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This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, August 5th, 2021.
Later in the program, Human Rights Activist Vauhxx Booker condemned felony charges against him related to a racist incident at Lake Monroe over one year ago.
Also coming up in the next half hour, the Bloomington City Council presented ordinances for the annexation of 8 areas in Monroe County. During the meeting, several county residents spoke out against the city’s proposed annexation of roughly 10,000 acres of county land.
But first, your local news brief:
In an effort to reduce the still ongoing spread of the COVID-19 virus, Monroe County will begin requiring face masks for all residents regardless of vaccination status while inside public spaces. The order began today at 8a.m. and will last until September 30th, when it can then either be repealed or extended. The order was approved Wednesday by the Monroe County Board of Commissioners on a 3-0 vote. All businesses and places open to the public must also post signage at front entrances stating that face masks are required. Monroe County Health Department administrator Penny Caudill explained that the state is acting now before we become an orange or red status state, and added that the delta variant, which is more contagious, is a big factor this time. Exceptions for the requirement were listed by the county, which includes children two and under, those hearing or speaking impaired, people who are incarcerated and those sitting down at a restaurant or bar. Updated today by the New York Times, Monroe County is showing 20 cases per day right now which is an 82% increase from two weeks ago. Only 52% of the county fully vaccinated. Patients hospitalized by covid-19 have increased by 59% since two weeks ago and there have been 2 deaths in the last two weeks.
The Monroe County Community School Corporation welcomed back students in-person yesterday. MCCSC elementary schools had open houses on Tuesday, with an online option as well for virtual students by choice. The corporation has information posted on “COVID-19 re-entry plan adjustments for 2021-2022,” however these recommendations may be subject to change. No direct statements have been made yet to the public on the MCCSC’s response to the mask order. Governor Eric Holcomb made an announcement back in March of this year, that he expected Indiana schools to return to full-time in-person teaching in the fall.
The body of a 29-year-old man from Plainfield was recovered Tuesday evening from Lake Monroe. Ambachew Nigatu went missing after swimming with family members off Fairfax beach, according to a news release from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. 911 received a call at 5:40 p.m. After the call, Indiana Conservation Officers, the Monroe County Sheriff’s office and the IU Hospital Bloomington EMS responded. Nigatu’s body was found at 6:50 in 6 feet of water. He was unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene, according to a news release. Both beachers at Fairfax and Paynetown had been closed due to flooding but just opened this past Monday.
Bloomington City Council
The August 4th Bloomington City Council Meeting started as a hybrid meeting, with several council members attending in-person. However, out of respect for the health and safety of attendees, council member Matt Flaherty moved to recess the meeting and pick back up over zoom. He apologized to those attending in-person, saying the City Council could not have changed the meeting without making the motion at the meeting.
The City Council voted unanimously to recess and reconvene for its regular session on Zoom.
After the recess, council member Jim Sims presented the ordinances for annexation of 8 areas in Monroe County. He talked about the history of the ordinances, which were first presented back in 2017.
Resident Mark Farrell spoke in opposition of annexation. He argued that residents of Monroe County already support the city in more impactful ways than paying property taxes.
Resident Susan Brackney spoke as a representative of Area 4. She said over 70 percent of homeowners in the area had signed a petition with their intention to remonstrate annexation if it is passed.
Council members moved to extend the public hearing on annexation into its August 11th meeting. The public is invited to speak starting at the special session, which starts at 6 PM.
Monroe County Commissioners
Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill presented a new Health Order to Monroe County Commissioners at their August 4th meeting. Caudill said the Health Order would require Monroe County residents to wear masks indoors regardless of their vaccination status. She said the Health Order either expires on September 30th or if county COVID-19 numbers drop below a certain threshold.
Commissioner Julie Thomas pointed out that some residents cannot get the COVID-19 vaccine, due to health issues or age. She emphasized that the issue is the Coronavirus, not unvaccinated residents.
Resident Scott Reynalds suggested the health order go into effect the morning of August 5th, rather than immediately, to give businesses time to prepare. Commissioner Lee Jones agreed and motioned to amend the effective date to August 5th. Commissioners unanimously approved the health order as amended.
Monroe County Board of Zoning Appeals
The Monroe County Board of Zoning Appeals continued discussion on requested variances to the Wyss property. At the August 4th meeting, Senior Planner Tammy Behrman talked about how difficult it has been trying to get additional information from the petitioner. She said the county requested an updated site plan with more details on the ramp the petitioner wants to build.
Board member Skip Daley asked for clarification on the decision to build an external ramp. He wondered why the garage wasn’t designed for easier access on already ground-level doors. Petitioner Evan Wyss explained that the person for whom the ramp was being built became disabled after the design had been finalized.
Board member Bernie Guerrettaz asked if there was any way to get to the upper deck from inside the garage. Petitioner Thomas Wyss said there was not. He argued that his plan to build a small workshop inside the garage would make it too difficult to navigate.
Human Rights Activist Vauhxx Booker Condemns Felony Charges in Racist Incident at Lake Monroe
Human rights activist Vauhxx Booker was charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass and battery resulting in moderate bodily injury in Monroe Circuit Court on Friday.
On July 4, 2020, Booker says he was physically attacked and had racial slurs yelled at him at Lake Monroe by a group of individuals.
The charges against Booker were filed by special prosecutor Sonia Leerkamp after Monroe County Prosecutor Erika Oliphant recused herself from the case.
During a news conference at the Monroe County Courthouse, Booker said he was not surprised that charges were filed against him over a year after the incident.
“There is nothing more American than charging a Black man in his own attempted lynching,” said Booker.
Attorney Katherine Liell criticized the special prosecutor. She said in three decades working as a criminal defense lawyer, she has not seen anything like this.
“It is unprecedented,” she said. “I’ve never seen a special prosecutor open a new case and file against somebody a year later.”
Guy Loftman of the Monroe County branch of the NAACP, said the latest charges against Booker are, “a miscarriage of justice.”
“Vauhxx Booker, a Black man, was the victim of a vicious hate crime,” he said. “The criminal justice system itself has joined in the attack on him.”
Following the incident, two of the men received felony charges. Sean Purdy and Jerry Coxx II were charged with three felonies, which included criminal confinement, battery and intimidation.
At the time, Booker said he suffered a mild concussion, bruising, patches of hair ripped out and was called racial slurs.
Booker says this process has been “humiliating and defeating.” He said, “for some folks it was a year ago. For me, it’s happened every day.”
Scholarship Opportunities Available for Student Teachers
Three scholarship and stipend opportunities for student teachers are available for the 2021-2022 school year, according to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.
In a press release, the commission says funding is available for Black and Latino student teachers, in addition to those who plan to teach in high-need fields, such as math, science or special education.
Allison Kuehr, communications and public relations manager for the state’s higher education commission, walked through each scholarship and stipend opportunity. She also made note of the deadlines to apply.
Scholarship:
- William A. Crawford Minority Teacher Scholarship: Open to minority students (defined as Black or Hispanic/Latino individuals) who intend to pursue or are currently pursuing a course of study that would enable them to teach in an accredited Indiana school. Application deadline: August 31, 2021.
Stipends:
- Earline S. Rogers Student Teaching Stipend for Minorities: This stipend is available for minority students (defined as Black or Hispanic/Latino individuals) who plan to participate in student teaching or a school administration internship as part of their degree requirements during the semester they receive the stipend. Priority will be given to student teaching applicants. Application deadline: September 30, 2021.
- Student Teaching Stipend for High-Need Fields: The Student Teaching Stipend for High-Need Fields is available for students who plan to teach special education (any grade), middle school math, middle school science, high school math or high school science. Application deadline: September 30, 2021.
Kuehr said the commission has undergone an initiative to promote diversity in the educator pipeline. Black or Latino educators made up 6.4 percent of last year’s teacher staff. Meanwhile, about 29 percent of graduates in 2019 were non-white students. Kuehr discussed how the commission intends to at least partly address this disparity.
Kuehr says she hopes these opportunities make a real difference for someone who hopes to educate the next generation.
Visit www.scholartrack.in.gov to apply for the scholarship and stipends or call the Commission’s Financial Aid Support Center at (888) 528-4719 for assistance.
Kuehr says in order to apply for all three, you will need to have a FAFSA on file.
The Statehouse Roundup
The end of the 2021 Indiana fiscal year came in yesterday with an announcement that 1.1 billion of the surplus will be allocated towards retirement funding and refundable tax credit for the year 2022. State Representative Chris Judy commented on the refundable tax credit saying, “It’s pretty unique for a state to send money back to their residents in a form of a tax refund.” The tax credit will be distributed amongst taxpayers when they file their taxes in 2022 next year. The policy for refunding money back to the taxpayers in this format was finalized by the Republicans in the statehouse in 2011.
Governor Eric Holcomb also announced that the additional surplus that isn’t being refunded to tax payers is going towards lowering Indiana’s debt and necessary programs. “Now, with our 19th straight balanced budget, we are working on everything from mental health programs and health care supports to record increases in K-12 tuition support.”
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Katrine Bruner, Emily McCoy, Kade Young, Robert Robinson and Jake Jacobson in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
