WRFI Community Radio News
1,158 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago -Original features and interviews originally aired on WRFI Community Radio News.
The show airs Monday-Friday at 6pm at 88.1 FM in Ithaca, 91.9 in Watkins Glen, and online around the world at http://www.wrfi.org/online-stream/
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Episodes
May 25th, 2022 Daily Headlines
May 25, 2022 10:00Beginning this Sunday TCAT will begin offering free rides to all youth 17 and under and those still enrolled in High School. According to the Ithaca Voice, for now, the city is not requiring students to present a pass to board TCAT buses. However, starting in the Fall 14 to 17 year-olds will be required… The post May 25th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
May 24th, 2022 Daily Headlines
May 24, 2022 10:00On Sunday Congressional candidate Vanessa Fajans-Turner ended her campaign. Fajans-Turner, an Ithaca native, initially ran in the 22nd district before the state’s congressional maps were thrown out. Ithaca is now being placed in the 19th district, a competitive, but less solidly Democratic district. Fajans-Turner said the district had become too different from the one where… The post May 24th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
May 23rd, 2022 Daily Headlines
May 23, 2022 10:00On Friday, New York State finalized its congressional and state senate maps. The final congressional map will place Tompkins into the new 19th Congressional district, a district that voted for Joe Biden by a little under 5 points. Ithaca and Syracuse were originally in the same district with several candidates from both communities mounting bids.… The post May 23rd, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
May 20th, 2022 Daily Headlines
May 20, 2022 10:00Yesterday, the results of the Ithaca City School district election were certified by the Board of Education. 4 Board members were elected: incumbents Erin Croyle and Eldred Harris and newcomers Karen Yearwood and Jill Tripp. Board President, Robert Ainslie, who’s been on the board since 2007, was the only incumbent seeking re-election who failed to… The post May 20th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
May 19th, 2022 Daily Headlines
May 19, 2022 10:00On Tuesday, the Ithaca City School district election came with some confusion. According to the Ithaca Voice, some voters were confused by the layout of the Board of Education’s webpage. The webpage listed polling locations for the school district vote along with other locations where those voters would typically vote in a General election. Some… The post May 19th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
May 18th, 2022 Daily Headlines
May 18, 2022 10:00Special Master Jonathan Cervas has released a draft of New York State’s new state senate map. The draft would place Ithaca into the 52nd State Senate district along with Binghamton and Cortland. The district is similar to the now invalid 53rd district Ithaca was placed in originally. The district would be heavily Democratic. Joe Biden… The post May 18th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
May 17th, 2022 Daily Headlines
May 17, 2022 10:00Yesterday, “Special Master” Jonathan Cervas released a draft of the State’s new congressional districts. The map would create 21 districts where President Biden won the popular vote in 2020, and 5 where former President Trump did. According to Politico the map is expected to be finalized by this Friday. The originally proposed map would have… The post May 17th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
May 16th, 2022 Daily Headlines
May 16, 2022 10:00Tompkins County Public Health Director and Mental Health Commissioner Frank Kruppa is warning of fentanyl in street drugs. According to the Ithaca Voice, Kruppa said Fentanyl is “in all street drugs” including marijuana and that users should “assume” the drug’s presence. Fentanyl is about 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine… The post May 16th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
May 13th, 2022 Daily Headlines
May 13, 2022 10:00The Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office is launching an unarmed response pilot program as part of the county’s reimagining public safety plan. The program will use unarmed sheriff’s clerks to respond to certain non-emergency calls.. The sheriff’s office says the program will free up time for deputies to respond to emergency calls, conduct investigations, and build… The post May 13th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
Interview: Congressional Candidate Josh Riley (2022-05-12)
May 12, 2022 23:08Josh Riley is an attorney and a candidate for Congress. WRFI's George Christopher interviewed him on May 12, 2022. Transcription below. Back to all candidates. WRFI News Theme music: Alex Reed. Photo: provided. Transcription of Interview: George Christopher, WRFI 0:21 Hello and welcome to WRFI's series of candidate interviews. I'm George Christopher. Our… The post Interview: Congressional Candidate Josh Riley (2022-05-12) appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
May 12th, 2022 Daily Headlines
May 12, 2022 10:00According to the New York Times, on Tuesday a federal judge delayed New York’s congressional and state senate primaries until August 23. The move will allow time to redrawn district maps. On Wednesday Steuben County Supreme Court Judge Patrick McAllister issued orders setting rules for the primary. Candidates who were already qualified will not need… The post May 12th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
Interview: NY State Senate Candidate Lea Webb (2022-05-11)
May 12, 2022 01:56Lea Webb is a former Binghamton City Councilmember and a candidate for New York State Senate. WRFI's Fred Balfour interviewed her on May 11, 2022. Transcript below. Back to all candidates. WRFI News Theme music: Alex Reed. Photo: provided. Transcript of Interview: Fred Balfour, WRFI 0:17 Hello, and welcome to WRFI's series of candidate… The post Interview: NY State Senate Candidate Lea Webb (2022-05-11) appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
Interview: NY State Senate Candidate Leslie Danks Burke (2022-05-10)
May 11, 2022 21:00Leslie Danks Burke is an attorney and political organizer and a candidate for New York State Senate. WRFI's George Christopher interviewed her on May 10, 2022. Transcript below. Back to all candidates. WRFI News Theme music: Alex Reed. Photo: provided. Transcription of Interview: George C., WRFI 0:13 Hello and welcome to WRFI's series of… The post Interview: NY State Senate Candidate Leslie Danks Burke (2022-05-10) appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
May 11th, 2022 Daily Headlines
May 11, 2022 10:00On Monday Tompkins County attorney William Troy released an opinion concerning an ethics complaint made by Councilor Cynthia Brock against former Mayor Svante Myrick. In his opinion Troy said that since the City of Ithaca doesn’t have a Board of Ethics, jurisdiction should fall to the County Board of Ethics. Brock’s allegations stem from payments… The post May 11th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
May 10th, 2022 Daily Headlines
May 10, 2022 10:00A study by the Washington Post has found that rent prices in Tompkins County have risen by 12.3 percent since the beginning of 2020. According to the Ithaca Voice, that was the fourth highest rise of any county in New York state. Rent prices have been a hot button issue in Ithaca especially since the… The post May 10th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
May 9th, 2022 Daily Headlines
May 09, 2022 10:00Last week two COVID deaths were reported in Tompkins bringing the county’s total to 62. According to the Ithaca Voice, these were the first COVID deaths locally since late March. COVID-19 has been on the upswing with hospitalization numbers in the double digits for the first time since January. The county no longer publishes active… The post May 9th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
May 6th, 2022 Daily Headlines
May 06, 2022 10:00New York State has approved 36 new cannabis cultivator licenses. According to the Ithaca Journal, two licenses were awarded to Tompkins county growers, Mary L. Strassheim and Ithaca Growers LLC. Three licenses have now been distributed to Tompkins county growers including Enfield Glen Hopyard which was granted a license last month. Only 88 licenses have… The post May 6th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
May 5th, 2022 Daily Headlines
May 05, 2022 10:00On Tuesday, activists gathered at the Bernie Milton Pavilion on the Ithaca Commons to protest the recent draft decision from the Supreme Court that would overturn Roe v. Wade. The draft, which was leaked to Politico, would overturn Roe and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, two landmark abortion rights cases. Speakers included State Senate candidate Leslie… The post May 5th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
May 4th, 2022 Daily Headlines
May 04, 2022 10:00Local politicians are responding to a report from Politico saying the Supreme Court is preparing to overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. While the ruling is not yet final, it does indicate fthe court may be poised to end a 50 year precedent establishing the right to abortion services. Local congressional Candidate… The post May 4th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
Interview: NY 22nd Congressional District Candidate Mike Sigler (2022-05-03)
May 03, 2022 23:11Mike Sigler is a Tompkins County Legislator for Lansing (6th District) and a candidate for what was to be the new 22nd NY Congressional district. WRFI's George Christopher interviewed him on May 3, 2022. Back to all candidates. WRFI News Theme music: Alex Reed. Photo: provided. Transcription of Interview: George C., WRFI 0:15 Hello… The post Interview: NY 22nd Congressional District Candidate Mike Sigler (2022-05-03) appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
May 3rd, 2022 Daily Headlines
May 03, 2022 10:00Two county legislators may find themselves in the same district after redistricting. The Tompkins County Independent Redistricting Commission has released a proposal for the legislature’s new electoral maps. The new lines would define a new 2nd district where legislator Veronica Pillar, and 4th district legislator Rich John currently live. The county code requires legislators to… The post May 3rd, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
May 2nd, 2022 Daily Headlines
May 02, 2022 10:00The Tompkins County Independent Redistricting Commission has released a proposal for the county legislature’s new electoral map. The proposal would expand the number of seats in the legislature to 16. The map includes 15 districts that voted for President Biden. In thirteen of those districts Biden won with over 60 percent of the vote. One… The post May 2nd, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
April 29th, 2022 Daily Headlines
April 29, 2022 10:00On Wednesday 1st Ward Councilor Cynthia Brock called for an ethics investigation into former Mayor Svante Myrick. According to the Ithaca Times, Brock’s allegations center around the reimagining public safety process. Brock claims the Mayor promised payment to the reimaging public safety task force’s co-leads without council approval and sought funds from outside sources to… The post April 29th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
April 28th, 2022 Daily Headlines
April 28, 2022 10:00The Tompkins County Health Department has issued a mask advisory for county residents. The Health Department is advising all residents to wear masks regardless of vaccination status when in indoor public spaces. Yesterday, the county reported a total of 14 hospitalizations and a continued increase in the number of new COVID cases. The county will… The post April 28th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
Interview: NY 22nd Congressional District Candidate Vanessa Fajans-Turner (2022-04-27)
April 27, 2022 23:00Venessa Fajans-Turner is the Executive Director of national non-profit BankFWD and a candidate for the newly redistricted (and disputed) 22nd NY congressional district. WRFI's Fred Balfour interviewed her on April 27, 2022. Back to all candidates. WRFI News Theme music: Alex Reed. Photo: provided. Transcript of Interview: Fred Balfour, WRFI 0:13 Hello and welcome… The post Interview: NY 22nd Congressional District Candidate Vanessa Fajans-Turner (2022-04-27) appeared first on WRFI Communi...
April 27th, 2022 Daily Headlines
April 27, 2022 10:00Yesterday, Ithaca Mayor Laura Lewis endorsed Vanessa Fajans-Turner for New York’s 22nd Congressional District. The new 22nd district is a heavily Democratic seat including both Ithaca and Syracuse. Fajans-Turner is one of just two Ithaca residents in the Democratic primary. She’s also received support from former State Assemblymember Barbara Lifton. Tonight at 6 WRFI will… The post April 27th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
Interview: NY 22nd Congressional District Candidate Chol Majok (2022-04-26)
April 27, 2022 00:40Chol Majok is a Syracuse City Councilor and a candidate for the newly redistricted 22nd NY congressional district. WRFI's Fred Balfour interviewed him on April 26, 2022. Back to all candidates. WRFI News Theme music: Alex Reed. Photo: provided. Transcript of Interview: Fred Balfour, WRFI 0:13 Hello, and welcome to WRFIs series of candidate… The post Interview: NY 22nd Congressional District Candidate Chol Majok (2022-04-26) appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
April 26th, 2022 Daily Headlines
April 26, 2022 10:00An analysis by Cornell Researchers of public comments submitted to the Department of Environmental Conservation found that 98 percent of comments were opposed to the Greenidge Generation’s air permit renewal. Greenidge is a proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining facility in Dresden, NY. Proof-of-work crypto mining has been the target of environmentalists due to its immense energy usage.… The post April 26th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
April 25th, 2022 Daily Headlines
April 25, 2022 10:00The Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) is alerting residents of therapeutic treatments for COVID-19. The TCHD says that older residents, or those at risk for severe illness may be eligible for prescribed therapeutics. Medications to treat COVID-19 are widely available in Tompkins County through local pharmacies. Residents seeking treatment should contact their primary health care… The post April 25th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
Interview: NY 22nd Congressional District Candidate Sarah Klee Hood (2022-04-21)
April 22, 2022 20:34Sarah Klee Hood is a Town Councilor from DeWitt, NY and a director of a clean energy incubator and a candidate for the newly redistricted 22nd NY congressional district. WRFI's Fred Balfour interviewed her on April 21, 2022. Back to all candidates. WRFI News Theme music: Alex Reed. Photo: provided. Transcript of Interview: Fred… The post Interview: NY 22nd Congressional District Candidate Sarah Klee Hood (2022-04-21) appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
April 22nd, 2022 Daily Headlines
April 21, 2022 10:00The Ithaca Youth Bureau Summer Camp is facing staffing shortages. According to Spectrum News, the camp is only accepting 50% of its usual capacity and slots for campers filled very quickly this spring. There is currently a waitlist for campers and the camp will add more slots if it can bring in more staff. The… The post April 22nd, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
April 21st, 2022 Daily Headlines
April 21, 2022 02:18On Tuesday, the Tompkins County Legislature voted to make Juneteenth a paid holiday for county employees. Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation slaves in the United States. The measure passed unanimously by a vote of 14-0. Legislator Anne Korman celebrated the vote saying Juneteenth is an “observance of the hardships and losses suffered by African Americans.” Legislator… The post April 21st, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
April 20th, 2022 Daily Headlines
April 20, 2022 10:00On Monday, state Assemblywoman Anna Kelles and state Senator Rachel May endorsed Lea Webb for state Senate. Webb is running in the new 53rd Senate district, a heavily Democratic seat that includes both Ithaca and Binghamton. Kelles represents the 125th State Assembly district made up of Tompkins County and part of Cortland County. May represents… The post April 20th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
April 19, 2022 Daily Headlines
April 19, 2022 10:00This May Bike Walk Tompkins will be hosting “Streets Alive! Ithaca'' a community event on the city’s southside. According to the Ithaca Journal, the event will shut down neighborhood streets to motor vehicles for several hours to allow residents to enjoy various activities. The event is scheduled for Sunday May 1st beginning at 1 P.M.… The post April 19, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
2022 WRFI Candidate Interviews AUDIO, TRANSCRIPTIONS
April 19, 2022 01:50New York's redistricting process remains unresolved. But you can still tune in for WRFI's live interviews with candidates in the primaries for what may be New York's 22nd US Congressional District and the 53rd NYS Senate District Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 6pm. Hosted by Fred Balfour and George Christopher. Interview Schedule Expand The interviews… The post 2022 WRFI Candidate Interviews AUDIO, TRANSCRIPTIONS appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
2022 WRFI Candidate Interviews
April 19, 2022 01:50New York's redistricting process remains unresolved. But you can still tune in for WRFI's live interviews with candidates in the primaries for what may be New York's 22nd US Congressional District and the 53rd NYS Senate District Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 6pm. Hosted by Fred Balfour and George Christopher. Interview Schedule Expand The interviews… The post 2022 WRFI Candidate Interviews appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
WRFI to Host Interviews with Candidates in 22nd and 53rd District Primaries
April 19, 2022 01:50WRFI's Fred Balfour and George Christopher will host live interviews with candidates in the primaries for the 22nd Congressional District and the 53rd Senate District. The interviews for the 22nd Congressional District Primary will air every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 6-6:30pm starting this Thursday, April 21st and will be archived on this page. Sarah… The post WRFI to Host Interviews with Candidates in 22nd and 53rd District Primaries appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
April 18th, 2022 Daily Headlines
April 18, 2022 10:00The New York Working Families Party has endorsed Tiffany Kumar for Ithaca’s Fourth Ward Common Council seat. The party touted Kumar’s work with the Ithaca Tenants Union, and her support for a $15 minimum wage for student workers. Kumar is challenging Incumbent councilor Patrick Mehler in the Democratic primary. Mehler was appointed to the council… The post April 18th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
April 15th, 2022 Daily Headlines
April 15, 2022 10:00The Tompkins County Health Department has issued COVID-19 precautions ahead of the holiday weekend. Residents are encouraged to wear high quality masks like KN-95s when around those who are ill, are not vaccinated, immunocompromised, at high risk of severe illness, or are on public transit. Residents are also urged to get tested if experiencing COVID… The post April 15th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
April 13th, 2022 Daily Headlines
April 13, 2022 10:00Yesterday, New York Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin resigned after being arrested in a federal corruption investigation. According to the Associated Press, Benjamin was indicted for allegedly participating in a scheme to obtain campaign contributions from a real-estate developer. The suit alleges that, in exchange for the campaign contribution, Benjamin would use his position to help… The post April 13th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
April 12th, 2022 Daily Headlines
April 12, 2022 10:00Two weeks ago students at Cornell protested a debate hosted by the school’s chapter of the Federalist society. According to the Cornell Daily Sun, the debate was between Cornell law Professor Nelson Tebbe and Jordan Lorence, a senior Counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). The ADF has been classified an ant-LGBTQ+ hate group by… The post April 12th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
April 11th, 2022 Daily Headlines
April 11, 2022 10:00On Friday, Ithaca made national headlines when the employees at all three local Starbucks locations voted to unionize by an overwhelming margin. Workers at the South Meadow Street Starbucks voted 13 to 1 for unionization. Workers on Seneca street approved unionization by a vote of 15 to 1 and workers in Collegetown voted 19 to… The post April 11th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
April 8th, 2022 Daily Headlines
April 08, 2022 10:00The Ithaca City School District budget has been submitted with an over $148 Million price tag. According to the Ithaca Voice, the budget must be approved by a public referendum on May 17th and would represent a 2.59 percent increase over the previous budget. The budget proposal would not increase local tax rates, but would… The post April 8th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
April 5th, 2022 Daily Headlines
April 05, 2022 10:00Cornell has proposed a nearly $30 million plan to expand the university’s engineering school. According to the Ithaca Voice, plans have been filed with the city of Ithaca to expand Thurston Hall. The proposal would add a 4 story addition to the north side of the building and double its size. The school aims to… The post April 5th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
April 1st, 2022 Daily Headlines
April 01, 2022 10:00Ithaca Mayor Laura Lewis has endorsed Leslie Danks-Burke for State Senate. Lewis is one of Danks-Burke’s most prominent endorsements in the race for the Democratic nomination. Lewis’s predecessor Svante Myrick has endorsed Danks-Burke’s opponent Lea Webb, a former Binghamton City Councilor. Danks-Burke and Webb are running in New York’s new 53rd senate district, a heavily… The post April 1st, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
March 30th, 2022 Daily Headlines
March 30, 2022 10:00The Trumansburg Central School District has seen a surge in COVID cases. According to the Ithaca Voice, the school district went from 21 cases last Tuesday to 53 on Thursday. The cases have spread across the elementary, middle and high schools in students, staff, and teachers. The school pinned the recent case surge on the… The post March 30th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
March 31st, 2022 Daily Headlines
March 30, 2022 10:00The City of Ithaca has released answers to Frequently Asked Questions regarding the city’s Reimagining Public Safety Plan. The FAQ denies claims that the city is abolishing the police stating that the city will continue to use armed police officers in addition to unarmed civilian first responders. The report, outlining proposed reforms, was presented to… The post March 31st, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
March 29th, 2022 Daily Headlines
March 29, 2022 10:00The City of Ithaca Redistricting Group has released a draft of the city’s new ward maps. According to the Ithaca Voice, the maps were announced on Thursday. The maps would maintain 5 heavily Democratic seats where Joe Biden took at least 87 percent of the vote. Under the new maps 2nd Ward Councilor Phoebe Brown… The post March 29th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
March 25th, 2022 Daily Headlines
March 25, 2022 10:00Cornell University is raising its COVID-19 Alert Level to yellow. In a statement the school said positive COVID cases had increased beyond their predictions. The school pinned the increase in cases on the relaxing of mask requirements, the new BA.2 variant, and an increase in social activities. Cornell is urging students to practice extra caution… The post March 25th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.
March 24th, 2022 Daily Headlines
March 24, 2022 10:00On Tuesday the Ithaca Planning and Economic Development Committee approved the Catherine Commons project. According to the Ithaca Voice, the project will mean the demolition of 11 older student apartment houses to make way for the $39 Million development. The development will include 6 buildings with 360 residential units. The project was approved unanimously and… The post March 24th, 2022 Daily Headlines appeared first on WRFI Community Radio.