Local News: March 21, 2024

Overdose deaths and emergencies in Tompkins County continue to rise. According to data from Tompkins Whole Health the number of deaths has increased every year since 2019. The annual number of 911 calls related to overdose or poisoning has also trended upward. The ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and the increased presence of fentanyl and xylazine in street drugs are the primary causes of the increase. According to WBNG, the Southern Tier Aids Program recently tested 105 samples of street heroin and found that 100% contained at least some fentanyl and/or xylazine. Tompkins Whole Health maintains this list of resources to assist people in danger of overdose 

Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit or TCAT is still experiencing bugs with new fare boxes in the operator’s fleet of buses. The $1.5 million new fare collection system was installed in August last year. TCAT’s Patty Poist told Ithaca Week that supply chain issues have meant a delay in the delivery of new ride cards but that they should be available by summer. The new system does still accept the older TCards but lags in accounting have left TCAT expecting many users to observe the “honor system” in paying their fares. Fare income amounts to roughly 5% of TCAT’s operating budget.

Local excitement is building for the upcoming total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. Ithaca City Schools decided Tuesday to draw down an unused snow day to give students and staff the day off. Sasha Sagan is an author and daughter of famed astronomer, Ithacan, Carl Sagan. She’ll give a talk the night before the eclipse at the hangar Theatre.