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Local News: May 9, 2024

Cornell President Pollack to Retire After seven years as Cornell’s President, Martha Pollock will retire on June 30. According to the Cornell Sun, in her announcement Pollack stressed that the decision to leave was her own. She added that she had been considering retirement since last fall. But events at Cornell and other campuses lead her to delay departure three times. Pollock is a professor of computer science and has been named professor emerita by Cornell’s Board of Trustees.  Her announcement comes amid the ongoing turmoil on college campuses across the country. Unlike at many colleges and universities, so far, activists at Cornell’s Palestinian solidarity encampment have not been subject to arrest or…

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Scalia’s Death: Next Steps for the U.S. Senate

By WRFI News Staff

Lori Sonken talks with John Lawrence, former chief of staff to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, about the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and the Senate’s reluctance to consider a nomination in an election year. This interview aired on February 19, 2016.

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High Lead Levels in Ithaca City Schools

By WRFI News Staff

  Walter Hang speaks with WRFI’s Lori Sonken and Esther Racoosin about the high lead levels at Caroline and Enfield Schools in the Ithaca City School District.  This interview aired on February 23, two days before the superintendent announced that water is turned off at drinking water fountains in all district schools.   .  

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Presenting the opera “Semele” at Ithaca College-February 22nd 2016

By WRFI News Staff

Esther Racoosin of WRFI Community Radio News talks to the cast and production staff about the upcoming production of Handel’s “Semele” at Ithaca College.  The rehearsal pianist, assistant director, vocalists and others talk about the plot of the opera, the staging, and what it is like to sing the challenging parts of the baroque oratorio.

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18th Annual Homelessness Marathon to Air Tonight

By Felix Teitelbaum

It’s that time of year! WRFI is proud, once again, to air the Homelessness Marathon brought to us by Geneva broadcaster, Jeremy Alderson. Starting tonight at 7pm and ending tomorrow morning at 8am (in time for Democracy Now!) tune in to hear to hear stories of homelessness from those who experience it first hand. To petition HUD…

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Local News: May 9, 2024

By Felix Teitelbaum | May 9, 2024 |

Cornell President Pollack to Retire After seven years as Cornell’s President, Martha Pollock will retire on June 30. According to the Cornell Sun, in her announcement Pollack stressed that the decision to leave was her own. She added that she had been considering retirement since last fall. But events at Cornell and other campuses lead…

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Local News: May 8, 2024

By Felix Teitelbaum | May 9, 2024 |

Housing Market in Tompkins Remains Tight The housing market in Tompkins County continues to shrink. According to the Tompkins Weekly, housing stock is down 14% from last year’s already historic low. Brent Katzmann of the Ithaca Board of Realtors called the decline “disconcerting.” In addition to an overall decline in available houses for sale, he…

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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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