Posts by WRFI News Staff
Record for New and Active COVID Cases Broken in Tompkins Co.
(Dominick Recckio / Tompkins County) TOMPKINS COUNTY, NY — Tompkins County’s record for new cases of COVID-19 has been broken. The Health Department is reporting 130 new positive cases of COVID today, and a total of 364 active cases. The rise in cases is largely being attributed to the arrival of college students. In response to…
Read MoreEPA Built a Lead Containment Wall at Ithaca Falls. Will it be Enough?
Walter Hang has been calling for a complete remediation of the lead pollution at the Ithaca Falls Natural Area for almost 20 years now. Behind him, people enjoy the falls, stepping into the water. They are seemingly unperturbed by, or unaware of, the lead pollution at the site. (Jimmy Jordan / WRFI) UPDATE: The EPA…
Read MoreTaxi Driver Robbed of Vehicle at Gun Point
(Provided) ITHACA, NY — An Ithaca taxi driver was robbed of their vehicle on Saturday. The Ithaca Police department reported two suspects in the robbery. The victim told police that one of the suspects pointed a rifle at them, demanding the keys to their taxi while they were sitting in the vehicle. The two suspects…
Read MoreCOVID Cases Continue to Rise, Tompkins Co. Health Department to Host Community Update
(Dominick Recckio / Tompkins County) TOMPKINS COUNTY, NY — COVID-19 cases continue to climb in Tompkins County. The Health Department reported 92 new positive cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, and a total of 268 active cases for Monday, August 30th. The last time Tompkins County saw cases this high was January 25th. A significant amount…
Read MoreTC3 and all of SUNY to require students to get Vaccinated
Tompkins Cortland Community College (Provided) TOMPKINS COUNTY, NY — TC3 is following SUNY’s student vaccination mandate made after the FDA approved the Pfizer COVID vaccine earlier this week. Now all institutions of higher education in Tompkins County have vaccine requirements for students starting class this for Fall 2021. Students attending TC3 must complete their vaccination shots…
Read MoreStand-Off Ends in Arrest at Chestnut Hill Apartment Complex
(Provided) ITHACA, NY — An hours-long stand-off between police and a suspect barricaded in an apartment ended in arrest on Saturday. Bruce Mead is being charged with two felonies, the criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degrees. The Ithaca Police department reported that two Ithaca Police Officers were dispatched to the…
Read MoreTompkins Co. Legislature Approves Purchase of Future Site for Downtown Offices
(Provided) TOMPKINS COUNTY, NY –The Tompkins County Legislature has approved the purchase of two downtown Ithaca properties. The two adjacent properties are on the 300 block of North Tioga Street, and are known as the Key Bank Building and the Ithaca Professional Building. The plan is for these sites to serve as the eventual location…
Read MoreInvasive Box Tree Moth Found in Western New York
(Boxwood plants grown to form a hedge / Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture) (Box Tree Moth / New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets) ITHACA, NY — The Box Tree Moth has been found in parts of Western New York. This invasive pest is a serious threat to boxwood plants, which are important in the…
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