Tompkins County Passes $253.2 Million Budget with 2.72% Tax Levy Increase
The Tompkins County Legislature approved a $253.2 million budget for 2025 on Nov. 19, setting a tax levy increase of 2.72%. Initial calculations showed a 4.45% levy hike due to a tax cap error, but amendments to use contingency funds and fund balance reserves lowered the levy to meet the corrected cap. Legislator Greg Mezey…
Study Warns U.S. Energy Bills Could Rise Up to 70% Without Policy Changes
WASHINGTON — A study by the Jack Kemp Foundation warns that U.S. energy bills could increase by 25% to 70% over the next decade without policy intervention, driven by soaring demand from AI technologies, hyperscale data centers, and the shift toward electrification. The report, authored by economists Ike Brannon and Sam Wolf, highlights the strain…
Ithaca Housing Complex Reopens After $75M Update
ITHACA, N.Y. (APN) — The Northside Apartments have undergone a $75 million renovation, transforming the 1960s-era complex into a more efficient, modern housing development. The Ithaca Housing Authority and 3rd Development Group expanded the complex from 70 to 82 total units, though bedroom count decreased from approximately 225 to 208. Units now range from one…
New Nevada School Trustees Bring Conservative Priorities to Clark County, Raising Tensions
Two new trustees joining the Clark County School Board are bringing conservative priorities to the district, raising the prospect of future tension over culture war issues. Lydia Dominguez and Lorena Biassotti, former members of the Moms for Liberty Clark County chapter, won seats in a Republican wave that also helped deliver Nevada to President-elect Donald…
Danby OKs cannabis dispensary
DANBY, NY (CortacaToday) — A new cannabis dispensary is coming to Danby. On Tuesday, […]
Narcan vending machine unveiled at Tompkins County Public Library
ITHACA, N.Y. — It will now be easier to access the lifesaving opioid overdose-reversing medication naloxone, often known as Narcan, in downtown Ithaca. The Tompkins County Public Library held a ribbon cutting Wednesday for a vending machine that will dispense doses of the medication and other harm reduction materials for free. The vending machine and…
One injured after truck crashes into house in Dryden
ITHACA, N.Y. — A pick-up truck driver will not be charged after its vehicle crashed into the side of a house in the 300 block of Mineah Road in the town of Dryden early Saturday morning. The incident was reported over the weekend by the Dryden Fire Department and Dryden Ambulance and further detailed Wednesday…
Last residents of homeless shelter may remain temporarily after emergency injunction
ITHACA, N.Y. — The last two residents of Tompkins County’s only year-round homeless shelter will be able to remain in place for the time being. The shelter was originally scheduled to close permanently on Nov. 15 after the county was unable to reach a contract renewal agreement with the shelter’s operator, St. John’s Community Services. …
Hochul Doubles Local Government Efficiency Grants to $8M
(APN) — Governor Kathy Hochul announced an $8 million investment in the Local Government Efficiency Grant (LGEG) program, doubling its funding to help municipalities streamline operations, reduce costs, and lower property taxes. The initiative supports projects involving shared services, consolidations, and dissolutions between local governments, benefiting property taxpayers across New York. The 2024 funding includes…
Hochul Announces $22M to Modernize and Strengthen New York’s Electric Grid
(APN) — Governor Kathy Hochul announced the availability of $22 million in funding for projects to modernize and enhance the resilience of New York’s electric grid. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Grid Resilience Formula Grant, the program is part of efforts to ensure grid reliability, support clean energy access, and prepare for…
Hochul Announces $62M in Arts Funding for Nonprofits and Artists
(APN) — Governor Kathy Hochul has announced $62 million in grants through the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support 1,497 nonprofit organizations and 509 individual artists across the state. This funding round brings Fiscal Year 2025’s total arts funding to $84 million, including $21 million in multi-year grants already awarded. The…
CUNY School of Medicine Becomes Independent Institution
(APN — Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Medicine will become an independent institution, a move aimed at expanding educational programs and addressing healthcare inequities. The transition, which separates the medical school from City College and places it under the CUNY Graduate Center, will enable the…