WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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This is the WFHB Local News for Friday, April 24th, 2020.
Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Katrine Bruner talks to Cardinal Spirits Distillery about their local effort to distill hand sanitizer for free in Bloomington. Also coming up in the next half hour, WFHB’s Alex Dederer talks to the owner of Buffalouie’s to provide an insight on how local business are impacted by the coronavirus.
But first, your local headlines:
Indiana State Department of Health reports an additional 656 people infected with coronavirus. The announcement came this morning, bringing the total positive case count to 13,680 people. The state reported another 35 new deaths, marking the state death toll at 741 people.
According to the state health department, the state rolled out new testing efforts — over 3,500 new people were tested. State testing now expands to over 75,000 people.
ISDH Health Commissioner Kristina Box said she wants 6,000 people to be tested every day in Indiana. Indy Star reports a lack of testing efforts will prove as a challenge.
A social-distance Earth Day rally took place in Fountain Square on Wednesday. Protestors from Extinction Rebellion and other activist groups wore masks while protesting six-feet apart.
According to the Action Network, this protest was titled Covid and Climate: Flatten Both Curves, which took place Wednesday at noon.
On their Facebook page, Extinction Rebellion Bloomington describes themselves as, “An alliance of people taking non-violent direct action to demand net zero by 2025 in response to the climate emergency.”
The event was streamed live on Facebook, apart of a global, three-day mobilization to stop the climate emergency.
Indiana Public Media reported Indiana restaurants are estimated to lose almost 1 billion dollars in April.
Since the stay-at-home order, issued a month ago by Governor Eric Holcomb, restaurants were forced to switch to carry-out services only. In turn, restaurants cut back employees’ hours and even let employees go in order to cut costs.
Meanwhile, as the nation experienced record numbers of unemployment, the death toll continues to rise — all the while, public officials are working to re-open businesses.
The March 1st Gallery Walk has been cancelled. Bloomington locals have enjoyed experiencing local artist work, up and coming or well known,for years during the first friday gallery walks. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic the gallery opening event for March was announced cancelled on Wednesday April 22nd.
A press release from Bloomington Gallery Walk says, “As an organization, Gallery Walk is committed to honoring & implementing best practices in terms of operations and prevention of COVID-19 as suggested by the CDC, Indiana University, and other government and community health organizations.”
The release says the organization will decide at a later point if the June gallery walk will occur .
Two employees of an Indianapolis nursing home died from novel Coronavirus. State regulators are investigating the coronavirus-related deaths. The case is the first publicly acknowledged death of a health care worker related to COVID-19 in the state.
Indy Star reports “For the second time this week state health officials warned that a technology issue has led to lower new case and new test counts then expected.”
Hunter Bloomington Properties removed washers, dryers and other appliances from its apartments, after residents were unable to make rent payments.
According to the Indiana Daily Student, washers and dryers were taken from tenants in the Bloom Apartments complex because they haven’t paid April rent and haven’t responded to emails asking them to set up rent payment plans.
The property management firm walked back this move after pressure on social media. Hunter Properties called it a “mistake.”
The City of Bloomington has partnered with CTC Technology and Energy to conduct a City Equity Community Survey to assess how residents use internet services. According to a city press release 65 hundred random households will receive a survey in the mail. This survey will, “identify broadband service needs and gaps in the community — including those related to access, affordability, digital literacy, and device ownership — and develop a strategic plan for mitigating those gaps to improve internet accessibility and affordability for Bloomington residents.”
The survey is estimated to take approximately 15 minutes and can be mailed back to the city with an included prepaid return envelope, by May 20th.
Bloomington Transit held a virtual COVID-19 Question and Answer meeting on April 17th. During the meeting Planning and Special Projects Manager Zac Huneck said sanitation equipment is used on all active buses.
Huneck said both disposable and washable face masks have been provided to all drives and are encouraged to wear them. Community Member Denise Valkyrie asked Customer Service Manager Eli McCormick about the drivers’ health.
Huneck said BT has relaxed all employee absentee policies. McCormick said all drivers are being paid time and a half, as a result of cut back hours. He said this allows drivers to end up with approximately a regular work schedule’s wage.
Feature Reports:
Coronavirus has swept every headline in every newspaper in the United States. Through all of tragedy, some people are beginning to talk about the good news in the world. Inspired by the likes of Some Good News with John Krasinski, Braydyn Lents promises to provide good news for our WFHB listeners. Every Friday listen to Braydyn discuss outstanding topics of good in the world and in Monroe County. Today’s topic involves Individuals providing accessible needs such as toilet paper and masks. You know Sydney I am ready for some positive news.
Up next, WFHB News Correspondent Alex Dederer talks to the owner of Buffalouie’s to investigate how local businesses are impacted in the wake of Covid-19. We turn to Alex Dederer for more on the story.
For our last feature report, WFHB Correspondent Katrine Bruner reports on Cardinal Spirits Distillery, as the distillery offers hand sanitizer for free. Katrine Bruner has more.
Credits:
Today’s headlines were written by Jasmine White, Kade Young and Sydney Foreman, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our features were produced by Braydyn Lents, Alex Dederer and Katrine Bruner.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Executive producer is Kade Young.
