Daily
Ithaca
Friday, January 30th, 2026
Good morning, Ithaca. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 30th of January.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Tompkins County Public Library hosts board game club meetings every Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Digital Lab for kids, teens, and adults to drop in and play games like Uno + King of Tokyo. 607 News Now
- ➤ Michael Ramos is retiring as president and CEO of United Way of Tompkins County on Feb. 3 + he was appointed in 2023 and the board said it will announce leadership plans soon. 607 News Now
- ➤ Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services celebrates 50 years of building affordable homes this year as it expands innovative projects across Ithaca and surrounding areas. (Founded on Sept. 28, 1976, it now supports sustainable housing across seven counties.) Ithaca.com
- ➤ Beginnings Credit Union will launch a month-long pet donation drive on Feb. 2 through Feb. 27 at branches in Tompkins, Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, and Madison Counties to collect pet items (food, treats, beds, blankets, and cat litter) for local SPCA shelters. 607 News Now
- ➤ The Newfield Food Pantry at 277 Main St has seen demand jump by over 40% in the past six months amid job losses and SNAP shutdowns, now serving 90 families every other week with meals + essentials on the first and third Wednesday. Tompkins Weekly
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ An exhibition opens Feb. 5 at Carl A. Kroch Library and runs through March 24 to show Chuck Feeney’s photos, documents, and personal papers that reveal his business success and quiet role in the Good Friday peace agreement. Cornell Chronicle
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ TC3 professor Janita Moricette has been named a SUNY Accessibility Advocates and Allies Fellow to boost digital accessibility and Universal Design for Learning across campuses; the program was announced by SUNY chancellor John B. King Jr. last December and supports inclusive teaching methods. Tompkins Weekly
- ➤ Cornell’s CAS Dean Peter Loewen is launching a new course, GOVT 1109 (Disagreement), to help students learn how to handle debates amid differing opinions. The course already has 132 enrollees and will feature lectures by faculty and outside experts. The Cornell Daily Sun
- ➤ The Ithaca City School District saw enrollment decline after data from a Jan. 13 board meeting indicated similar trends in other districts (Board President Dr. Sean Bradwell said no drastic changes are planned). 607 News Now
- ➤ Teachers in the district cheered as board members ratified a historic labor contract Tuesday night in the Ithaca City School District boardroom—this deal introduces a step-and-lane salary system, boosts raises, and extends parental leave, and it remains in effect until June 30. The Ithaca Voice
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Nick Totman was elected fire commissioner in McLean and continues to serve as an active firefighter—he plans the first annual Potato Festival on Saturday, July 25 to fund community improvements. Tompkins Weekly
- ➤ Tompkins County received $4.7 million in grants from New York State Homes and Community Renewal to fund housing upgrades for seniors, veterans, families, renters and first-time homebuyers; the money will pay for repairs, accessibility modifications and down payments in projects in Danby, Groton, Dryden and through Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services. Ithaca Journal
- ➤ Tompkins County lawmakers on Jan. 20 voted to ask DEC for a complete environmental review of the water permit for TeraWulf’s AI data center at the old Cayuga Power Plant site in Lansing. The planning board will consider its site plan next month — a measure to protect Cayuga Lake. Tompkins Weekly
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Cornell men's hockey is on a long road trip after an eight-game home stand; the team faces Yale at 7 p.m. Friday and Brown at 5 p.m. Saturday and if they win, can boost Ivy League title hopes. Coach Casey Jones said the team is excited for the challenge ahead. The Cornell Daily Sun
- ➤ Cornell’s women’s hockey team will try to rebound in a doubleheader — hosting Dartmouth at Lynah Rink today at 6 p.m. and Harvard tomorrow at 3 p.m. — after scoring struggles, and former star Laura Fortino ’13 was named to the Italian Olympic team, boosting Cornell sports. The Cornell Daily Sun
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Sky Stories - The Round Time
7:30-9:00 p.m. — The Cherry Arts — Ticketed event — Experience the world premiere of Round Time, an aerial showcase of old rhythms and new cycles performed by talented female aerialists.
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Ithaca Ballet: WinterDance 2026
Evening of contemporary dance — 7 p.m. — State Theatre of Ithaca — Ticket prices vary — Celebrate 65 years of Ithaca Ballet with an evening of innovative choreography and performances by alumni dancers.
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Princeton Tigers at Cornell Big Red Women's Basketball
5-8 p.m. — Newman Arena — VIP tickets available — Experience college basketball with premium seating and special game day packages.
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Mutts Gone Nuts
7-10 p.m. — State Theatre of Ithaca — Ticketed event — Experience a hilarious dog variety show that’s sure to entertain all ages.
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Richmond Spiders vs. Cornell Big Red Men's Lacrosse
12-2 p.m. — Schoellkopf Field — Ticket prices vary — Experience a thrilling NCAA lacrosse showdown between the Richmond Spiders and Cornell Big Red.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
To find yourself, think for yourself.
~ Socrates
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