WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:50 — 35.5MB)
Subscribe: RSS
This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022.
Later in the program, we have the latest edition of A Few Minutes with the Mayor – a biweekly segment where we pose questions to Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton on community issues. More in the bottom half of tonight’s program.
Also coming up in the next half hour, Phony Job Offer on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB. More following today’s feature.
But first, your weekly Environmental News Brief:
The nearby city of Crane, Indiana had a special moment last week when navy veteran Robert “Angel” Lange released “Christmas” , a bald eagle, back into the wild. The bird was injured in November due to a puncturing of her wing likely caused by a stick or due to an encounter with another bald eagle. The mating season of bald eagles occurs from December through February, so Lange hopes that by releasing Christmas near where she was found she will be able to find a mate. Bald eagles represent a conservation success story for Indiana, as they were extirpated, or extinct in the state, from 1890 until the first mating pair successfully created a nest near Lake Monroe in 1991. After being released, Christmas hobbled around on the ground before once again gaining the confidence to take off into the sky.
A new study is out that may impact how Hoosiers use their kitchen appliances. The Stanford University study has determined that natural gas cooking stoves have a high potential to leak the dangerous greenhouse gas methane even when the power is off. The researchers measured methane concentrations from numerous gas cooking stoves throughout California and were shocked to find that around 80% of all the emissions occur when the stove is not being used. This is bad news due to the potency of methane, and its ability to trap 86 times more warmth in the atmosphere when compared to carbon dioxide, with 20% of the Earth’s warming being attributed to this gas. Methane is also a byproduct of cattle farming, as cows produce the gas through their digestive system. Based on this stove leaking research, climate activists are urging Americans to switch to electric stoves whenever they need a new stove.
The Washington Post recently published a report that offers some good news when it comes to the tackling of the climate crisis. If solar panels were to be installed on top of large big-box stores such as Kroger, Walmart, and Target, then the stores could meet half of their electrical needs through solar energy, and create enough power equivalent to 8 million American homes.
Normally, the empty rooftops serve no purpose, but with new advancements in solar panel technology, over two thirds of the rooftops could generate solar energy. Similarly, the report also notes the untouched potential of solar panels in parking lots. These solar rooftops for parking would provide shade for cars and also generate electricity. This development is already catching on in states such as New Jersey and California, with its potential to succeed in states throughout the US.
Monroe County Commissioners
At the Monroe County Commissioners meeting on January 26th, County Attorney Margie Rice explained a contract with E&B Paving for construction related to the southern section of the Karst Farm Greenway.
Commission member Lee Jones said she was glad to see the trail network get better and better. The commissioners voted to approve the contract unanimously.
The commissioners also approved changes to a grant to the Monroe County Humane Association. The funds were initially intended to be used for an additional vehicle, however, due to the supply chain challenges they have deceived to use the grant money to make security upgrades at the E. Susan Bartlett Emergency Center.
Rice added that she thinks the program is a valuable resource for county residents that more people should be aware of.
The next commissioners meeting will be held on February 2nd.
Ellettsville Town Council
At the Ellettsville Town Council meeting on January 24th council members discussed bids for the Community Crossings Grant for various roads resurfacing, and a culvert replacement.
Milestone and E&B Paving both submitted bids on the projects. Street Commissioner Kip Headdy thanked the people who submitted their bids.
The Ellettsville Town Council will vote on which company’s bids to accept at the next meeting.
Bloomington Board of Park Commissioners
On January 25th at the Bloomington Board of Park Commissioners meeting the board introduced the new Community Events Specialist, Haylie Pryson. The board also appointed new officers for the year, with Katherine Mills as President of the Board, Ellen Rodkey as Vice President, Israel Herrera as Liaison to the Planning Commission, and Kim Clapp as Secretary.
Operations and Development Division Director Tim Street asked the board to approve a contract with Marshall Security LLC for 2022 security services at various parks and trails.
Mills commented that she supports the fundings for security at the parks, but said that ideally the police budget could cover this in the future.
Board member Jim Whitlatch, asked why the funding for security came from a different source last year. Street explained that it was funded by the CARES Act in 2021, and will be funded by the American Rescue Plan Act in 2022, and that the source of funding will be up for debate for the 2023 budget.
Whitlach also asked for clarification about which parks have been selected for patrolling.
Street explained how they decided which parks were chosen, and that they have the flexibility to make changes to the route during the year.
Street said the security officers are unarmed, and interact with the Bloomington Police Department when they are patrolling.
The contract with Marshall Security LLC passed unanimously.
The next board of Park Commissioners meeting will be held on February 22nd.
Feature Report:
Now it’s time for the latest edition of A Few Minutes with the Mayor – a biweekly segment where WFHB Assistant News Director Noelle Herhusky-Schneider poses questions to Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton on community issues. Today, Hamilton discusses the name change of Eagleson Avenue. We turn to Herhusky-Schneider for more.
Up next, Phony Job Offer on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB. Host and producer Richard Fish says he received an email saying he was a candidate for a job…which he had never applied for. But there were several flare-lit tip offs that this is a scam. We turn to Richard Fish for more.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Kade Young and Noelle Herhusky-Schneider, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Noelle Herhusky-Schneider.
Better Beware is produced by Richard Fish.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
