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…

Read More

Local News: March 20, 2024

Ithaca Police are investigating a potential bias incident in Collegetown Monday. According to reports by Cornell Daily Sun and the Ithaca Voice, a Muslim woman was spat on by a man on College Ave. Cornell President Martha Pollack condemned the attack in an email Tuesday saying “We must be united and firm in our rejection…

Read More

Local News: March 19, 2024

A pro-Palestine group at Cornell is agitating for the university to divest from weapons manufacturers supplying Israel’s war efforts in Gaza. According to the Cornell Daily Sun, the Coalition for Mutual Liberation, or CML, held a campus-wide action Thursday. Members of the group said they would continue to violate Cornell’s controversial Interim Expressive Activity Policy…

Read More

Join Us for The Listening Room, Thursday, March 21

Come enjoy crystal clear audio and crackling conversation with guest curators Rebecca Redelmeier and Aurora Berry, WSKG’s new reporters based in Ithaca. WRFI’s Felix Teitelbaum will also share a few sonic delights. The Listening Room is an informal salon for lovers of audio co-hosted by Story House Ithaca and WRFI Community Radio. Curators present selections…

Read More

Local News: March 18, 2024

Former acting Ithaca Police Chief John Joly is suing the city and alleging racial discrimination and other offenses. According to the Ithaca Voice, Joly, who is white, was passed over for promotion to the permanent role after a bungled appointment process in 2022. Then Mayor Laura Lewis selected Joly for the role without the backing…

Read More

Celebrate Women with WRFI this Month

Collage of women icons.

The month of March is Women’s History Month – a time to celebrate women of all backgrounds and recognize the struggle  for equality is not over. The first celebration of the fight for women’s rights was held on February 28th, 1909. The occasion was organized by the Socialist Party of America to commemorate the 1908…

Read More

Songs Dex Romweber Taught Us – The Rocket Morton Show

Dex Romweber (left) and sister Sara Romweber with Rocket Morton Chapel Hill-based rockabilly and blues guitarist Dexter Romweber passed away on February 16, 2024 at the age of 57. Romweber influenced, inspired, and touched the lives of many—including WRFI’s own Rocket Morton. Part one of Rocket’s tribute to Dex and his influences aired on Friday,…

Read More