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Local News: April 17, 2024

ICSD Board Cuts Proposed Budget Ahead of May 21 Vote The Ithaca City School Board has made cuts to their proposed budget. According to the Ithaca Times, the adjustment was made after a 5-hour meeting with the public. Board members heard from a range of homeowners who spoke to the effect of rising taxes on Ithaca’s already serious housing affordability crisis. The school tax levy had originally been proposed to grow by more than 12%. The board eventually approved a proposed budget that would lower the levy by approximately $4 million through a combination of cuts and use of reserve funds. The new levy would still be an 8.4% increase. Because the increase…

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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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CREATIVES: Frank London of the Klezmatics

By Felix Teitelbaum

Photo: Adrian Buckmaster for the Klezmatics Frank London of the Klezmatics talks with Felix Teitelbaum and Aron Guttman ahead of their show at Cornell, Saturday April 13, 2024. “The Klezmatics became world-renowned superstars when they erupted out of New York City’s East Village in 1986 to revitalize klezmer for new generations. Their music is steeped…

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LISTEN: Freedom of Expression at Cornell – Student views

By Celia Clarke

The academic theme at Cornell this year is “Freedom of Expression.” A few weeks ago we reported on the general mood around free speech at Cornell. Today, we’re sharing students’ opinions about their free speech rights. WRFI asked to speak to someone in Cornell’s administration about free speech on campus. The request was denied. The…

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Latest from the WRFI News Team

Daily features and interviews from our community

Interview: Laura Rosbrow-Telem on audio storytelling and COVID-19 vaccines [AUDIO]

By admin | December 1, 2020 | Comments Off on Interview: Laura Rosbrow-Telem on audio storytelling and COVID-19 vaccines [AUDIO]

On Tuesday, Public News Service Reporter Laura Rosbrow-Telem joined WRFI Community Radio News for a live interview about her recent story for WNYC’s Radiolab. The story, which is available online and on podcast platforms, was about the process of developing COVID-19 vaccines through human challenge trials. Listen to the interview below to hear the interview…

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Coronavirus Update, December 1, 2020

By admin | December 1, 2020 | Comments Off on Coronavirus Update, December 1, 2020

Looking at the local COVID-19 caseload, the latest numbers, released today from the Tompkins County health department, indicate that there are 34 additional positives, and 8 new recoveries. According to the County Health Department, that’s 219 active cases of COVID-19 in Tompkins. In Schuyler County, there are 3 new cases of COVID-19 reported as of…

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Coronavirus Update, November 30, 2020

By WRFI News Staff | November 30, 2020 | Comments Off on Coronavirus Update, November 30, 2020

3 residents of the Oak Hill Manor Nursing Home in Ithaca have died in the last week from complications of COVID-19. This comes amid a cluster of cases among 39 residents and 13 staff members at the facility. The Ithaca Voice reports that the State Department of Health is responsible for all contact tracing and…

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Interview: The Reverend Billy Talen on shopping, activism, and the end of the world

By Felix Teitelbaum | November 27, 2020 | Comments Off on Interview: The Reverend Billy Talen on shopping, activism, and the end of the world

It’s black Friday, and, as the coronavirus spikes around the country, retailers closely eye holiday spending. Radical performers Reverend Billy Talen and the Church of Stop Shopping blend activism, music, and humor to trace the connections between consumerist culture, climate crisis, and the coming “shopacalypse.” “Reverend Billy Radio – Preacher for the Planet” makes it’s…

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