WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, July 15, 2020.
Later in the program, Sydney Foreman and Kade Young take a look at the ‘Black Lives Matter’ mural overlay and the history of People’s Park.
But first, here are three things you need to know today.
700 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Indiana on Tuesday, according to the Indiana State Department of Health. The state department of health also attributed three new deaths to the virus. Locally, Monroe County saw ten new confirmed cases yesterday, while Lawrence County saw eleven.
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The percentage of Black people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Monroe County is nearly double the percentage of Black people who live in Monroe County.
According to the U.S. Census, Black people make up 3.7 percent of the population in Monroe County. Black residents have made up 6.5 percent of positive cases in the county according to ISDH.
That’s according to a WFHB comparison of the U.S. Census Bureau and Indiana State Department of Health data. The rate of positive cases among Black people in Monroe County is likely even higher than the reported 6.5 percent. That’s because the state health department’s racial categories can miscount Black people who also who identify as Bi-racial, Latinx, Asian, Indegeneous, or by another label, by grouping them into one category called “Other.”
The number of People of Color in Monroe County who have tested positive for COVID-19 reflects a disproportion in the U.S., in which Black, Latinx, and Indegeneous people are at least two to three times more likely to become infected with the disease.
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The Monroe County Public Library is hosting Virtual Storytimes on Tuesdays at ten AM this month. Children’s librarians will be leading a fun, short, preschool storytime. The program is geared to ages 2–6, but all ages are welcome! You find the virtual storytimes on the library’s youtube channel.
Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill said the county is working on a new health order during a July 10th COVID-19 press conference meeting. She said the order should be finalized by the end of July. She spoke about possible order mandates.
Caudill said the county is also considering a face covering mandate with reasonable acceptations. She said enforcement actions are still under consideration. She said most new cases are in young people ages 20 to 30 years old.
Emergency Management Director Allison Moore said the county continues to collect home made face masks. She said personal protective equipment and supplies for public and private schools were received last week for students and staff. President of Indiana University Health Brian Shockney said before school begins, parents should normalize wearing mask for children. Indiana saw its second largest increase in COVID cases.
Caudill said any student that experiences a positive COVID-19 case must notify the school. She said the schools will close areas or temporarily to clean any necessary areas. Caudill said testing is not a prevention measure. She said an individual acquiring routine tests could strain resources for others.
Marion County joined three other counties in issuing a mandatory mask mandate. According to its latest public health order, Monroe County does not require face coverings in public places.
Penny Caudill issued a public health order on July 4th, which laid out some deviations to Indiana’s Stage 4.5. In the list of deviations, Caudill wrote that all businesses are required to post an 8 by 10 sign at the main entrance by July 8th.
Marion, Elkhart, LaGrange and St. Joseph counties require masks in public settings. Cities such as Evansville and West Lafayette have declared face covering mandates in local capacities.
The Monroe County Health Department said it strongly recommends the use of facial coverings when in public and unable to socially distance, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CDC says that cloth face coverings may help prevent people who have Covid-19 from spreading to others. It also said cloth face coverings are most likely to reduce the spread of Covid-19 when they are widely used by people in public settings.
Here is Mayor John Hamilton talking about the possibility of a local mask mandate in the future. This is from A Few Minutes with the Mayor from this Monday’s broadcast.
Governor Eric Holcomb’s Stage 4.5 executive order is set to expire Friday, July 17th. Monroe County has yet to release any plans for how it will move forward.
The Bloomington Plan Commission approved a mixed-use building development at 400 south 7th street during their July 13th meeting. Case Manager Eric Greulich said the development would be located behind the Johnson Creamery building.
Greulich said the bottom floor would include commercial and retail space off of the B-line trail. He said the development would include 58 dwelling units and a partial green roof with seating area. He said the petitioner is proposing a five-story development under two new sections of the Unified Development Ordinance.
Greulich said along with the green roof, developers included a white roof and solar panels. He said the second UDO reception was parking.
Grulich said the Historical Preservation Commission did not hear this development petition. He said according to the UDO, developments behind historical structures do NOT have a required setback. Petitioner Dustin said the development would be ten feet from the Johnson Smokestack. Commissioner Brad Wisler asked petitioner Dustin about adequate space for maintenance to the smokestack.
Petitioner Michael Cordaro said they are considering a carshare contract for the development. Commissioners unanimously approved the development.
Of all the numerous questions that Indiana University will face for the upcoming 2020-21 school year, one that many students will be asking is the question of where to get food on campus. We turn to WFHB Correspondent, Katrine Bruner for more on the topic.
With many restrictions on dining in around town for health concerns with COVID-19, staff and faculty at IU are making other plans for giving students the same opportunities of dining close while staying safe.
IU has stated that dine-in eating will be prohibited in residential dining halls and campus eateries.
Gov. Eric Holcomb’s executive order regarding reopening in Indiana for stage 4 stated, “Schools and other entities that typically provide food services to the public may continue to do so under this executive order that the food is provided to students where members of the public are on a pickup and takeaway basis only. Schools and other entities that provide food services under this exemption shall not permit the food to be eaten at the site where it is provided or at any other gathering site due to the virus’s propensity to physical impact services and personal property.”
Keep in mind that this statement is separate from the restrictions put on individual restaurants in Indiana and is specifically for IU’s food service for their own students.
According to a news update posted on the college’s website, students will only be allowed to order food from dining halls and the campus eateries through carryout, not dine in. Maps have been updated on carryout services such as Grubhub that will now show employees how to go into the dining spaces safely. Campus will provide outdoor seating for students as well.
Furthermore, IU is in the process of creating virtual dining spaces for students to still connect with each other. Online menus will be streamed for easy access as well. Grubhub has been stated to be the preferred and encouraged method of ordering food for students, especially if they would like it delivered.
Director of Auxiliary Business Services marketing, Pam Sprong explained that students will not be charged extra by a fee if they pick up their food using Grubhub, however they will if they get it delivered.
Cash will not be an option for paying. Methods to pay will be through contactless card readers, I-BUCKS, CrimsonCard, and credit cards.
Executive director of IU Dining, Rahul Shrivastav has stated, “The dining team is working hard to provide fun, delicious and nutritious meals while making safety the number one priority. We are looking forward to our students returning to campus and serving them the best food possible for them to be successful Hoosiers.”
Additional important information for students to know when the year begins will be face masks. Face coverings will be required for students to wear when inside campus eateries and dining halls to order or pick up food.
There will also be safety ambassadors stationed in dining halls and campus eateries to make sure students are distanced safely and following the IU COVID-19 safety protocols. More extensive information was posted to IU’s informational web page for students in the upcoming school year.
Ellettsville Town Council approved a coop size variance with the intention to change Town Municipal Code. Assistant Planner Denise Line said property owner Craig Allen had ducks on his property and the current code does NOT allow ducks. Councilor Scott Oldham asked how keeping ducks was different than keeping other fowl.
Councilwoman Pamela Samples said ducks do NOT make more noise than chickens. She said cooped ducks should be allowed.
Samples said the total number of kept fowl should be raised. Clerk Treasurer Sandra Hash said a large number of animals could cause neighbor disturbance. The council agreed to raise a combined total number to 9 animals. Hash said the owner must keep a clean 12 square feet per hen coop at least 6 feet from their property line.
Feature Report:
The mural in People’s Park was overlaid with the words “Black Lives Matter.” Sydney Foreman and Kade Young take a look at the history of People’s Park in today’s feature report. This feature was originally aired last Friday in our July 10th broadcast. We turn to Sydney Foreman and Kade Young for more.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Aaron Comforty, Katrine Bruner, Kade Young and Sydney Foreman, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Sydney Foreman and Kade Young.
Better Beware was produced by Richard Fish.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Executive producer is Kade Young.
