Daily
Ithaca
Tuesday, May 19th, 2026
Good morning, Ithaca. Here's your local news at a glance for Tuesday, the 19th of May.
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Cornell AgriTech (in Geneva) will introduce Ursa Alta, a low-THC hemp fiber cultivar that grows well in our climate for making textiles, animal bedding and wall insulation. Condor Seeds in Yuma has begun selling these seeds under a commercial license following successful field trials. Cornell Chronicle
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Thread Magazine launched its spring semester issue on May 2 at Cornell and hosted its first gala with over 100 models and creative teams. The student-run magazine features a sports-themed spread that celebrates fashion and personal expression. The Cornell Daily Sun
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Cornell will host a three-day immersive training simulation starting May 28 on campus to teach nearly 50 community members and students how to act as emergency responders during a mock natural disaster — part of broader efforts to boost state disaster preparedness. Cornell Chronicle
- ➤ Twenty-three graduate students and organizations received the 2026 Graduate Excellence and Impact Awards during the celebration on May 13 at G10 Biotech. The Graduate School Office of Inclusion and Student Engagement highlighted their service & leadership in advancing access, engagement, and belonging. Cornell Chronicle
- ➤ On May 18, 2026, the College of Arts & Sciences honored Nicole Giannella, Karola Mészáros and Landon Schnabel for excellence in teaching and advising as part of its annual awards. The ceremony celebrated instructors who consistently help students flourish. Cornell Chronicle
- ➤ Lansing Central School District holds a crowded board election today as seven candidates seek to fill four open seats after three board members resigned earlier this month. District officials are working to close a 2.2 million gap through staff cuts and budget adjustments. The Ithaca Voice
- ➤ After Camp Owahta’s arts building burned last summer, Cornell Cooperative Extension Cortland County worked with 69 architecture students to design fresh ideas for the 75-year-old 4-H camp in McGraw+ the proposals, unveiled on May 8, include winter community features and will guide future funding efforts. Cornell Chronicle
- ➤ Ithaca College held its Class of 2026 commencement on May 17 in Glazer Arena with graduates receiving medallions featuring a James Baldwin quote, a congratulatory fist bump from President La Jerne Cornish, and honorary degrees to Frank Kruppa and Robert Moss during speeches on perseverance and adaptation. The Ithacan
- ➤ Polls open today from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. for the Ithaca City School District election as voters pick three board members from four candidates plus decide on measures for the budget, capital project, bus purchase and reserve fund; board president Sean Eversley Bradwell ends an 18-year term this summer. The Ithaca Voice
- ➤ Cornell students from the Physical Computing course showed hands-on projects including a laundry grabber, snowflake maker, and volleyball launcher at Sciencenter on May 9 (at the museum). They demonstrated new design and fabrication skills while engaging local visitors. Cornell Chronicle
- ➤ Cornell researchers partnered with Toyota Research Institute as part of the University Research Program 3.0 to study human-robot interaction and personalized AI at Cornell labs. The projects were announced May 18 and aim to improve collaboration in real-world settings. Cornell Chronicle
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ On May 14, the PSC approved temporary rate hikes for NYSEG and RG&E that will take effect on June 1, giving more time for final rate review. The increases will raise electric bills by 0.2% and gas bills by 1.7% for typical customers — far lower than originally requested. Ithaca.com
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Trumansburg baseball earned a top seed with a 15-3 record amid injuries and will host either Tioga or Delhi on May 22 in the Section IV quarterfinals after an early postseason loss on May 14; coach Scott Voorhees says the team plans to rely on strong pitching and batting. Tompkins Weekly
- ➤ On May 8, Dryden's baseball team won against Newfield by nine to eight at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown. Senior Giuliana Pascarella hit the winning run in a thrilling game that followed a visit to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Tompkins Weekly
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Eileen Ivers & The Brigideens
8-10:30 p.m. — Hangar Theatre — Ticket required — Experience the fiery sounds of Grammy-winning Eileen Ivers and her all-female band, The Brigideens.
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Leading with Intention Workshop by Amber Alpizar
1:30-4:30 p.m. — Tompkins County Public Library — Registration required — Equip yourself with tools to lead with compassion and accountability amidst uncertainty.
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TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The beauty of a living thing is not the atoms that go into it, but the way those atoms are put together.
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Reveal the authorAbout Daily Ithaca
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