cornell’s Arts Quad- Activists at Cornell set up an encampment Thursday morning in the university’s arts quad. The Coalition for Mutual Liberation (or CML) called the encampment a “liberated zone” meant to further pressure Cornell to divest from what they call the university’s complicity in genocide in Gaza.  Malak, a fourth year…

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Local News: April 24, 2024

By Felix Teitelbaum | April 24, 2024 | Comments Off on Local News: April 24, 2024

Pilot Program in Tompkins Adds Emergency Responders- Emergency response times in Tompkins County should be getting shorter. State Senator Lea Webb was in Ithaca Tuesday to announce additional state funding for the county’s Rapid Medical Response program. The two-year pilot program operates three emergency response vehicles and employs nine EMTs. According to Webb, emergency response…

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Local News: April 23, 2024

By Felix Teitelbaum | April 23, 2024 | Comments Off on Local News: April 23, 2024

Cornell Undergrad Vote Supports Gaza Ceasefire, Divestment- Last week Cornell undergraduate voted in a referendum polling their views on a ceasefire in Gaza and divestment from 10 military contractors supplying Israel. According to the Cornell Sun, nearly 50% of eligible students voted. And votes for a ceasefire and divestment outweighed those against by nearly two…

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Local News: April 22, 2024

By Felix Teitelbaum | April 22, 2024 | Comments Off on Local News: April 22, 2024

Public Hearing on ICSD Budget Announced- Ithaca City School District has announced a public hearing on its proposed 2024-2025 operating budget. The meeting will take place May 14 at 5:30 p.m. at York Hall at Ithaca High School. Last week we reported on a 5-hour meeting during which the board heard from taxpayers concerned with…

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