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This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, December 4th, 2023.
In today’s feature report, local journalist Dave Askins with the B-Square Bulletin discusses the future of local news in his weekly segment on WFHB. More in today’s feature report.
That’s Ximena Martinez, our city’s Latino Outreach Coordinator. Learn more about efforts to engage Bloomington’s growing Latino population later in the show on a new episode of Activate!
But first, your daily headlines:
Local Chapter of the League of Women Voters Host Legislative Town Hall To Discuss Priorities Ahead of Upcoming Session
During a legislative update hosted by the local chapter of the League of Women Voters, local officials discussed policy priorities ahead of the Indiana General Assembly’s upcoming session.
Lawmakers have their sights set on a short legislative session in 2024 after passing a two-year budget in 2023. The session will begin in January and will continue through mid-March.
District 40 State Senator Shelli Yoder outlined her priorities and elaborated on the format of the upcoming session.
Yoder explained that one of her priorities would be repealing Senate Bill One – Indiana’s abortion ban. She also touched on reforming the state’s taxes on menstrual products.
Representative Matt Pierce, who represents Indiana’s 61st district, touched on the shorter nature of the new session. Pierce scrutinized the process, characterizing it as “rushed.”
During the question-and-answer portion of the town hall, Brown County School Board Member Amy Oliver asked about school referendums.
In Brown County, voters turned down a school referendum last year by only 333 votes. Oliver asked what the legislators could do in order to revise what she labels as “misleading language” at the Statehouse when it comes to ballot referendums.
Representative Pierce responded saying he doesn’t believe the Republican supermajority is interested in revising that language.
State Senator Yoder added that she saw shortcomings of the state’s budget passed earlier this year. She emphasized the importance of referendums when funding education initiatives in the state.
Local resident Cathy Rountree expressed frustration at the limited amount of bills each legislator is allowed to introduce.
She also criticized the lack of public input available to be heard on bills introduced in the Statehouse. Rountree asked who is responsible for this process. Pierce responded saying that it’s a part of the rules of the House and Senate.
All legislators who represent a portion of Monroe and Brown counties were invited to the town hall. Yoder and Pierce were the only legislators in attendance. To watch the full town hall, you can visit this link.
The 2024 legislative session will officially kick off on January 8th of next year.
Feature Report:
In today’s feature report, local journalist Dave Askins with the B-Square Bulletin discusses the future of local news in his weekly segment on WFHB. We turn to Askins for more.
Bloomington’s Latino population is growing, and Ximena Martinez wants our Spanish-speaking neighbors to feel welcome in this community. Martinez is the Latino Outreach Coordinator for the City of Bloomington, which also makes her the producer of Hola Bloomington, our Spanish-language public affairs program airing Fridays at 6pm. She talks about that show and other ways to engage the Hispanic community on a new episode of Activate!, coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Kade Young, Noelle Herhusky-Schneider and Annika Harshbarger, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Dave Askins.
Activate is produced by Chad Carrothers and Michelle Moss.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
