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This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, January 17th, 2022.
Later in the program, Monroe County has officially moved to the red advisory category in the state’s color-coded Covid-19 map.
More in today’s feature report.
Also coming up in the next half hour, we have some prison-related headlines from the producers of Kiteline. More in the second half of our program.
Bloomington City Council
At the Bloomington City Council meeting on January 12th, Council members Susan Sandberg, Sue Sgambelluri, and Jim Sims presented a resolution that would consolidate the number of standing committees. They proposed that the Administration, Community Affairs, Housing, Public Safety, Climate Action and Resilience, Sustainable Development, and Land Use Committees be eliminated.
President of the Council Susan Sandberg presented the resolution.
Council member Sue Sgambelluri explained that she believes eliminating the standing committees would make it easier for the public to understand what is going on in the government.
Council member Jim Sims explained from his previous position as President of the council that he saw a need to reduce the number of standing committees in exchange for Committee of the Whole meetings.
Council members Steve Volan and Isabelle Piedmont-Smith expressed their dissent with the resolution.
Council member Matt Flaherty advocated for certain standing committees to be continued. Flaherty
introduced an amendment to the resolution.
Flaherty said that the Climate Action and Resilience Committee was responsible for long-term projects that the city council staff does not have the time to invest in.
During public comment, President of the Monroe County Chapter of the National Organization for Women Natalia Galvan, advocated for the Public Land and Action and Resilience Committees.
The council will continue the discussion on the resolution surrounding standing committees at the next meeting on January 19th.
Monroe County Board of Health
On January 13th at the Monroe County Board of Health meeting Board member Carol Touloukian was nominated for Chair of the Board, and Stephen Pritchard was nominated as the Vice-Chair.
Public Health Clinic Manager Amy Meek updated the board on their Covid-19 vaccine efforts.
Touloukian asked Indiana University Vice Provost of External Relations Kirk White and Health Department Administrator Penny Caudill if they thought current Covid-19 cases were being underreported.
Caudill responded saying she agrees that Covid-19 is being underreported.
Board member Ashley Cranor clarified that there is not a way for at-home tests to be reported and asked if it would be best practice for individuals who do get a positive result to get tested at a testing center.
The next Monroe County Board of Health meeting will be held on February 10th.
Feature Report:
Up next, we have some recent prison-related news and announcements from the producers of Kite Line – our public affairs program devoted to prison issues in the Midwest and beyond. Kite Line airs each Friday at 5:30 p.m. on WFHB. The program is available online or wherever you get your podcasts.
Monroe County in the Red Advisory Category
Monroe County has moved to the red advisory category on the state’s color-coded map. The red advisory means that a county has a 7-day positivity rate of 15 percent or higher and that weekly cases range from 200 or more cases per 100,000 residents.
Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton said weekly cases for city employees were at an all-time high during Friday’s local Covid-19 press conference.
The mayor also touched on the rising Covid numbers here locally with the Omicron variant causing a spike in cases and hospitalizations.
Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill provided a breakdown of the latest Covid-19 numbers during the press conference on Friday.
Caudill also gave advice on mask wearing etiquette, saying that a mask is only as helpful as one wears it.
She explained that as the Omicron variant hits Monroe County, “breakthrough infections” – meaning positive Covid-19 cases among people who are vaccinated – are on the rise. However, she said cases were less severe and less likely to require hospitalization compared to someone who has not received the vaccine.
Caudill touched on new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, particularly on the shorter isolation duration.
President of IU Health’s South Central Region Brian Shockney said that Covid-19 hospitalizations were down last week despite record-highs in positivity. On the other hand, this does not mean hospitalizations aren’t an area of prime concern, says Shockney.
Shockney says another issue of concern includes hospital workers who are currently in quarantine after testing positive from the virus.
Chief Health Officer at Indiana University Dr. Aaron Carroll gave updates on IU’s policies after making the decision to return to in-person classes.
To schedule an appointment for a vaccine or a booster shot, please visit ourshot.in.gov. For more information on testing sites, visit coronavirus.in.gov.
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 Kade Young.
Kite Line is produced by Mia Beach.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
