WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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Good afternoon. Welcome to the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, April 1st, 2020.
Coming up in the next half hour, Sydney Foreman talks to Adam Wason, Director of Public Works for the City of Bloomington about early starts on road construction.
Also coming up later in the program, our consumer watchdog segment Better Beware. But first, your local headlines.
Headlines:
There are over 2500 cases of coronavirus in Indiana. The Indiana State Department of Health reports the death toll is now at 65 people. This is out of 14,000 people tested. Monroe County now has 33 positive cases of covid-19. These numbers were updated by the Indiana State Department of Health at 11:59 p.m. on March 31st.
On Saturday March 28th, one of the Bloomington Fire Department’s firefighters tested positive for COVID-19. The confirmation came after three firefighters, one of which tested positive, were quarantined after potential exposure to the virus on March 23rd, according to a city press release. The firefighter was immediately placed in self quarantine at home and the department, “implemented a thorough decontamination of the station, equipment, and apparatus with which the firefighter had had recent contact.” According to the report, the firefighter experienced mild symptoms and is expected to make a full recovery.
The Bloomington Fire Department has identified colleges whom may have been in close contact with the firefighter and are advising them to take the necessary processionary measures from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and the Indiana Department of Health. The city report also states the BPD is working to identify and advise any members of the public whom may have come in contact with the individual.
All three firefighters are expected to return to work by April 7th. In the city release Bloomington Fire Chief Jason Moore said, “Our department is committed to the safety of our residents and the firefighters who serve them.”
Up next, WFHB Correspondent Katrine Bruner reports on the future of the Bloomington farmer’s market in a time of crisis. She also reports on a new farmer’s market project. We now turn to Katrine Bruner for the latest scoop on the farmer’s market during the coronavirus pandemic.
Area 10 On Aging’s Rural Transit is now taking orders by call for prescription and grocery deliveries. Services will include Monroe, Owen, Putnam, and Lawrence county residents. For those in Monroe County, Rural Transit deliveries will only be made outside of city limits. This service comes at no cost, however the transit system does accept donations. Appointments can be made by calling the rural transit office. Phone numbers differ by county and can be found at area ten agency DOT org backslash rural transit.
Indiana University’s trustee election was postponed by one year due to the pandemic. It was originally scheduled for this summer. The election will now take place in June of 2021.
IU President Michael McRobbie said the schedule change will allow for a more regular election. Interacting with alumni face to faces proves as an important component of the election.
Trustees chair Michael Miro said, “The Board of Trustees is grateful to Governor Holcomb for his order postponing this spring’s alumni election in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Current Board member Pat Shoulders will hold his seat until next June.
The Food and Beverage Tax Advisory Commission discussed the City of Bloomington’s request for funds to support local restaurants, bars, and establishments and their employees. City Attorney Philippa Guthrie described the request during their March 27th meeting.
Guthrie said money distribution processes will be determined by the City Council after the FABTAC approves the fund usage. County Attorney Jeff Cockerill said the State Board of Accounts is reviewing the request legality. Councilwoman Sue Sgambelluri asked Cockerill if the State Board of Accounts determination would affect city and county funding.
Community Representative Susan Bright said a definition of small business is necessary for the public to know who will be getting support. She said businesses need to be treated fairly, but restaurants are particularly vulnerable to the economic loss.
FABTAC approved the request with two recusals form small business owners Susan Bright and Lenny Bush.
Now in the program, WFHB Correspondent Alex Dederer looks at a silver lining during the covid-19 pandemic. We turn to Alex Dederer as she shares a few positive stories from the community.
A COVID-19 Press Conference was held on March, 27th to discuss local action in regards to the cities response to the pandemic. President of Indiana University Health Brian Shockney said the IU Bloomington Hospital is working to increase their bed count.
Shockney said expansion will, first, happen within the hospital and external expansion options are arranged if necessary. He said the bed count is projected to be about 300. Shockney spoke about the phases of testing for patients.
Shockney said tests are sent eight times a day to an Indianapolis lab. He said the lab sends immediate results which provides a quick release of patents and relief of patient anxiety. Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton said parking tickets are being waived for the time being.
Mayor Hamilton said the Bloomington Police Department could issue citations for people in blatant violations of the stay at home order.
120,000 Indiana residents filed for jobless benefits last week. This is a record number of new unemployment claims. More than 1 in 20 Hoosiers lost their jobs since the pandemic began.
The Associated Press reported 3.7% of Indiana workers lost their jobs in a single week as the pandemic idled restaurants, bars, and other businesses considered ‘non-essential.’
Altogether, almost 200,000 Indiana residents lost their jobs since the outbreak of Covid-19. The state’s unemployment rate was down to 3.1 percent in February. The future remains unclear for those who have lost their jobs.
Feature Reports:
- Coming up next, WFHB’s Assistant News Director Sydney Foreman speaks with the Director of Public Works, Adam Wason, about early starts for road construction projects.
- Our weekly consumer watchdog program, Better Beware.
Credits:
Today’s headlines were written by Katrine Bruner, Alex Dederer, Kade Young and Sydney Foreman, in partnership with CATS, Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Sydney Foreman.
Better Beware was produced by Richard Fish.
Our executive producer is Kade Young.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
