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– Tompkins County Considering A 2 Percent Tax Levy Increase – Tompkins County Administrator Lisa Holmes is proposing a 2 percent tax levy increase in the 2024 budget. She says it’s necessary to cover rising energy costs and emergency services. It would cost the average homeowner about $50 more. To pay for it the county would have to make cuts like a temporary hiring freeze. The legislature’s in the early planning stages for next year’s budget. – Ithaca College Artificial Turf Field Faces Some Opposition After Getting Planning Approval – The Town of Ithaca approved renovation plans for Ithaca College’s Butterfield Stadium last month. The plan includes installing an artificial turf. Some students…
It’s been over a week since Ithaca CarShare temporarily closed. The nonprofit stopped operating on May 19 because of an insurance problem that can only be solved with new state legislation. I called Ithaca CarShare members – Ellie Santoro, Jayne Soulman, and Marybeth Michelson-Theiry to find out how not having access to the car share…
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Ithaca CarShare is closing down today. They intend for this to be a pause but they are facing insurance problems that can only be solved by the state legislature. I spoke with Executive Director Liz Field about the situation, how it’s affecting their members, and what comes next. We talked on the day before the…
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In this week’s episode of The Scene, photographer and art professor Dan Torop discusses his recent work in the exhibitions Falling Water and Three Rainbows; the science and technology that he has used in rendering images of the physical world; and the social and cultural histories that accompany and shape tools of photography and other forms of visual rendering.
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Daily features and interviews from our community
Local News for May 16
– State Inspector General Investigates $64M Spent On COVID-19 Vaccination App – Even though the COVID-19 state of emergency has ended, New York State is increasing spending for the Excelsior Pass. It’s the app that keeps track of your vaccination records. The Albany Times Union reports the State Inspector General is investigating a $200 million…
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Local News for May 15, 2023
Schuyler, Tompkins Officials Take Different Approaches to Migrant Surge County officials outside New York City are responding to the end of Title 42 by declaring states of emergency to stop asylum seekers from coming upstate. Title 42 is the name of a federal emergency health order. It allowed U.S. officials to prevent migrants and asylum…
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Local News for May 12, 2023
– Hochul Declares State of Emergency Because of Rising Immigration – Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency on Tuesday because of the increasing number of “migrants seeking shelter” in New York State. The Albany Times Union reports Hochul made the move because New York City Mayor Eric Adams has started sending some migrants…
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Local News for May 11, 2023
– School Board Budgets: Groton, Trumansburg – This week, we’re sharing information about school district budgets. Next Tuesday voters will choose to accept or reject their district’s proposals. Here are links to the $25.8 million proposal for Groton, and Trumansburg‘s $31 million proposal. – Working for Tompkins County Pays Well Compared to Similar Places –…
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Local News for Wednesday, May 10, 2023
-Ithaca’s State Theater Gets Over $100,000 in New York Budget- The State Theater in Ithaca is getting $103,000 allocated in the newly-passed state budget. The Ithaca Voice reports the money is from a $5 million program for over thirteen historic upstate theaters. The State Theater’s attendance has dropped about 38% since the onset of the…
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Local News for May 9, 2023
A hearing about Ithaca school district budget set for Tuesday A hearing about the Ithaca school district budget is set for today at 5:30 at Ithaca High School. Members of the public can attend in person or by Zoom. The Ithaca Times reports the school board adopted a $158.5 million budget last month. Residents can…
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