WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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In today’s feature report, junior correspondent Katrine Bruner talked to environmental protesters outside Bloomington City Hall. Teachers and students walked out of schools and several local environmental protest groups attended. Protesters demanded immediate action for policymakers to address the climate crisis.
Headlines include:
- Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb called for a ban on cellphone use while driving. According to the Indy Star, Holcomb put forth the proposal when he unveiled his latest legislative agenda on Tuesday in Terre Haute. Holcomb’s proposal would ban all use of hand-held phones and other telecommunication devices while driving. Holcomb says that he believes the broader ban will be easier for police to enforce, and twenty states already have such a ban.
- The Bloomington Farmers Market held a panel on December 7th titled Considering Our Options. The panel discussed regulating freedom of speech, safety, and belonging in the farmers market. This comes after vendors at the farmer’s market were outed for their ties to a white supremacist and neo-Nazi organization called the American Identity Movement. There have been at least three known complaints of harassment filed against the vendors. In an article for news magazine, The Nation, opinion writer Edward Burmila labeled Indiana’s response to white supremacy as weak. He said white supremacy is terrorism and not just a difference of opinion.
- The McKinsey consulting firm gave South Bend mayor and Democratic Presidential Candidate Pete Buttigieg permission to release the identities of his clients while working for the consulting firm. After Buttigeg requested to release the names last week, he was given permission by McKinsey on Monday. Buttigieg worked for McKinsey as a consultant from 2007 to 2010. His time working for the firm has raised questions among progressive Democrats, some of whom are skeptical of candidates with ties to the corporate world.
- Last Wednesday, flyers expressing support for white supremacy were found at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs building. The Indiana University Police Department launched an investigation into the incident. IU Spokesperson Chuck Carney said the university is taking prompt action and will not allow flyers like this to remain anywhere on campus. He said the flyers go against the views I.U. stands for.
- Bloomington City Council passed adjustments to building setbacks for garages and carports in a Unified Development Ordinance Amendment. Council member Isabel Piedmont-Smith said the amendment will affect impermeable surface area. Assistant Director of Planning and Transportation Scott Robinson spoke about the amendment in their December 10th meeting.
- Prohibited use of off-highway vehicles has caused damage to The Hoosier National Forest. O-H-V use on forest land is one major cause of natural resource damage.
The WFHB Local News will air next Friday, December 20th. Tune in next week to hear the local headlines mixed with our cutting-edge features brought to instigate, inform and inspire. Thank you to Sydney Foreman, Andrew McKearin, Katrine Bruner and Richard Fish for contributing to this week’s local news.
