WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, January 19th, 2022.
Later in the program, the EPA recently announced that it will enforce pollution regulations onto Indiana’s coal fired power plants in order to stop groundwater contamination. WFHB Correspondent Nathaniel Weinzapfel has more in today’s feature report.
Also coming up in the next half hour, we have your weekly consumer-watchdog segment, Better Beware, with Richard Fish. More following today’s feature.
But first, your Environmental News Brief:
Ever since last September, some Bloomington residents have complained about the taste of their tap water, which researchers attributed to algal growth on Lake Monroe. However, starting years prior and continuing to today, the Friends of Lake Monroe have worked to help residents of Monroe County understand how their actions can lead to foul tasting water. For example, excess fertilizer runoff from lawns and faulty septic systems have leaked into the Lake Monroe watershed and caused the algal growth. It is necessary for Monroe County residents to be mindful of their actions, as almost all of the water runoff when it rains will end up in Lake Monroe and then, after purification, become our drinking water.
A new bill in the Indiana House from State Representative Donna Schaliaby, a Republican from Carmel, is likely to reduce the amount of hours and days that Indiana residents can light fireworks. The representative cites the negative effects on pets and military veterans, who often suffer through the loud fireworks. At the current moment, fireworks are allowed statewide 5 days before and after the 4th of July and around midnight on New Years Eve. If the bill passes, different localities around the state would be able to set their own days when fireworks are allowed, and could restrict them to only being the day of the 4th of July and New Years Eve. Opponents of the plan believe that it is not the government’s right to restrict citizens from using a legal product. It is to be determined if the Indiana House will pass the bill.
Across the ocean, the country of France has begun to reduce the amount of trash produced through a country-wide ban on plastic packaging, specifically for fruits and vegetables. Foods like carrots, potatoes, apples, and pears will no longer be in plastic packaging. A similar measure has banned plastic for fast food kids toys and magazines. This marks a step in President Emmanuel Macron’s climate goal to phase-out single use plastics. The ban has not been met without resistance, as packaging manufacturers and farmer groups have decried the measures taken. However, experts predict that the ban will eliminate roughly 1 billion tons of plastic waste annually.
Monroe County Council
At the Monroe County Council meeting on January 11th council member Geoff McKim nominated Kate Wiltz as President of the Council and Council member Trent Deckard as Vice President. The nominations passed 6-0-1.
Chief Probation Officer for the Monroe Circuit Court Linda Brady explained a grant they received from the Indiana Offices of Court Services.
Community Corrections Director and Assistant Chief Probation Officer Becca Streit explained the importance of the defense position the grant funds.
Division Five, Circuit Court Judge Mary Ellen Deikoff added that the reason the probation department doesn’t have the funds is because they normally receive more grant money.
Council member Geoff McKimm supported the work the pre-trial program has accomplished and said he would support local funds being used to compensate for the lost grant money.
The council approved the appropriation of funds unanimously. The next meeting will be held on February 8th.
Feature Reports:
Up next, Monroe County is now in the red advisory category. We turn to WFHB Anchors Don Geyra and Nicki Stewart-Ingersoll.
The EPA recently announced that it will enforce pollution regulations onto Indiana’s coal fired power plants in order to stop groundwater contamination. WFHB Environmental News Correspondent Nathaniel Weinzapfel discusses what this means for both the environment and Indiana residents.
Now it’s time for Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment. In today’s episode – “Help That Doesn’t Help.” Producer Richard Fish has more.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Nathaniel Weinzapfel, Kade Young and Noelle Herhusky-Schneider, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Don Geyra and Nicki Stewart-Ingersoll helped produce today’s feature.
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.
