Local News for July 3, 2023

Close Tompkins County Primaries May Be Decided By Manual Recount

Earlier this week, we reported the close margins in some Ithaca Common Council races. Some of them plus the Danby Town Clerk election may require manual recounts. The Ithaca Voice reports Ward 5 and Ward 3 in Ithaca had margins of less than 10 votes. In the Danby town clerk race, Mariah Dillon leads Janice Adelman by nine votes. The deadline for absentee and affidavit ballots is this week. The final count is on July 5. If any race has a margin of 20 or fewer votes a manual recount will take place on July 10.

Hochul Says Checking Air Quality Part of New Normal

Checking the Air Quality Index or AQI should become part of everyone’s daily routine according to New York Governor Kathy Hochul. The Albany Times Union reports Hochul says New Yorkers should expect wildfire smoke to affect daily life in the unforeseen future. An AQI over 100 is considered “unhealthy” for those with asthma, heart or lung diseases, and young children. Above 150 the air is unhealthy for everyone. Wearing a high-quality mask can protect against most particulate pollution.