April 1st, 2022 Daily Headlines

Ithaca 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 democratic seat that voted for Joe Biden by almost 17 points in 2020. The district includes both the cities of Ithaca and Binghamton. Primaries in New York State are scheduled for June 28th.

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Cornell students have expressed frustration with the university administration’s response to a walkout by students during an event hosted by the Cornell Institute of Public Affairs (or CIPA). According to the Cornell Daily Sun, a group of Chinese Students walked out of a Q and A event earlier this month featuring Democratic representative and Cornell graduate Elissa Slotkin, after graduate student Rizwangel NurMuhammad asked a question regarding the United States’ response to the Uyghur genocide. NurMuhammad’s own brother was detained by the Chinese government. Following the event William Wang, President of the Cornell Public Affairs Society sent a letter signed by 80 Chinese students saying NurMuhammad’s comments created a “hostile environment.” Members of the society have looked to remove Wang who has refused to resign. Director of CIPA Matthew Hall issued an apology for the Institute’s initial response, saying the actions of the students was “disappointing and inconsistent with CIPA’s values and principles.”

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Today is the deadline for New York state’s budget for fiscal year 2023. According to Spectrum News, there has been little sign of a breakthrough in negotiations between lawmakers and Governor Kathy Hochul. Three different budgets have been proposed by the State Assembly, State Senate, and the Governor herself. Legislators remain divided on a number of issues including proposed changes to the state’s bail law, child care for undocumented immigrants, and a proposed suspension of the state gas tax.