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FEATURE: Governor’s budget plan could cost rural schools millions of dollars in state aid

By Celia Clarke

Rural school districts across New York face a significant loss in state funding this year. Governor Hochul’s 2024 executive budget proposal would change the allocation of “foundation aid”. That’s the money the state gives each school district to close the gap between what a community can afford to pay and what is needed to provide…

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The value of rural libraries: A look inside Odessa’s public library

By Celia Clarke

Public libraries have been in the news a lot over the past few years. There have been calls to ban books, pull funding, or cancel certain events. But not all events or books are controversial and not all libraries are dealing with efforts to censor their collections. Odessa Library in Schuyler County is that kind…

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CREATIVES: Natalia Khoma and Volodymyr Vynnytsky of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine

By Felix Teitelbaum

WRFI’s Felix Teitelbaum and Dr. Deborah Justice of the Cornell Concert Series speak with cellist Natalia Khoma and pianist Volodymyr Vynnytsky of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine about the power of music in times of turmoil and about the orchestra’s upcoming performance at Cornell (February 10, 2024 at 3pm). More at www.cornellconcertseries.com

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FEATURE: A new call to address harmful algal blooms in Cayuga Lake and beyond

By Celia Clarke

This interview has been edited for clarity. Harmful algal blooms, HABS, occur in the summer months in waterbodies across the country. But winter is when researchers and activists review the data and assess the impact of the season’s blooms. The toxins are dangerous to human and animal life. More of them are showing up in…

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