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This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, December 12th, 2022.
Later in the program, we have an excerpt from the latest edition of Kite Line – our public affairs program devoted to prison issues in the Midwest and beyond. More in today’s feature report.
Also coming up in the next half hour, Bloomington residents showed up to a Drag Show at Switchyard Brewery to demonstrate their support after the bar received threatening phone calls about the event. But first, your daily headlines:
Monroe County Council
At the Monroe County Council’s December 6th meeting, County Attorney Jeff Cockerill introduced a request from Oliver Winery for a seven year tax abatement, and introduced the public hearing on the abatement.
During public comment on the tax abatement request, Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce member Jim Shelton explained that they want Oliver Winery to expand their business here rather than look elsewhere.
Bloomington Economic Development Corporation Business Development Director Clark Greiner also supported the abatement.
After the public hearing Cockerill shared some additional information on how Oliver Winery plans to hire more employees, and how the council and the winery settled on the 7 year abatement.
Council Member Jennifer Crossley asked about when Oliver Winery would hire the 21 new employees. She cautioned that Bloomington offered a tax abatement to Catalent with the promise of new jobs, and they just recently laid off around 400 workers. Cockerill responded.
Council Member Marty Hawke commented that the winery has become a destination for tourism.
Council Member Trent Deckard said he was supportive of the request, and addressed the concerns of the public that the company would leave Bloomington.
The council approved the request unanimously.
The next Monroe County Council meeting will be held on January 10th.
Concerns About Proud Boys at Drag Show at Switchyard Brewing Company
On Sunday morning, Bloomington residents showed up to a Drag Show at Switchyard Brewery to show their support after the bar received threatening phone calls about the event.
Residents were concerned that the Proud Boys and other far-right groups would attend the event to harass members of the LGBTQ+ community.
According to Chelsea, a resident who attended the event, she learned about the potential threat online on Tik Tok.
Chelsea said that no one ended up attending the event aside from the large crowd of supporters, who stood outside in the cold during the 2 hour long show.
Switchyard Brewing Company said in a statement, “We are incredibly thankful for and humbled by the strong show of support for the LGBTQIA+ community that we saw today. We are stronger together and to each of you who turned out, spoke out or took a part in today, proved that.”
Feature Report
In today’s feature report, we have an excerpt from the latest edition of Kite Line – our public affairs program devoted to prison issues in the Midwest and beyond.
Monroe County Government is quickly moving forward with a proposal for a new $60+ million dollar jail to replace and expand the downtown jail. With little input from community members, consultants hired by the county have recommended jail expansion, and the county government has begun the purchase of an 87 acre, $10 million property.
In response to the jail proposal controversy, a group of concerned local community members called Care Not Cages has been speaking up. Supporters want the county to pause the construction process and consider alternatives to expanding incarceration. Kite Line spoke to a member of the group to get some context about recent events. We turn now to a portion of that interview.
During the Community Justice Response Committee meeting last week, several members of Care Not Cages spoke during public comment. We now turn to some of that testimony given in opposition to the proposed jail.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Noelle Herhusky-Schneider, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Mia Beach.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
