Good morning, Ithaca.

On Tuesday afternoon, a routine chemical delivery at the Water Treatment Plant caused sodium hypochlorite and aluminum chloride to mix and release chlorine gas; responders cleared the area but returned on Wednesday to address residual gas while officials confirmed that public health and the water supply were not at risk.

Ithaca man Ahmed A. Abed pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree for intentionally causing the death of his wife—Alaa Hussein Jeena Abedi—in an Ithaca apartment on November 11th, 2024 and he remains incarcerated pending sentencing on August 19th.

Ithaca police and the crisis negotiations team spent over two hours Tuesday morning using chemical irritants and technology-based equipment to extract 28-year-old Devon D.

Welch from the Asteri building—he now faces arraignment on multiple active warrants including burglary, attempted weapon possession, and other offenses, and another occupant was arrested after leaving the apartment.

Ithaca Police arrested 28-year-old Devon Welch on Tuesday after he refused to leave an apartment on East Green Street at 8:15 a.m. and a specialized response team used chemical irritants to end a two-hour standoff—charging him with burglary third degree, attempted criminal possession of a weapon third degree, six counts of petit larceny, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration while also arresting another person with an active warrant.

Cornell researchers have developed a soft robotic gripper that gently injects living plant leaves with sensors and genetic material—achieving over 91% success in tests on sunflower and cotton leaves.

The device will soon be integrated into greenhouse systems to monitor plant hydration and genetic changes, helping precision agriculture address environmental challenges.

Cornell researchers discovered a new cell signal that controls ovulation — a finding that may lead to new treatments for infertility, birth control and ovarian disease.

The study, published May 20 in Advanced Science, was led by postdoctoral researcher Hanxue Zhang — from the lab of Assistant Professor Yi Athena Ren.

After beating Valley Central by a score of 15 to 4 in the Section IV Regional Championship, Ithaca High School varsity girls lacrosse advanced to the New York State Class A Semifinals for the first time— the team will face the Suffern Mounties at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, June 13 at SUNY Cortland.

Ithaca Reggae Fest 2025

5-11 p.m. — Stewart Park — Free entry — Celebrate the region's largest natural resource with reggae music and community spirit.

Jazz Mondays with Dave Davies RhythmMakers

5:30-8:30 p.m. — South Hill Cider — $5 suggested donation — Enjoy live jazz and local flavors at Ithaca's favorite cider spot.

CFCU Summer Concert Series

5-8 p.m. — Bernie Milton Pavilion — Free entry — Weekly family-friendly concerts showcasing local and regional artists through the summer.

Project Planning: The Critical Role of Feasibility Studies

12:00 – 1:30 p.m. — Tompkins Chamber — Registration required — Explore the importance of feasibility studies in project planning with insights from a leading architecture and construction firm.

Waitress: The Musical

July 10–19 — Hangar Theatre — Cost info not provided — Experience the heartwarming tale of a waitress and talented pie-baker.