WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, August 19th, 2020.
Later in the program, Diane Walker, contributor for the Limestone Post, continues her conversation with Jacob Sipe – executive director of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority about rental assistance in the wake of the expired eviction moratorium in Indiana.
Also coming up, the Bloomington Arts Commission approved two Black Lives Matter street murals. For more on the story, Assistant News Director Sydney Foreman talked to Joy Roberts and Nichelle Whitney of the Banneker Community Center Advisory Commission.
Richland Bean Blossom Schools to Receive Laptops and Hotspots for Remote Learning
The Richland Bean Blossom School Board approved two agreements, one for student mobile hotspots, and another for teacher laptops, during their August 18th meeting. Superintendent Jerry Sanders said the hotspot agreement clarifies acceptable use. Technology Director Rick Routon said hotspots are harder to restrict than devices.
Routon said the agreement includes a 100-dollar fine for damage or no return. He said searches on non-school issued devices cannot be tracked. He said the school devices do track search history.
He said within a home the hotspots have a radius of about 15, and outside about 30 feet. He said the school currently has 40 hotspot to distribute and is expecting another 50. Sanders also proposed the teacher laptop agreement.
Routon said some teacher laptops are 12 years old and unequipped with webcam or microphone features. He said this created difficulty for teaching students at home.
He said he hopes new laptops would be distributed after this coming winter break.
Indiana Will Not Allow No-Excuse Absentee Voting After Party-Line Vote in Election Commission
During a virtual meeting last Friday, members of the Indiana Election Commission split down party lines about whether or not to expand absentee voting for the November Third general election.
Commission Democrats believe all Hoosiers should be able to vote by mail, to help keep voters safe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Republican commissioner Zach Klutz believes expanding absentee voting should be left up to legislation, saying, “I don’t disagree that there is a higher demand for voting by mail as long as you fall into the statutory reasons to allow vote by mail. Changing those now is a policy change that is not our purview to do.”
The Election Commission has four members, two Republicans and two Democrats. Without a fifth member or bipartisan support, the stalemate means that as of right now, the elections will go on as normal.
Bloomington Redevelopment Commission Discusses Switchyard Park Improvements
The Bloomington Redevelopment Commission discussed Switchyard Park final improvements during its August 17th meeting. Operations Director Dave Williams said work on the park could extend through September.
Williams said the extension would cost approximately 94 thousand dollars. He said the cost also covers an agreement with Environmental Consultants.
Williams said additional earthwork will add the appropriate depth of safe soil to areas in the park. He said a pump to control groundwater was also included in the cost. Commission member Nick Kappas questioned City attorney Larry Allen about the extended environmental costs.
Allen said a letter expressing concern about park completion had been written to Weddle Brothers. He said each step in the park development, after the original May completion date, would be analyzed and a final fine would be given to Weddle Brothers once the project is complete.
Now it’s time for your feature reports.
- Diane Walker, contributor for the Limestone Post, continues an ongoing series for WFHB about rental assistance in the wake of the expiration of the eviction moratorium in Indiana. Today, she speaks with Jacob Sipe, executive director of Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. This is Part II of her series.
WFHB Assistant News Director Sydney Foreman reports on two new Black Lives Matter murals in Bloomington. (Photo courtesy of Indiana.gov). 
Foreman speaks with Joy Roberts and Nichelle Whitney of the Banneker Community Center Advisory Commission in today’s feature report (Photo courtesy of Indiana.gov). - Last week the Bloomington Arts Commission approved two Black Lives Matter Street murals proposed by the Banneker Community Center Advisory Commission. Assistant News Director Sydney Foreman spoke with two members of the commission – Joy Roberts and Nichelle Whitney to learn more about the project.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Aaron Comforty, Jake Jacobson and Sydney Foreman, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our features were produced by Diane Walker, Melanie Davis and Sydney Foreman.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Executive producer is Kade Young.
