Backstory: an Ithaca Voice podcast
The Ithaca Voice
Backstory is the local news podcast powered by the newsroom of The Ithaca Voice. Every week, our reporters take you behind the scenes of the stories shaping Ithaca, Tompkins County and the reality that surrounds these ten square miles.The Ithaca Voice is an independent not-for-profit online news outlet based in Ithaca, N.Y.New episodes of Backstory drop Tuesday.
Episodes
Oct. 13, 2026 — Beyond city limits: stories from the Town of Ithaca's supervisor
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you get podcasts.Last month, long time local elected official and civil servant Rod Howe stepped down from his most recent role as the Town of Ithaca’s supervisor. He’s served in many different roles in town government over the past 25 plus years, and he’s got a lot of stories. The town supervisor may not get as much attention as his counterpart over in city hall, the mayor. But overseeing the Town of Ithaca — the more varied, less urban ring of communities surrounding the city center — requires its fair share of leadership savvy. Ithaca Voice managing editor Jimmy Jordan sat down with Howe a few weeks ago to chat about his time in elected office. Producer's Note:Backstory is transitioning to a twice-monthly release schedule so that we can put more of our efforts into the in-depth local reporting that helps power the show. Today's will be our last weekly episode. Our next episode will be Oct. 27.Our mission at The Ithaca Voice is to provide our community the news they need to make informed decisions and participate in civic life. A big part of that is meeting folks where they are, whether that's on a traditional news feed, a podcast or on social media. We appreciate all the support for the show so far.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: Oct. 13, 2026.Reported and hosted by Jimmy JordanProduced by Jimmy Jordan and Megan Zerez.Cover art image by Anna Lamb/Ithaca Voice.
Oct. 6, 2026 — The ripple effects of the Jane Doe rape case at Cornell ... and beyond
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you get podcasts.This episode contains descriptions of sexual assault and drug use.If you or someone you know has experienced sexual abuse, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (800-656-4673). Locally, the Advocacy Center of Tompkins County provides confidential help and other resources. They can be reached anytime at (607) 277-5000.Cornell University has become the epicenter of a major national news story after a former student — identified only as Jane Doe —filed a civil lawsuit last month alleging she had been raped by seven members of a now-barred fraternity in October 2024.The lawsuit has reignited a nearly two-year-old investigation and sparked national outrage over Cornell's fraternity culture and the way local and university officials handled the case. The ripple effects go well beyond Cornell University.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: Oct. 6, 2026.Reported by Hailea Potter, Jimmy Jordan, Megan Zerez and Fernando Figueroa.Hosted and edited by Megan Zerez.Cover art image by Casey Martin/Ithaca Voice.
Sept. 29, 2026 — A new wind farm may be on the horizon in Hector. But who gets the final say?
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you get podcasts.New York has set lofty environmental goals for itself … and it's behind schedule. In 2020, the state set up a complex judicial process to standardize the permitting process for renewable energy projects. But that process also takes much of the decision-making power away from local officials and from people who live in these communities. Now, that conflict is coming to a head just across the county line, in the Town of Hector, where a Colorado-based company wants to build a 100 megawatt wind farm.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: September 29, 2026.Reported by Fernando FigueroaHosted and edited by Megan ZerezCover art image by Ayşenur Yılmaz/Pexels
Sept. 22, 2026 — A stalemate over the cell phone ban in Ithaca's public schools
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you get podcasts.It’s the second school year since Governor Kathy Hochul issued a statewide ban on student cell phone use during the school day. The Ithaca City School District, like many others across the state, is still working out the kinks on how to best to implement the reforms.For months, some parents, teachers and students have said that while the policy has managed to cut down some phone use, it's not uncommon to see students flouting the rule. Infractions related to cell phone use have contributed to a major increase in the number of disciplinary cases, though some teachers and students say they suspect the actual number of violations is much higher.Now, the majority of the school board seems to agree that change is necessary. They just can't agree on how to do it. An attempt to beef up the policy before the start of the school year fizzled out. And now, several weeks into the school year, the debate seems to have reached a stalemate.The cell phone ban has become an early point of contention between the district's elected and appointed leaders … and the hundreds of teachers, students and families affected by their decisions.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: September 22, 2026.Reported and edited by Megan Zerez.Hosted by Jimmy Jordan.Cover art image by Jimmy Jordan.
Sept. 15, 2026 — A course correction for the county budget ... and what it could mean for housing costs
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you get podcasts.Every fall, Tompkins County leaders begin the arduous process of hammering out a spending plan for the upcoming year. What will it take to keep government services — like Medicaid payments, the county sheriff's office or the health department — going? And how much in taxes are needed to pay for all of it?For the last few years, Tompkins County Legislators have opted to draw from the county’s rainy day fund to make ends meet and close a deficit. But now, legislators are facing an uncomfortable situation. Pulling money from the fund balance isn’t going to be sustainable forever. And this year, the county’s administrators say it might be time to stop.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: September 15, 2026Produced, hosted and edited by Megan Zerez.Reported by Hailea Potter and Jimmy Jordan.Cover art image by Casey Martin.
Sept. 8, 2026 — Could Tompkins County set its own higher minimum wage?
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you get podcasts.Tompkins County's cost of living is higher than anywhere else in the region. And for several years, county leaders have been mulling the idea of setting their own, higher minimum wage, which some argue could better reflects the economic reality of life here.Last summer, after the most recent round of debate over the proposal, county legislators opted to commission a study of the potential implications of a local minimum wage.Now, that study is complete. Researchers say raising the minimum wage would help reduce longstanding inequities. But there are some lingering questions, and not everyone is on board.Research professor Ian Greer was one of a team of Cornell University researchers who conducted the study. Greer is also the director of the university's Ithaca Co-Lab, which aims to support and study labor issues and workers rights in Tompkins County. Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: September 8, 2026Produced, hosted and edited by Megan Zerez.Cover art image by Jacob Mroczek.
Sept. 1, 2026 — Four years after unionization, Ithaca's union paramedics get their first contract
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you get podcasts.In 2022, paramedics at Bangs Ambulance voted to unionize. Progressive activists and elected officials at the time cheered the effort. But the vote was close. And as far as union negotiations go, the four years since haven’t always been smooth sailing.It was only this summer that the union finally reached an agreement with the family that owns the longtime ambulance company. Workers voted to ratify it in July, with virtually no public fanfare.What does it mean for Ithaca’s main EMS provider … and the people who depend on them?Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: September 1, 2026Produced, hosted and edited by Megan Zerez.Reported by Hailea Potter, Megan Zerez, Jimmy Jordan and Matt Butler.Cover art image by Casey Martin.
Aug. 25, 2026 — Zoning out: a test case for Ithaca's new plan to build more housing
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you get podcasts.Earlier this year, Ithaca's Common Council passed a law that could start to reshape the city's built environment in the interest of addressing the housing crisis. Now, it's being tested for the first time.Zoning law isn't a new concept: governments have long set guidelines that dictate what can be built in a particular area. And while it may take a while for the average person to notice a change, zoning laws are the quiet force that shape the way the city grows and feels for decades to come.Some leaders say Ithaca's current zoning laws are holding the city back. Local politicians have touted the idea of zoning reform as a potential solution for all sorts of problems in the city: limited housing availability, struggling local businesses, walkability.Earlier this year, the Ithaca Common Council took made it easier to apply for exceptions to zoning restrictions all over the city. These exceptions are called Planned Unit Developments, or PUDs for short.The idea was to make it easier for projects that might use land a little more creatively, projects that might have otherwise been blocked by the red tape that sometimes comes with typical zoning law. It’s meant as an initial step to spur development while the city works on a bigger zoning reform.But now, the first major test case — a new apartment complex on West Hill — is unfolding ... and so far, not everyone is convinced.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: August 25, 2026Produced, hosted and edited by Megan Zerez.Reported by Jimmy Jordan and Brian Crandall.Cover art image courtesy of the City of Ithaca.
Aug. 18, 2026 — SouthWorks' affordable housing gets a tax break. Will schools pay the price?
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you get podcasts.If an affordable housing development gets a tax break, does it come at a cost to the rest of the community?It’s a debate that’s been playing out with the massive new mixed-use development known as SouthWorks. Some have described the project as on the scale of a whole new neighborhood.Last week, the first major phase of that project just got approved for a major tax break. The developers say they need the help to be able to keep rent affordable for working class Ithacans.But some advocates say the tax break could hurt Ithaca’s public schools … which rely heavily on those taxes to keep classroom lights on and teachers paid.Additional notes:Report issues to the City of Ithaca's sidewalk repair program here before Aug. 20 for priority repair.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: August 18, 2026Produced and edited by Megan Zerez.Reported and hosted by Megan Zerez and Jimmy Jordan.Cover photo by Megan Zerez.
Aug. 11, 2026 — Data center debate ripple effects
Correction 8/17/26:This article characterizes Town of Lansing Deputy Supervisor Joe Wetmore as an “outspoken critic” of the proposed TeraWulf data center in Lansing. After a careful review of past reporting and previous statements, The Ithaca Voice found that Wetmore has not taken an explicit public position against the data center proposed in Lansing by TeraWulf.Wetmore had previously supported a now-failed development moratorium that could have affected the data center. He stated that the policy was not specifically aimed at blocking the TeraWulf project, but rather about facilitating responsible development in the Town of Lansing.This nuance is absent from this reporting. That error was included in this report as a result of the editing process, and is not the fault of the reporter on this story.We regret this mistake.Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you get podcasts.Right now, the data center proposal in Lansing is more discourse than development. But even the debate is causing ripple effects.There’s pending legal action seeking to oust one of the members of Lansing’s town board. It alleges, among other things, that deputy town supervisor and board member Joe Wetmore had misused his power as an elected official to try to block the controversial Terawulf artificial intelligence (AI) data project.The plaintiff is also a long time Lansing resident and community leader in her own right. She says she supports the data center ... but says the lawsuit goes beyond that. The New York City law firm representing her has ties to Terawulf, the company behind the data center.How far are local politicians allowed to go when they oppose a project? And what — or who — is really at the heart of this case?Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: August 11, 2026Produced and edited by Megan ZerezReporting by Hailea Potter and Fernando FigueroaCover photo by Casey Martin.
August 3, 2026 — Dredging delays, Black farmer civil rights settlement, a new dam in Dryden
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you get podcasts.This week, a round up of some of the biggest stories we’ve been covering lately.A bank robbery started this week out with a jolt at a local credit union. And New York state officials seem poised to finally move on several major projects that have been delayed for years: the dredging of Cayuga Inlet and replacing the leaky, aging Dryden Lake Dam. Meanwhile, city officials are making slow progress on a worker protections bill that was first proposed in 2024. They should have a first draft of the bill within 90 days. A Black farmer and educator won a $100,000 settlement after years of racist and sexist harassment from her former neighbor. And Cornell bans processing wild game meat in its dorms.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: Aug 4, 2026.Produced and edited by Megan ZerezHosted by Fernando Figueroa and Hailea Potter.Reporting by Megan Zerez, Fernando Figueroa, Hailea Potter and Eddie Velazquez.Cover photo by Casey Martin.
July 28, 2026 — A seismic shift for Ithaca's school board after years in the making
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you get podcasts.If you don’t have kids, you may not think about the school board — or its internal politics — very often. But the school board’s impact goes way beyond the classroom.In Ithaca, the school board has more influence on a property tax bill — and by extension, housing costs — than any other elected body. Take a look at a property tax bill of a homeowner in the Ithaca City School District, and it’s clear the district’s taxes rate are significantly higher than those of either Tompkins County or the City of Ithaca.The Ithaca City School District’s Board of Education just started their new term. And already, it’s looking like there’s a major shift in the balance of power.Editor's note: The cover art uses a photo depicting the 2025-2026 Ithaca City School District's Board of Education, not the current board.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: July 28, 2026Produced and reported by Megan ZerezHosted by Jimmy JordanCover photo by Fernando Figueroa
July 21, 2026 — He saved a woman from a dog attack. Then he was arrested.
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you get podcasts.When Ira McKinley went to Wegmans to drop off cans to recycle on June 13, he noticed a commotion outside. A dog was attacking an older woman, its teeth tearing into her stomach. Bystanders seemed frozen as they filmed the incident on their phones. The grocery store security guard was nowhere to be seen. McKinley, frustrated, decided to step in and help.Eventually, the police came. But they were more interested in McKinley, not the dog or her handler. And ultimately, it was McKinley who was arrested.How did we get from a man saving someone from an attacking dog to that same man being arrested for trespassing? And what role does community outcry play in the way that things shake out?Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: July 21, 2026Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.Reported by Fernando Figueroa and Hailea PotterCover photo by Casey Martin
July 14, 2026 — Another season of Trumansburg's GrassRoots Festival
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you get podcasts.Trumansburg’s one and only GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance returns this week for the 34th year. We’re going back to the roots with one of the festival’s co-founders, local musician Jeb Puryear.Plus, a round-up of news from town halls across the county.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Segment 2 original air date: July 18, 2025Produced by Megan ZerezHosted by Megan Zerez and Matt ButlerCover photo by Alyvia Covert
July 7, 2026 — The mass evictions at Asteri
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you get podcasts.From the start, Asteri Ithaca was supposed to represent a bold response to Ithaca’s most pressing housing and economic problems.One hundred eighty one new affordable apartment units. A brand new conference center. A plan to provide housing to forty formerly unhoused families. All in the heart of downtown Ithaca.It’s been two years since Asteri Ithaca first welcomed residents. Four months since the city temporarily declared the building “unfit for human habitation.” And while the building has since re-opened, a lot has changed since then.Now, in a major reversal, there's now over fifty eviction filings against residents.This week on Backstory: how the Asteri dream fell apart.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: July 7, 2026Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.Reported by Jimmy Jordan, Megan Zerez, Hailea Potter, Matt Butler and Fernando Figueroa.Cover photo by Matt Butler
June 30, 2026 — Something's alive under East Hill Cemetery ... millions of native bees
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you get podcasts.In an old cemetery just behind East Hill Plaza, there’s a little known secret buried just a few feet underground. As we speak, they’re sleeping underground by the millions … not zombies, not vampires, but native ground dwelling bees. Cornell researchers believe it’s the largest population of these bees anywhere in the world.Researcher Jordan Kueneman is one of the scientists who study this population of bees … and why cemeteries, of all places, play such a big role in pollination and biodiversity.Much of this research also depends on the efforts of citizen scientists across the world observing species and phenomena right in our backyards.This conversation was recorded in early May, just as these bees were entering their most active, above-ground phase. While Kueneman says this particular group has retreated back underground until next spring, you can still get involved here.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: June 30, 2026Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.Cover photo by Bryan Danforth/Cornell University
June 23, 2026 — New York's Primary Elections
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.Today is Election Day in statewide primary races. While there's not as much on the ballot this primary, some of the offices up for grabs come November do come with a lot of power.Plus, some of the other headlines we've been following.We're trying a more "bite-sized" format this week, but next week, we'll return with a full sized episode.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: June 23, 2026Produced and edited by Megan Zerez.Reported by: Megan Zerez, Hailea Potter, Jimmy Jordan and Fernando Figueroa.Cover photo by Casey Martin.
June 16, 2026 — Why your energy bill is so high ... and how it might get even worse
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.Energy costs are going up. From gas prices to electric bills, it’s hard not to notice. But very soon, the electric and gas bill for the average Ithaca home could see an even larger increase. And yes, there’s lots of international issues that impact costs. But one of the biggest reasons is closer to home than you think.There’s a complex and little-known process going on right now that could have a big impact on how much we pay for electricity. New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) is asking state regulators for a rate hike that could raise the average electric and gas bill by almost $800 a year.This week on Backstory: the NYSEG rate case.You can submit a public comment as part of the rate case using New York State's Public Service Departments portal here. Read other filings in the case here.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: June 16, 2026Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.Reported by Jimmy JordanCover photo by Casey Martin
June 9, 2026 — What the housing crisis looks like for Ithaca's older adults
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.When Kathy Bernson moved to Ithaca, she was just looking for a quiet, artsy little town to settle down in. But like many, she soon learned that the housing market in Ithaca comes with a fair share of roadblocks. And when you’re 75 and on a fixed income, those roadblocks are even harder to get past.It’s no secret that the housing market in Ithaca can be brutal. Renters face intense competition, ailing apartments and rents well above the regional average. For some older Ithacans, the odds are even more challenging.This week on Backstory: how Ithaca's housing crisis is affecting older adults.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: June 9, 2026Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.Print story reported by Kate CollinsCover photo by Kate Collins
June 2, 2026 — The trial of Autreyu Massaline
This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence and makes reference to racist and sexist slurs. Sensitive listeners may want to skip this one.Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.When does an act of violence become an act of self defense? Does the use of racist, sexist slurs make a verbal threat more credible? How long should someone expect to wait for the police when they feel they’re in danger?Last July, Kaciana Camel was walking with her then-two year old daughter on Elmira Road. They had just seen someone fleeing after stealing an electric bicycle. But now the bicycle’s owner was shouting at her. He accused her of being involved in the theft. He called her racist and sexist slurs. Camel, who told the man she was pregnant, said he threatened to “deflate” her.Over the phone, her fiancee told her to call 911. The police didn’t respond soon enough to intervene. But her fiancee, Autreyu Massaline, did.Massaline later told the jury he had grabbed “the closest knife” and raced over. It was a Cuisinart kitchen knife. Eight inches long. Purple.What happened next would later become the subject of a complex criminal case touching on race, 9-1-1 response times and the question of self defense.This week on Backstory: the trial of Autreyu Massaline.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: June 2, 2026Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.Reported by Hailea PotterCover photo by Casey Martin
May 26, 2026 — The state of The Commons
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.The Commons is the heart of downtown Ithaca. But some say that its heartbeat is a bit irregular. It’s a common complaint from some business owners and visitors, though not everyone agrees.The Downtown Ithaca Alliance, the organization representing businesses downtown, came out with a multiyear study on the “health” of the Ithaca Commons. There's also crime data to consider. But how does it all line up with the public's perception?Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: May 26, 2026Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.Reported by Hailea Potter.Cover photo by Casey Martin.
May 19, 2026 — Immigration enforcement in dairy country
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.Earlier this month, a man in rural Cayuga County was arrested by what are likely federal immigration officers. The incident was at least the third such arrest in the tiny hamlet of King Ferry in the past two months. Agriculture is one of the biggest economic driver for that area. Migrant workers — though not always seen – drive the heartbeat of that community. Today on Backstory, Trump’s immigration crackdown in dairy country. Plus, the challenges and considerations of reporting in vulnerable communities.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: May 19, 2026Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.Reported by Megan Zerez and Fernando Figueroa.Cover photo by Megan Zerez
May 12, 2026 — Trimmed, tweaked and back on the ballot: the plan to repair Ithaca's aging schools
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.Two years ago, voters in the Ithaca City School District rejected a proposal for a sweeping school district renovation project ... and by staggering margins.Meanwhile, the issues have only continued to pile up: Leaky roofs. Overheated classrooms. Science labs that are no longer fully usable due to safety issues.But now, in exactly one week, that project goes back in front of voters again — albeit at a third of its original size.This week on Backstory: the plan to fix Ithaca’s ailing school buildings, plus a look ahead at the other things at stake in this year’s school district elections on May 19.For more on how to vote in the Ithaca City School District elections, click here. If you don't live within the boundaries of ICSD, school districts across New York hold elections on May 19 too. Visit your school district's webpage to find polling places and other information. If you're not sure what school district you live in, find out here.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: May 12, 2026Produced and reported by Megan Zerez.Hosted by Jimmy JordanCover photo by Megan Zerez
May 5, 2026 — Ithaca's long break up with 'Flock' AI police cameras
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.We're back!For this inaugural episode of the second season, we’re returning to an issue that we’ve covered several times on Backstory: Flock cameras. Last spring, dozens of the artificial intelligence (AI) powered cameras began to pop up at intersections around the county. These cameras — and the software that powers them — allow law enforcement to track the path of a specific vehicle as it travels through the network of cameras. The idea, manufacturer Flock Safety says, is to help police officers respond quickly to crime.But activists have been pushing back. And now elected officials are reversing course, less than a year since the first cameras were installed. But as we're finding out, there's still a ways to go before the cameras are completely gone.Stay tuned until the end for additional news from this week.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: May 5, 2026Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.Reported by Jimmy Jordan and Megan ZerezCover photo by Casey Martin.
Dec. 23, 2025 — Stories from (nearly) a decade in Ithaca news
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.Editor’s Note: This bonus episode of Backstory was originally scheduled for Dec. 19, but a technical issue prevented it from being released until today.Former Ithaca Voice editor Matt Butler has been living and reporting in Ithaca for nearly a decade. This week, he's behind the mic one last time for this bonus episode looking back at a few of the thousands of stories he's reported in the past nine years. Plus, some musings about sports, local government and the future of news.We’re also going to be taking a break from our regular release schedule after this episode: there are some big changes underway at The Ithaca Voice and we want to make sure it all goes as smoothly as possible. But stay tuned, we'll be back next year.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player or a full screen transcript here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.
Dec. 12, 2025 — A renewed fight for a nurses' union at Cayuga Medical Center
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.Nurses at Ithaca’s only hospital are looking to unionize. They say they haven’t had a cost of living adjustment in two years, pension plans are being phased out and the hospital is often short staffed. And with the big changes since Cayuga Medical Center became part of a larger regional health organization, it could be a crucial time for labor rights.It's not the first time nurses have attempted to unionize: the last effort kicked off a decade ago but fizzled out. Workers say the stakes now are even higher — but so is the support. And they're confident that the second time's the charm.But just days after the big announcement, it seems the battle is already well underway.Stay tuned until the end for additional news from this week.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: Dec. 12, 2025Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.Reported by Jimmy Jordan.Cover photo by Casey Martin.
Dec. 5, 2025 — The rise and fall of Ithaca's city manager
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.Ithaca's top government official was asked to resign this week. The move comes, most recently, after a high profile budget snafu. But relations have long been chilly between City Manager Deb Mohlenhoff and the elected officials who appointed her. Almost two years ago, Mohlenhoff was hired to define the brand new role of city manager as Ithaca transitioned into a new form of government where an appointed city employee calls the shots rather than an elected mayor. Since then, the city has seen some fiscal missteps, some of which have been chalked up to growing pains given the new structure at city hall. But those pains may have gotten to be too much to handle for the Common Council.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: Dec. 5, 2025Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.Reported by Jimmy Jordan and Matt Butler.Cover photo by Casey Martin.
Nov. 14, 2025 — How The Commons came to be
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.Fifty years ago, the very last car drove down the stretch of State Street that would later become the Ithaca Commons. It was followed by bulldozers, backhoes and dump trucks, all to make way for the pedestrian mall we know today.Today the Commons serves as the backdrop for some of the biggest stories we cover, from protests to festivals to affordable housing.Former Ithaca city planner Thyss Van Cort was not only there that day when cars gave way to people, he helped make it happen.Stay tuned until the end for additional news from this week.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: Nov. 14, 2025Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.Reported by Matt Butler.Cover photo courtesy of the History Center in Tompkins County.
Nov. 7, 2025 — Election Day takeaways from across Tompkins County
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.Voters in Tompkins County headed to the polls this week to elect new local and county representatives, joining millions of voters in thousands of other local races across the country. This week on the podcast: a conversation from the newsroom on the biggest takeaways from Election Day 2025.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: Nov. 7, 2025Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.Reported by Matt Butler, Jimmy Jordan, Fernando Figueroa and Megan Zerez.Cover photo by Casey Martin.
Oct. 31, 2025 — A hole in the city budget / Ithaca's homegrown ghost stories
Episode notesListen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.Part I:Surprise! There’s an unexpected two million dollar hole in the city budget after an accounting software error. What does that say about the city’s fiscal management? How will officials make up the deficit in what is already a tough budget year?Part II:In case that wasn’t scary enough for you, we’re taking a walk through Ithaca’s haunted history with the History Center in Tompkins County this Halloween. Did you know Cayuga Lake has its very own, shape-shifting, gender-bending, green-eyed lake monster?We'll also be releasing a bonus episode with some of the spooky stories from this segment that didn't make it into the main show, so stay tuned!Other notes:Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: Oct. 31, 2025Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.Reported by Jimmy Jordan and Megan Zerez.Cover photo by Casey Martin.
Oct. 24, 2025 — Could an AI data center fit into Lansing's vision for the future?
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.The debate over a proposed artificial intelligence (AI) data center in Lansing just got a lot more complicated. Town officials are considering a moratorium that could slow or block the project, but it might have some collateral damage. Town residents are split on whether the moratorium is in line with the town’s goals for the future. Meanwhile, TeraWulf, the company behind the data center, is starting to get frustrated.Other notes:Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: Oct. 24, 2025Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.Reported by Fernando Figueroa.Cover photo by Casey Martin.
Oct. 10, 2025 — Another year of Flock AI police cameras / Common Council compensation
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.Part I: There’s a growing push against Flock, an AI powered system of cameras and gunshot detectors that allow police to track vehicles that they suspect to have been involved in a crime. But despite the pushback, it looks like the county is planning to keep the cameras up for at least another year. Part II: How much should we pay our elected officials? That’s the charge of a new committee formed by the mayor this week. Some say a higher salary could make for more economic diversity in city leadership. Others aren't convinced.Original air date: Oct. 10, 2025Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.Reporting by Matt Butler, Jimmy Jordan and Megan Zerez.Cover photo by Casey Martin.
Oct. 03, 2025 — Teachers head back to the bargaining table / Mental health services scale back
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.Part I: The Ithaca City School District and the union that represents its roughly 600 teachers have been on a nearly four month hiatus from labor negotiations. Ithaca Teachers Association members have been without a contract since June. Meanwhile, the rhetoric has been heating up.Part II: Local mental health provider Families and Children’s Services of Ithaca is ending its auxiliary programming, which includes programs that serve some of Ithaca’s most vulnerable children. It’s an example of how local service providers are navigating current funding struggles and the trickle down effects of federal funding cuts.Original air date: Oct. 3, 2025Produced by Megan Zerez.Hosted and reported by Megan Zerez and Matt Butler.Cover photo by Casey Martin.
Sept. 26, 2025 — A budget season double feature: Tompkins County and ICSD
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.This week on the podcast, a public spending double feature!Part I: It's everyone's favorite time of year again: county budget season. Tompkins County is looking to tighten the belt. So what’s on the chopping block? What’s behind the budget crunch? And what's the best way to get involved?Part II: Leaky roofs. Asbestos. A faulty heating system. Those are some of the issues that the Ithaca City School District says it needs to fix in its schools soon … if voters approve. There's a separate, off-cycle election this December. Will people come out to vote? And what's the price tag?Stay tuned to the end for music from local country alternative band, The Dart Brothers.Other notes:Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: Sept 26, 2025Produced by Megan Zerez.Hosted and reported by Megan Zerez and Matt Butler.Photo illustration by Megan Zerez.Additional music this episode from Ithaca-based band, The Dart Brothers, recorded live from Porchfest 2025. Follow them on Instagram or Spotify.
Sept. 19, 2025 — A week of take backs
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.Part I: The head of Ithaca City School District, unexpectedly, was just approved for a contract extension. That’s despite the fact that Superintendent Dr. Luvelle Brown said last year he was not interested in extending his contract amid mounting public criticism. It’s not the first time he’s changed his mind about his future with the district.Part II: Earlier this year, the city pitched an ambitious plan to provide basic services, like lockers, showers and charging stations, to help people transition out of homelessness. Initially, county officials signed on to help. But now, as the county weighs its budget for next year, that help doesn’t seem like such a sure thing anymore.Other notes:Transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors. Access it by clicking the transcript button on the embedded player.This is the first time we've taken on a project like this and we want to know what you think. Fill out this survey or email audio(at)ithacavoice(dot)org. Thanks!Original air date: Sept 19, 2025Produced by Megan Zerez.Hosted and reported by Megan Zerez and Matt Butler.Cover photo by Casey Martin.
Sept. 12, 2025 — An AI data center on Cayuga Lake
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.The artificial intelligence (AI) industry is growing … and so is the demand for the power-hungry banks of computers that power it.Now there’s a plan to use the infrastructure in an old coal-fired power plant on Cayuga Lake to power a data center. TeraWulf, the main company behind the proposal, is touting the project as a greener way to power AI. Local officials and environmental advocates say they’re not so sure.Other notes:Transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors. Access it by clicking the transcript button on the embedded player.This is the first time we've taken on a project like this and we want to know what you think. Fill out this survey or email audio(at)ithacavoice(dot)org. Thanks!Original air date: Sept 12, 2025Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.Reporting by Fernando Figueroa and Brian Crandall.Cover photo by Casey Martin.
September 5, 2025 — A surge of debate over Ithaca's new AI powered police initiative
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.In 2023, the City of Ithaca and Tompkins County inked deals with Flock Safety, a company that provides Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered license plate cameras for law enforcement. The project received a state grant, and installation began earlier this year. Now there's over 70 of the devices capturing data on every vehicle that passes by. Now, nearly two years later, there's growing outcry over the technology. What are advocates saying? And how have local officials responded?Other notes:Transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors. Access it by clicking the transcript button on the embedded player.This is the first time we've taken on a project like this and we want to know what you think. Fill out this survey or email audio(at)ithacavoice(dot)org. Thanks!Original air date: Sept 5, 2025Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.Reporting by Jimmy Jordan and Megan Zerez.Cover photo by Casey Martin.
August 22, 2025 — The years long fight over the massive new government building planned for downtown
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.There’s a huge government office complex planned for downtown Ithaca and it's been years in the works. But outside of county government, few people seem to know about the project.The county's "Center of Government" complex would take up a significant part of a downtown block. Construction could take five years. And the price tag — currently $50 million — has increased. Even as the county inches closer to getting shovels in the ground, some legislators still have cold feet.Other notes:Transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors. Access it by clicking the transcript button on the embedded player.This is the first time we've taken on a project like this and we want to know what you think. Fill out this survey or email audio(at)ithacavoice(dot)org. Thanks!We'll be taking a break on the podcast next week for Labor Day.Original air date: August 22, 2025Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.Reporting by Matt Butler.Cover photo by Casey Martin.
August 15, 2025 — Wastewater woes/A ban on phones in the classroom
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.Part I: New York State wants Ithaca’s local wastewater treatment plant to make major and expensive upgrades to its treatment process. But local officials say all the necessary repairs could potentially double sewer bills . . . and they want the see hard data to prove that the wastewater plant’s discharge is a problem for Cayuga Lake.Part II: The school year’s about to start for K-12 students, and with it a much anticipated statewide ban on cell phones in classrooms. What’s Ithaca City School District’s plan to implement the policy?Editor’s note: transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors. Access it by clicking the transcript button on the embedded player.Original air date: August 15, 2025Produced by Megan Zerez.Hosted by Megan Zerez and Matt Butler.Reporting by Jimmy Jordan and Megan Zerez.Cover photo by Casey Martin.
August 8, 2025 — A new(ish) plan for homeless support/Federal cuts, local deficits
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.Part I: For years there's been deadlock over plans to bring basic services — like showers, lockers and charging stations — to people living in the homeless encampments on Ithaca’s West End known as The Jungle.But that's about to change. The city is turning a former Burger King restaurant into a resource center and, later, a temporary winter homeless shelter. So who’s paying for it? And how does it fit in the county's other efforts to address homelessness?Part II: Tompkins County is eying a potential deficit as it begins planning for next year’s budget. Policy changes at the federal level aimed to reduce the federal deficit could drive administrative costs up for local government.Editor’s note: transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors. Access it by clicking the transcript button on the embedded player.Original air date: August 8, 2025Produced by Megan Zerez.Reporting by Matt Butler and Megan Zerez.Cover photo by Casey Martin.
August 1, 2025 — Inside Asteri: the troubles within Ithaca's ambitious affordable housing project
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.Last August, officials and developers celebrated the opening of Asteri, a massive, multiuse building in the heart of downtown Ithaca. The project was supposed to put a dent in the city's housing crisis and boost downtown businesses and hotels.But a year later, the building's owners are facing legal action — including a lawsuit from some of their own residents. The suit alleges mismanagement and dangerous living conditions. It’s not the only legal proceeding involving the building.Asteri has become one of the most common sites for 9-1-1 calls in the City of Ithaca. And its location right off the Commons means all those issues are front and center.Editor’s note: transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors. Access it by clicking the transcript button on the embedded player.Original air date: August 1, 2025Produced by Megan Zerez.Reporting by Matt Butler.Cover photo by Casey Martin.
July 25, 2025 — Ithaca's ailing dams. The fight over union dues and religious freedom.
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.Part I: Ithaca's city owned dams are in poor shape and there may not be enough money in the bank to fix them. There's been little discussion of the matter among Common Councilmembers so far. What does that mean for Ithaca's water supply ... and everyone living downstream?Part II: Cornell University took the rare move of withholding six weeks worth of union dues after a contract dispute with the union that represents its graduate student workers. The university — and some graduate students — are not happy with the way that the union handled religious exemptions, particularly for some Jewish students.Editor’s note: transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors. Access it by clicking the transcript button on the embedded player.Original air date: July 25, 2025Produced by Megan Zerez.Reporting by Fernando Figueroa, Jimmy Jordan and Megan Zerez.Cover photo by Casey Martin.
July 18, 2025 — Inflamed tensions over supportive housing fire/The "roots" of Grassroots
Part I: An ambitious project to provide permanent supportive housing for some of Ithaca's most vulnerable has garnered renewed scrutiny after an alleged arson attempt last month. The downtown building, Asteri, has also become the subject of a disproportionate number of calls to law enforcement since it opened last year. Now, local officials are seeking accountability. So what's next for the building and its residents?Part II: Trumansburg's longstanding Grassroots Festival kicked off Thursday. We go back to the roots of the beloved local event with local musician and Grassroots co-founder Jeb Puryear. Editor’s note: transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors. Access it by clicking the transcript button on the embedded player.Original air date: July 18, 2025Produced by Megan Zerez.Reporting by Megan Zerez and Matt Butler.Additional episode music: Heaven and The Earth by Donna the Buffalo.Cover photo by Matt Butler.
July 11, 2025 — Ithaca, Medicaid and the Big Beautiful Bill/Harmful algal blooms are back in town
Part I: President Donald Trump signed the "Big Beautiful Bill" into law July 4 — and with it, some of the largest ever cuts to federal Medicaid spending. The program provides health insurance for about 15% of Tompkins County residents. Megan Zerez and Ithaca Voice Editor-in-Chief Matt Butler go over the cuts and what they might mean for us locally.Part II: Potential harms to rural and small city hospitals have been a topic of debate nationally. Matt Butler speaks with Kevin Kerwin, the president of a trade group representing dozens of small hospitals in our region and elsewhere upstate.Part III: The first harmful algal blooms of the summer have arrived in Cayuga Lake with a bang. Megan Zerez and Ithaca Voice environment reporter Fernando Figueroa talk about what these increasingly common phenomena mean for our watershed.Editor’s note: transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors. Access it by clicking the transcript button on the embedded player.Original air date: July 11, 2025Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.Reporting by Megan Zerez, Matt Butler and Fernando Figueroa.Cover photo by Casey Martin.
July 4, 2025 — Ithaca's overdue "financial checkups"/New flood maps, new costs
The New York State comptroller is in the process of auditing the City of Ithaca's financial management processes. Meanwhile, the city remains without a credit score and is years behind on its routine yearly audits.Updated federal flood risk maps were released last month for Ithaca. More properties will require flood insurance, which could drive up housing costs. The city's more renter-heavy, working class neighborhoods could see the largest changes.Original air date: July 4, 2025Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.Reporting by Jimmy Jordan and Fernando Figueroa.Music by Andrii Poradovskyi from Pixabay
June 27, 2025 — Local primary elections: who ran, who won, who came out to vote?
Tuesday was primary election day in the first countywide local elections since President Donald Trump's second inauguration. We analyze the races and talk about the winners — and winning issues. However the general election shakes out, county, city and town governments are poised to see significant turnover come January. With looming threats of federal spending cuts on Medicaid and other programs, incoming lawmakers may need to contend with budget shortfalls sooner than expected.Original air date: June 27, 2025Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez. Reporting by Matt Butler and Megan Zerez.
Nov. 21, 2025 — Mini episode: the headlines and a note
Listen and subscribe to Backstory on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Amazon Music or wherever you get podcasts.We're putting out this "mini episode" for now because we hit some unforeseen production delays. Look out for a new full episode next week. Until then, here's some of the other stories you should know about.Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.Original air date: Nov. 21, 2025