Good morning, Ithaca.

A partial lunar eclipse, known as the almost blood moon, peaked at 12:12 a.m. today + East Coast and Midwest residents saw the event in full while West Coast viewers caught it only as it began.

Cornell’s To Do the Greatest Good campaign ended June 30—raising nearly $6.8B from over 500,000 donors and engaging more than 220,000 alumni to boost student aid and fuel faculty research at Ithaca and Cornell Tech.

Ithaca College saw top administrators depart this summer, leaving the CFO and two deans’ roles open as the school prepares for the 2026-27 academic year, with President La Jerne Cornish set to complete her term on June 30 and leadership searches delayed until a new president is hired.

Cornell Law School welcomed 103 international LL.M. students on August 6 for an orientation featuring campus tours, seminars, and networking events that blended global perspectives with American legal studies.

Associate Editor Sophia Romanov Imber of Cornell explains how art and literature help guide freshmen and returning students through the challenges and growth of the fall semester, employing classic films + mentor advice to illustrate the coming-of-age journey on campus.

Ithaca College ended its contract with Wysa on Aug.

5 for the 2026-27 school year because of budget constraints after student concerns at an April town hall - students may still use the app’s free chatbot while the college reviews new mental health tools.

The Tompkins County Board of Elections announced winners of sticker contests after 169 entries and 800 votes.

Ninth-grader Leo Walsh won the “I Voted” prize while fifth-graders Addie Miller and Fiona Beary earned Future Voter honors (celebrating America's 250th birthday) and will be recognized at the Legislature on Sept. 15.

Ithaca College's CAPS is scaling back group therapy and Let’s Talk sessions for Fall 2026 + fewer counselors mean a shift toward more individual visits while officials assess student needs.

The Tompkins County Rapid Medical Response program has been named the Central New York EMS Agency of the Year for 2026 and will be recognized at an awards dinner in September.

Aaron Bouyea has led Ithaca College athletics into a new era by hiring three new head coaches + securing major corporate partnerships and expanding community service efforts since his May 2025 hire.

He will meet with Ithaca City School District’s superintendent in September to boost local ties.

Cornell men's soccer aims to win its first trophy this season with Coach John Smith rallying the Big Red to turn recent success into silverware.

The team will begin on Aug. 29 in Poughkeepsie against Marist (their win record has grown over nine seasons), marking a fresh start in the trophy chase.

The Ithaca College women’s wrestling team joined the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference on July 22 and will grow from eight to about 20 wrestlers.

They prepare to host the NCAA Regional Championship on South Hill later this winter — a shift that promises more structure and a chance for real rivalries.