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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.

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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, 2025

Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.

Reported by Jimmy Jordan.

Cover photo by Casey Martin.

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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, 2025

Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.

Reported by Jimmy Jordan and Matt Butler.

Cover photo by Casey Martin.

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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

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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, 2025

Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.

Reported by Matt Butler.

Cover photo courtesy of the History Center in Tompkins County.

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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, 2025

Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.

Reported by Matt Butler, Jimmy Jordan, Fernando Figueroa and Megan Zerez.

Cover photo by Casey Martin.

Episode notes

Listen 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, 2025

Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.

Reported by Jimmy Jordan and Megan Zerez.

Cover photo by Casey Martin.

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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, 2025

Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.

Reported by Fernando Figueroa.

Cover photo by Casey Martin.

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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, 2025

Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.

Reporting by Matt Butler, Jimmy Jordan and Megan Zerez.

Cover photo by Casey Martin.

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, 2025

Produced by Megan Zerez.

Hosted and reported by Megan Zerez and Matt Butler.

Cover photo by Casey Martin.