First news budget 4 p.m.

APARTMENTS: New apartment buildings in downtown Ithaca do not fit the general stigma of the college town. They seem to target wealthier people that would not normally reside in Ithaca, possibly suggesting a change in population. CASEY MUSARRA

RIDE FOR LIFE -- The 11th Annual Ride for Life event supports community services by
raising money for the Southern Tier AIDS Program. The event takes
place on Sept. 11 around Cayuga Lake with events and performances
taking place along the trail and in Cast Park. Will interview riders
for their perspective on the event. BY MONICA WATSON.


CONSTRUCTION -- Reconstruction of 300 block East State Street is scheduled to be finished Sept. 30. Local businesses, shopkeepers and construction workers themselves are feeling the burden of this centralized location being inaccessible for this extended and crucial period of time. -- MELANIE BREAULT


ECONOMY -- Out with the old, in with the new. How some of the local businesses in the city of Ithaca are changing, what it takes to stay afloat in a tanking economy, and how the City of Ithaca Planning and Development Board approves a new businesses. MORGAN SMITH

SHORTAGE -- The number of animals at the Tompkins County Animal Shelter has dramatically increased. The number of volunteers is dwindling. Shirley Littleton, 47, was a regular volunteer at the SPCA until her family needed another source of income. Now Littleton works a second job and does not volunteer. The SPCA will be forced to start refusing animals if they cannot find more volunteers. DEVELOPING (This isn't a real lede ... I'll keep you updated though.) JOY KUCINKAS

FIRE - The Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College is now a pile of ash. Last night at around 2 a.m. the fiery school lit up the city skyline and was finally subdued by firefighters at around 6:30 a.m. Officials have yet to declare source of the fire but faulty electrical wiring is rumored to be the cause. TRACEY A. CASSEUS


POSITIVE JAM- Sunday September 6th The Positive Jam, a day long music festival, will take place in congunction with the Ithaca Brewfest. The festival will take place at Ithaca's Stewart Park. The event includes acts such as The Hold Steady, The Felice Brothers, Deer Tick, and The Rural Alberta Advantage as well as several other bands. The festival is a new addition to the Ithaca's Brewfest and allows those who are underage to participate in the festival. Tickets are on sale at the State Theater for $25 or $30 day of show. By STEPHANIE RAABE