WRFI Community Radio News
1,148 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 16 hours 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
Local News: March 12, 2024
March 12, 2024 21:00- Cornell makes changes to controversial Interim Expressive Activity Policy, faculty hold rally calls for it to be scrapped - Cornell University has made changes to its controversial “Interim Expressive Activity Policy”. A statement issued on Monday addressed three aspects of the policy that have been widely criticized. Candles shorter than 6” will be permitted…
Local News: March 11, 2024
March 11, 2024 21:00- Common council Wed meeting short-term rental policy - The Ithaca Common Council will hold a work session this week to hear about two special topics. The Council will get an update about the Reimagining Public Safety plan. They will also be hearing from staff about the draft short-term rental (STR) policy. The public agenda…
Local News: March 8, 2024
March 08, 2024 22:00- Newfield to review mobile home park law in public meeting - The town of Newfield will review its mobile home park law at a public meeting on March 28. The law has not been updated since 1998. Tompkins Weekly reports residents say there are problems with severe potholes, frequent water main breaks and other…
Local News: March 7, 2024
March 07, 2024 22:00- Ithaca Common Council approves permanent cease-fire resolution - The Ithaca Common Council approved a resolution calling for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza at its March 6 meeting. The Ithaca Times reports the vote came after over an hour of public comments and sometimes heated debate among the Council members. The resolution condemns the killing…
Local News: March 6, 2024
March 06, 2024 22:00- A congressional committee subpoenas Cuomo in COVID-19 investigation - A congressional subcommittee investigating the coronavirus pandemic has subpoenaed former governor Andrew Cuomo. The Albany Times Union reports that a focus of the Republican-led committee’s inquiry is a 2020 order issued by Cuomo to nursing homes. It required facilities to allow residents with COVID-19 to…
Local News: March 4, 2024
March 04, 2024 22:00- State law saving Ithaca Carshare goes into effect - The Ithaca Carshare bill became law on March 1. The new law resolves a technical insurance regulatory issue that resulted in Ithaca Carshare and other nonprofits losing insurance coverage for their vehicles. Ithaca Carshare stopped all operations last May. The carshare will reopen sometime this…
Local News: March 1, 2024
March 01, 2024 22:00- Recent rise in overdose concerns Tompkins County officials - There have been five overdose deaths in Tompkins County since February 18. That brings the total this year to six. The Ithaca Voice reports that’s more than occurred over the same period last year. There’s been a steady increase in overdose deaths in the county…
LISTEN: Freedom of Expression at Cornell
February 29, 2024 23:30Cornell’s academic theme this school year is freedom of expression. It was meant to be a year of celebration of one of the university’s core values. Instead how freedom of expression is practiced or protected on campus has become a divisive issue. The theme was announced last April months before war broke out between Israel…
FEATURE: Freedom of Expression at Cornell
February 29, 2024 23:30Cornell’s academic theme this school year is freedom of expression. It was meant to be a year of celebration of one of the university’s core values. Instead how freedom of expression is practiced or protected on campus has become a divisive issue. The theme was announced last April months before war broke out between Israel…
Local News: February 29, 2024
February 29, 2024 22:00Ithaca College president, La Jerne Terry Cornish says the college’s enrollment is rebounding from the significant drop it experienced during COVID lockdowns. She spoke at the Ithaca Rotary Club luncheon on Thursday. "In 2019, the first year class including transfers was 1506, and 2020, but COVID year, the first year class was 995." she said.…
Local News: February 28, 2024
February 28, 2024 22:00- Tompkins County Alcohol and Drug Council will stop addiction treatment services -The Tompkins County Alcohol and Drug Council will end its patient services and lay off most of its staff. The Ithaca Voice reports the Council has struggled to hire qualified nurses to staff its new 40-bed detox center. The Council is gradually ending…
Local News: February 27, 2024
February 27, 2024 22:00- Ithaca holds open house about redesign of part of Route 13 near waterfront development - The City of Ithaca wants feedback about the redesign of a portion of Route 13. The area stretches from Falls Creek to where the road splits near Purity Ice Cream. An open house will be on Wednesday, Feb. 28,…
Local News: February 26, 2024
February 26, 2024 22:00- Tompkins County property values go up almost 20% - Tompkins County has started mailing out this year’s property assessment values. Property values in Tompkins County are up an average of almost 20%. The Ithaca Voice reports the increase is due to rising sales prices. Between 2020 and 2023 the average residential property prices in…
Local News: February 22, 2024
February 22, 2024 22:00Cornell’s “interim expressive activity policy” has mostly been criticized in online comments and town hall meetings of students, faculty, and staff. Risa Lieberwitz is a professor in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, a member of the faculty senate and president of campus chapter of the American Association of University Professors. Here is some…
Local News: February 21, 2024
February 21, 2024 22:00Cornell’s academic theme for the 2023-24 school year is freedom of expression. The outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas happened shortly after the school year began. The University’s support of student and faculty freedom of expression has been tested by on- and off-campus protests and in some cases, social media posts. One student is…
Local News: February 20, 2024
February 20, 2024 22:00- New federal flood maps begin municipal review process - Municipalities in Tompkins County have until May 1 to appeal mistakes in the new FEMA flood maps. The Ithaca Voice reports appeals can only be made about errors in the maps and not disagreements about it. The maps indicate the risk of flooding for individual…
Local News: February 16, 2024
February 16, 2024 22:00- Broome County reports overdose spike in 24-hour period - The Broome County Health Department reports there was a spike in overdoses. John Barry at the Southern Tier AIDS Project (STAP) says there were 4 overdoses in a short period between February 14 and 15th. County officials are urging anyone who uses drugs to not…
Local News: February 15, 2024
February 15, 2024 22:00- A programming note - Yesterday we announced that a story about Cornell’s Year of Freedom of Expression would air tonight. We have postponed the broadcast of that story and will update you when it is rescheduled. - Several Cornell fraternities suspended on hazing allegations - Several Cornell fraternities are suspended while the university investigates allegations…
Local News: February 14, 2024
February 14, 2024 22:00- Ithaca College to test sirens on Thursday - Residents near Ithaca College may hear sirens and loudspeaker announcements on Thursday. The College will be testing its Outdoor Warning System at noon, on February 15. There’s no need to take any action. Students, faculty, and staff may get voice, text, or email messages around the…
Local News: February 13, 2024
February 13, 2024 22:00- State Republicans want electric school bus conversion extended to 2045 - Republican state lawmakers say school districts need more time to switch to zero-emissions school buses. New York school districts must transition by 2035 as part of the state climate law passed in 2019. The Albany Times Union reports Republicans and some school leaders…
Local News: February 12, 2024
February 12, 2024 22:00- Broome County gets new firefighting foam without dangerous toxins - Broome County fire departments will no longer use firefighting foam that contains PFAS chemicals, called “forever chemicals”. PFAS and PFOS chemicals are a group of cancer-causing chemicals found in everyday items like non-stick pans, Gore-tex, and in firefighters' clothing and firefighting foam. WSKG Public…
Local News: February 9, 2024
February 09, 2024 22:00- Water to be shut off on Tuesday for Village of Watkins Glen - Water in the Village of Watkins Glen will be shut off early Tuesday morning. Work on a major pipe will take place from 3 to 7 AM. The work is part of the $30 million project to upgrade the entire water…
FEATURE: Governor’s budget plan could cost rural schools millions of dollars in state aid
February 08, 2024 23:00Rural school districts across New York face a significant loss in state funding this year. Governor Hochul’s 2024 executive budget proposal would change the allocation of “foundation aid”. That’s the money the state gives each school district to close the gap between what a community can afford to pay and what is needed to provide…
Local News: February 8, 2024
February 08, 2024 22:00Pollack says high education is facing “gale-force” political winds in speech to Ithaca Rotary Club Cornell University President Martha Pollack was the guest speaker at Ithaca’s Rotary Club on Thursday. She spoke about Cornell’s six core values. University theme this year is "freedom of expression." Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war last October Cornell…
Local News: February 7, 2024
February 07, 2024 22:00- Tompkins County legislature rejects ceasefire resolution - By a one-vote margin, the Tompkins County legislature rejected a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. The Ithaca Voice reports legislature heard hours of public comments mostly supporting the resolution. The vote was 7-6 in favor of the resolution but it needed 8 votes…
Local News: February 5, 2024
February 05, 2024 22:00- Tioga County issues alert after cluster of heroin overdoses - Tioga County health officials are alerting people after a recent cluster of heroin overdoses that took place in three days last week. Officials say no one died. Kylie Holochak is senior educator with the county's health department. She said Naloxone, also called Narcan was…
Local News: February 2, 2024
February 02, 2024 22:00- New data dashboard tracks Tompkins County sheriff mental health unit efforts - Tompkins County launched a new dashboard to share data about the pilot project between the sheriff’s department and Tompkins Whole Health. The Ithaca Voice reports the project pairs a sheriff’s deputy with a mental health professional to respond to 911 calls where…
The value of rural libraries: A look inside Odessa’s public library
February 01, 2024 23:00Public libraries have been in the news a lot over the past few years. There have been calls to ban books, pull funding, or cancel certain events. But not all events or books are controversial and not all libraries are dealing with efforts to censor their collections. Odessa Library in Schuyler County is that kind…
Local News: February 1, 2024
February 01, 2024 21:00- Suspect pleads guilty to all charges in Tioga Downs stable fire that killed 30 horses - The man charged with starting a fire that killed 30 horses at Tioga Downs has pleaded guilty to all charges. WENY-TV reports Tioga County District Attorney announced on Monday that Boyd Fenton admitted starting the fire that killed…
Local News: January 31, 2024
January 31, 2024 22:00- Ithaca Common Council may start meeting more frequently - Ithaca’s new mayor, Robert Cantelmo has proposed the Common Council meet more frequently. The Ithaca Voice reports instead of once a month, Cantelmo wants the whole council to meet three times a month in shorter meetings. The plan would also require changing the schedule for…
Local News: January 30, 2024
January 30, 2024 22:00- Federal government find Cuomo sexually harassed state employees - A settlement has been reached in the federal sexual harassment case against former governor Andrew Cuomo. AP reports that the U.S. Department of Justice found that Cuomo sexually harassed more than a dozen state employees while he was governor. The settlement is between the federal…
Local News: January 29, 2024
January 29, 2024 22:00- Newfield school district among over a dozen state classifies in some fiscal stress - The Newfield Central School District is among sixteen the state has labeled in some form of financial stress. The state comptroller’s office issued its report based on information from the fiscal year ending in June of last year. Districts on…
Local News: January 26, 2024
January 26, 2024 22:00- Cornell releases draft policies on expressing and doxxing - Cornell announced two interim policies on Wednesday that address what it’s calling “expressive activities” and doxxing. University president Martha Pollock states the new policy on expression will not override any existing policies about conduct. It sets rules for when and where activities can take place…
Local News: January 25, 2024
January 25, 2024 22:00- Voting rights groups say state redistricting process should be open to the public - A State Court of Appeals ruled in December that New York’s congressional district maps needed to be redrawn. New maps were created for the 2022 elections but the court ruled that was temporary. WRVO Public Radio reports Common Cause New…
Local News: January 24, 2024
January 24, 2024 22:00- Tompkins County residents have a chance to get help with utility bills on Thursday - Tompkins County residents have the chance to get help with their utility bills at an open house on Thursday. State lawmakers Anna Kelles and Lea Webb are hosting an open house at GIAC in Ithaca from 4-7 PM. People…
Local News: January 23, 2024
January 23, 2024 22:00- Lea Webb launches re-election campaign - State Senator Lea Webb is officially running for re-election. The first-term Democrat represents the 52nd state senate district which was re-drawn in 2022. It includes Cortland and Tompkins counties and part of Broome County. Webb said she has prioritized the “needs of working families” and will continue to…
Local News: January 22, 2024
January 22, 2024 22:00- Costco, Sam’s Club recall charcuterie due to salmonella outbreak - State and federal health officials say charcuterie samplers bought late last year from Costco or Sam’s Club may be linked to cases of Salmonella in New York and other states. The Binghamton Press Sun Bulletin reports the stores have taken the products off their…
Local News: January 19, 2024
January 19, 2024 22:00- Tompkins Emergency Response warns of arctic blast this weekend - Tompkins County Emergency Response says arctic air blasts coming this weekend could push wind chill temperatures below zero. The agency says people should take extra precautions to avoid frostbite and hypothermia. Signs of hypothermia include slurred speech, loss of hand dexterity, confusion, and memory…
Local News: January 18, 2024
January 18, 2024 22:00- TCAT announces Spring schedule, some routes will still be limited - The Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) the county’s public bus service announced its Spring schedule. Many of the route cutbacks from the fall will remain in place. TCAT says they have hired some new drivers but not as many as they need. The…
Local News: January 17, 2024
January 17, 2024 22:00- Cargill asks DEC for permit adjustment to deal with leaking groundwater - Cargill has applied to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for a mining permit adjustment for its mine below Cayuga Lake. The company says they need more storage for groundwater leaking into the mine. The Ithaca Voice says according to…
Local News: January 16, 2024
January 16, 2024 22:08- Elmira to Consider Renaming Bridge - According to the Elmira Star Gazette, on Tuesday, the Elmira City Council will consider a proposal to rename the city's Madison Avenue Bridge after two pillars of Elmira's Black Community, A'Don Allen and Bessie Berry. Allen was the first Black resident to serve on the Chemung Board of…
Local News: January 12, 2024
January 12, 2024 22:00- Cornell president, Ithaca mayor condemn another anti-semitic social media post - Cornell President Martha Pollock has condemned a social media post that called for the death of Zionists. The post was allegedly made by a Cornell student. In a brief statement released on Thursday, Pollock called the post “heinous”. She says if the post…
Local News: January 11, 2024
January 11, 2024 22:00- Tompkins County health officials offer caution as COVID rates rise and students return - For the seven days between December 28 and January 4 state health records show there were 91 COVID cases reported in Tompkins County. Cases of COVID and flu are rising this winter, that’s not unusual. Tompkins County health officials say…
Local News: January 10, 2024
January 10, 2024 22:00- Another wind advisory for Wednesday - There’s another wind advisory in effect for parts of central New York including Cortland County south into northern Pennslyvania. It’s in effect until 7 PM on Wednesday. The National Weather Service says to use extra caution when driving. - Tuesday's storms cause 5,000 to lose power in Tompkins…
Local News: January 9, 2024
January 09, 2024 22:00- Some area hospitals are requiring face masks because of rising infection rates - If you’re heading to a hospital anytime soon you may be required to wear a face mask again. The Binghamton Press & Sun says some hospitals have started requiring visitors to wear face masks again because of the rise in COVID-19,…
Local News: December 21, 2023
December 21, 2023 22:00- Local public school enrollment has dropped since the pandemic following a statewide trend - Public school enrollment in New York state has dropped more than anywhere else in the country since the beginning of the pandemic. According to an Albany Times Union article which quotes data from Associated Press enrollment statewide dropped 6 percent…
Local News: December 20, 2023
December 20, 2023 22:00- WellNow Urgent Care will stop accepting Excellus on January 1 - WellNow urgent care centers will stop accepting Excellus BlueCross BlueShield insurance starting January 1. WRVO reports that a disagreement over reimbursement rates could affect hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. Excellus users would have to pay out-of-network fees if an agreement isn’t reached…
Local News: December 19, 2023
December 19, 2023 22:00- Tompkins County and others report rise in COVID and flu cases - Tompkins County Whole Health announced on Monday that COVID cases in the county have risen by 47% in the past two weeks. Flu cases are up 44% in the past week. The changes in Tompkins County are part of a rise in…
Local News: December 18, 2023
December 18, 2023 22:00- Flood Warning in effect until midnight - The National Weather Service in Binghamton issued a flood warning on Monday morning. It’s in effect until midnight. They warn that runoff from excessive rainfall may cause flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Affected areas include Tompkins, Steuben, Schuyler, Broome, Chemung, Chenango,…
Local News: December 15, 2023
December 15, 2023 22:00- An advisory board recommended New York allow safe injection sites. Hochul rejected their advice - Governor Kathy Hochul has rejected recommendations to set up safe injection sites in New York State for the second time. The recommendations were made by the Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board. The Albany Times Union reports that the Office…