WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, April 13th, 2022.
Later in the program, we have Strike Mic – Voices from the Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition in light of the recent strike. More in the bottom half of tonight’s program.
Also coming up in the next half hour, WFHB Correspondent Kai Fitzgerald breaks down the mistreatment of animals in the dairy industry.
But first, your Environmental News Brief:
Purdue University’s College of Agriculture and the Indiana Maple Syrup Association have formed a team and received a $500,000 dollar grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to revitalize the maple syrup industry that was previously prevalent throughout the state. Prior to the first World War, Indiana was the largest state producer of maple syrup, with Vermont’s industry and few others overtaking Indiana’s after the war ended. The overall goal of the grant is to promote education about the production of maple syrup so that it might encourage owners of maple forests to get into the maple-syrup market or lease off their trees to prospective syrup enthusiasts. The President of the Indiana Maple Syrup Association has said that he hopes that through the grant, Hoosiers gain an understanding of the history of the syrup industry in our state and that every Hoosier will have “maple syrup in their refrigerator.”
An invasive ant species that possesses a painful stinger has been found in the state of Indiana for the first time. The Asian needle, which has primarily been in southern states, has recently traveled north, in part due to its ability to ride out the cold months in people’s homes. For most people, the ant’s sting would only be extremely painful, but for people with allergies to insect stings from bees or wasps this could pose a new challenge, as the sting can be lethal without an EpiPen. While other invasive species have taken hold in the state, such as the Asian carp or the gypsey moth, the Asian needle is the one that poses the biggest threat to people.
Climate change and the associated rise in global average temperatures are likely to be resulting in birds altering the timing of their reproductive cycles. The Journal of Animal Ecology found that bird species in the Chicago area are on average laying their eggs a month earlier than normal. Using both historical and modern data, the researchers discovered that out of the 72 bird species of focus, a third of them laid eggs 25 days earlier than they did a century ago. This is likely due to temperatures becoming warmer sooner than they did in the past. The problem that exists for birds in this position is that they become at risk for “false springs” which are abnormally warm periods that are followed by the remaining coldness of winter. This can trick the birds into thinking it is finally warm, which can lead them to lay eggs without the necessary foods being available yet. A similar study found that the body size of birds has been decreasing due to global warming. For researchers, birds offer some of the first cases of how species will respond biologically to climate change.
Monroe County Commissioners
On March 30th at the Monroe County Commissioners meeting County Chief Deputy Clerk Tressia Martin asked the commissioners to approve updated 2022 primary election day polling sites.
Martin explained that other options in the area were either previous polling sites that did not want to host again or they were not compliant with the Help America Vote Act.
The commissioners approved the update to the polling sites unanimously. Martin also asked the board to approve funds not to exceed $2,353 for a primary election advertisement
Commissioner Julie Thomas said that she thinks the advertisement is especially helpful for students.
The commissioners approved the agreement unanimously.
Feature Reports:
Up next, the Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition-United Electrical Workers strike began today. Picketing has been postponed to tomorrow due to inclement weather.
WFHB gathered field recordings from members of the student-led union in our latest segment, Strike Mic – an update from local residents working to highlight the voices of Indiana University students and staff. We now turn to Strike Mic.
WFHB Correspondent Kai Fitzgerald reported on the mistreatment of animals in the dairy industry. News Director Kade Young sat down with Kai in the studio to speak with them regarding what they learned about a dairy farm in Indiana. We turn now to that segment.
Up next, Latest and NOT Greatest on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB. Host and producer Richard Fish highlights four different ways you can get swindled that are going around right now and that you may be in danger of falling for one or more of them. We turn to Richard Fish for more.
Credits:
Break should be scheduled after.
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Kade Young and Noelle Herhusky-Schneider in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Strike Mic was produced by Mia Beach and Abe Shapiro.
Our feature was produced by Kai Fitzgerald.
Better Beware is produced by Richard Fish.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
