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Local News: May 7, 2024

Ithaca Starts Clean Up of Homeless Encampment City workers have begun to clean up a former homeless encampment in Ithaca’s West End. The clean up was ordered by the Tompkins Environmental Health in early April. According to the Ithaca Voice, work began at the site last week. The small triangular parcel is bordered by train tracks and by Six Mile Creek and is visible from the Taber St bridge. In December, Common Countil adopted a one-year pilot program aimed at providing basic services for unhoused people living in a prescribed encampment zone. The area being clieaned up is not part of that sanctioned zone. Until the cleanup, ten people had been living in…

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This Week on The Scene: Saida Hodžić on Critical Knowledges of Refuge

By Chantal Thomas

In this week’s episode of The Scene, Saida Hodžić, a Professor in the Anthropology Department and the Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies Department at Cornell University, discusses her work reorienting the fields of asylum and refugee studies — from studies of refugees to critical studies of refuge — and her spring 2023 symposium, Displaced, Detained,…

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CREATIVES: “As You Like It” at the Cherry | John Drinkwater with Peter Bakija

By Jim Utz

The Cherry Arts brings its signature adventurous, irreverent theatrical style to Shakespeare for the very first time! As You Like It, which runs from August 3rd through August 13th, is one of the bard’s most beloved comedies, featuring one of his most exciting heroines, Rosalind, who dresses as a man and marches into the forest to save…

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LISTEN: WRFI News Feature — Pulling Invasive Wild Water Chestnut in the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

By Celia Clarke

Invasive species continue to change our ecosystems. Recently I went to the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge at the top of Cayuga Lake to help pull wild water chestnuts. It’s been in New York for a while but it just showed up in the Refuge this year. I’m going to share an audio postcard from that…

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WRFI Special: Jim Murphy Remembered [AUDIO]

By Celia Clarke

Jim Murphy died on June 29th. He was a big part of WRFI’s growth starting a decade ago. For many years he hosted the Ithaca-Watkins Glen Morning Show every weekday from 7-8 AM. It’s through Jim that many people got involved with the station. I’m one of those people. Jim’s generosity and encouragement were an…

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Daily features and interviews from our community

Local News: May 7, 2024

By Felix Teitelbaum | May 7, 2024 | Comments Off on Local News: May 7, 2024

Ithaca Starts Clean Up of Homeless Encampment City workers have begun to clean up a former homeless encampment in Ithaca’s West End. The clean up was ordered by the Tompkins Environmental Health in early April. According to the Ithaca Voice, work began at the site last week. The small triangular parcel is bordered by train…

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Local News: May 6, 2024 – 2024 ICSD Elections

By Felix Teitelbaum | May 6, 2024 | Comments Off on Local News: May 6, 2024 – 2024 ICSD Elections

Ithaca City School District Election Roundup The district-wide Ithaca City School District election is coming up on May 21. Eligible voters in the district will vote on three ballot measures and for candidates for three seats on the school board. The first measure is a vote on the district’s proposed $169 million budget. It will…

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Local News: May 3, 2024

By Felix Teitelbaum | May 3, 2024 | Comments Off on Local News: May 3, 2024

Coalition Pushes for “Just Cause” Employment in Ithaca The campaign for “just cause” employment legislation in Ithaca continues. According to the Cornell Sun, the Ithaca Just Cause Coalition has been pushing Common Council to adopt their proposal and a working group on the matter is being formed. The coalition includes unions, nonprofits and businesses. The…

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Local News: May 2, 2024

By Felix Teitelbaum | May 2, 2024 | Comments Off on Local News: May 2, 2024

Ithaca Passes Short Term Rental Ordinance, Green New Deal Plan- Ithaca’s Common Council passed to major resolutions at its regular meeting Wednesday night. The first enacts a long-discussed short term rental ordinance. Under the new regulation, a permit is required to operate a short term rental. A “short term rental” is defined as one for…

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