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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.

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, 2025

Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.

Reported by Jimmy Jordan.

Cover photo by Casey Martin.

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, 2025

Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.

Reported by Jimmy Jordan and Matt Butler.

Cover photo by Casey Martin.