Good morning, Ithaca.

The Cayuga Heights Fire Department donated retired equipment to Peru through a partnership with Cornell students.

The gear was delivered without shipping cost to support Peruvian firefighters who had faced challenges obtaining modern equipment (per Fire Chief George Tamborelle).

State lawmakers approved a bill banning potassium bromate—a common baking additive suspected of causing cancer—that will force pizzerias and bagel shops to update long-standing recipes with a one-year grace period for existing supplies.

Three Cornell MBA graduates—Nghi Tran, Jordi Sabria and Alicia Pettis—completed dual-campus programs in Ithaca and New York City during commencement and built leadership skills through tech electives and internships, preparing them for future roles in a tech-driven economy.

Abra Geiger ’26 won Cornell’s 2026 University Relations Campus-Community Leadership Award for her volunteer work in hosting physics lessons and literacy programs for local children (the award was presented on May 20 at Day Hall by VP Kyle Kimball).

Assistant professor Isabel Perera won the 2026 European Studies Book Award for her open-access book The Welfare Workforce: Why Mental Health Care Varies Across Affluent Democracies from Cambridge University Press.

A multidisciplinary jury praised her work for its rigor + impact on mental health policy across nations.

Cornell Duffield Engineering announced a $13.5M investment to build a 10,000 sqft quantum research facility set to complete in 2027.

The new collaboratory will support shared research for faculty+students to advance quantum engineering.

A Cornell study finds about one-third of college students use AI for assignments—raising concerns about cheating and leading experts to call for fairer test methods.

The survey of over 95,000 students suggests colleges may need to change how they test to keep grades valid.

Over 150 health educators gathered in-person + virtually on May 16-17 at Weill Cornell Medicine in Ithaca to discuss clinical education and feedback practices, sharing ideas from medicine and veterinary training.

The Ithaca City School District approved its 2026-27 budget after Tuesday’s election, with voters passing the $177.6M plan at 75.1% and a 3.4% tax levy increase below the state cap.

Three board members (Sara Garner, Garrick Blalock and Jill K. Tripp) were elected for three-year terms starting July 1.

Cornell launched the Center on Democracy to support democratic practices through research, education and public engagement as part of its 250th anniversary.

The center will host a launch event this fall, E Pluribus Unum: Out of Many, One, and involve over 100 faculty to offer practical insights.

Newfield baseball team earned the final Class C spot after finishing the season with a 6-9 record, overcoming a near miss from last season.

The team will compete in sectionals soon as key seniors and the Woodard twins lead the effort.

Ithaca College women’s basketball starts a new era with Erin Hughes as head coach after Dan Raymond retired on March 25 following 26 seasons that included 17 NCAA Tournament appearances.

Hughes, who spent two seasons at Trinity College, aims to renew the team’s strength following a 9-16 record.

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.

Stitch Club

1–3 p.m. — Tompkins County Public Library — Free entry — Gather for a creative afternoon of stitching, sharing skills, and working on projects.

Blaque Dynamite Live Performance

7-11:30 p.m. — The Nocturnal Café — $14 adv/$20 dos — Experience Grammy-nominated artist Blaque Dynamite blending jazz, funk, and more in an unforgettable live show.