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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 proposal would end “at will” employment in Ithaca. Under the proposed rule, employers would need to demonstrate that progressive steps were taken to address poor work performance before terminating an employee. Employers would also be able to fire people for illegal or dangerous behavior, or for economic reasons like loss of income.   Employers who violate the rule would…

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Youth Farm Project Celebrates Earth Week with Greta Garrison of the Youth Radio Project

By Felix Teitelbaum

Youth Farm Project participants Stella Sapp-Dietrich and Etienne Exantus and Ray Hage Assistant Director of Cornell’s Science & Technology Entry Program (STEP) with Greta Garrison of the Youth Radio Project on WRFI.

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CREATIVES: New Voices Literary Festival Preview with Raul Palma [AUDIO]

By Felix Teitelbaum

Listen to author Raul Palma in conversation with student organizers April Morales, Emily Trage, Riley Rhoder and Professor Jacob White. The 2024 New Voices Festival runs from April 24-26 at Ithaca College and in your community.  

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Tune in, Turn on, and Take Part! Join Us for WRFI’s Spring “Fun” Drive and Be Part of this Community-Powered Radio Revolution!

By Felix Teitelbaum

What does community radio mean to you? We think this commercial-free, free-form, independent station helps make our listeners lives-and life in our communities-just a little better. We strive to make programing that opens ears, opens hearts, and leads us to ask important questions about our world. Even if it’s just to ask yourself, “What in…

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LISTEN: Freedom of Expression at Cornell – Academic freedom

By Celia Clarke

This is the last of my three stories about freedom of expression at Cornell University this year. Here are links to the first and second stories. The academic theme at Cornell this year is “Freedom of Expression.”  In earlier stories, we reported about the general mood at Cornell around free speech, and students’ opinions about…

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Latest from the WRFI News Team

Daily features and interviews from our community

With Code Blue Coming to an End, Homeless Services Shift Gears

By WRFI News Staff | April 15, 2021 | Comments Off on With Code Blue Coming to an End, Homeless Services Shift Gears

The warm days of mid-April bring a new feeling of assurance and excitement to many, but it also spells uncertainty for New York’s Homeless. In New York State, Code Blue is in effect anytime the temperature reaches 32 degrees or lower. December 1st through April 15th is considered a mandatory Code Blue period. During these…

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Schuyler County Tables Vote on Cryptocurrency Mining Resolution, Crypto Operations Inquire into Watkins Glen

By WRFI News Staff | April 14, 2021 | Comments Off on Schuyler County Tables Vote on Cryptocurrency Mining Resolution, Crypto Operations Inquire into Watkins Glen

Cryptocurrency mining has become an issue of ongoing discussion in the Finger Lakes. On Monday night, the Schuyler County Legislature reviewed a resolution asking the DEC to develop regulations around cryptocurrency mining. But, they chose to table the vote until next month’s meeting Legislators said they felt like they needed more time to research cryptocurrency…

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Which Way Forward: What the Plan is Made of

By WRFI News Staff | April 9, 2021 | Comments Off on Which Way Forward: What the Plan is Made of

On April 1st, Ithaca and Tompkins County submitted their plans for reforming public safety. Although the Common Council and the County Legislature have committed to the points of their plans, they still have a long way to go before they’re realized. The recommendations don’t have the mechanics and power of policy behind them yet, and…

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Golden Opportunity – Providing Equitable Education

By WRFI News Staff | April 9, 2021 | Comments Off on Golden Opportunity – Providing Equitable Education

Since 2005, Golden Opportunity has been providing free professional tutoring to students in the Ithaca City School District who would not otherwise have access to this kind of help. Starting in second grade, students performing below grade level are paired with a tutor who will stay with them till eighth grade. Listen to learn more…

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