Government

Jorge DeFendini has won a seat representing the 1st Ward on the Ithaca Common Council while former mayor Brian Tobin has won a seat to fill a vacancy in Cortland’s 1st Ward.

According to unofficial results from the Board of Elections, Christy Bianconi is the presumptive winner in District 14 over Michelle Wright, who was running as an independent.

On November 3, The Scale House Brewery in Hector opened its doors and handed out free take-out pizzas to anyone affected by the loss of SNAP benefits.

On October 31, Governor Kathy Hochul announced $8 million in grants for 21 projects across New York through the State Department’s Local Government Efficiency Grant Program (LGEG).

In August, the Cortland County Legislature approved a new sales tax agreement that will increase the county’s share of sales tax over several years.

Ithaca College will hold a one-hour program saluting the 250th anniversary of the Army, Navy, and Marines is scheduled for noon in the Whalen Center at Ford Hall on November 6th.

On November 3, Hochul announced that the $27.4 million rehabilitation work to parts of Meadow, Fulton, West Buffalo, West Seneca, and West Green Streets will begin in Spring 2026.

Lawmakers in Barton will hold a public hearing on the town’s 2026 budget tonight at 6 p.m.

Cortland Mayor Scott Steve says a key point in shaping the 2026 budget in health insurance for retired city workers.

Tompkins County is activating Code Blue protocols for tonight, October 31.