WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, July 15th, 2021
Later in the program, we have the latest edition of Civic Conversations – a monthly podcast collaboration between WFHB and the League of Women Voters. Our guest today is Jennifer Haan, lead volunteer for the Indiana Chapter of Moms Demand Action. More coming up in today’s feature report.
Also coming up, earlier this afternoon, members of Cosecha Indiana marched through the streets of Bloomington with demands to reform identification and driver’s license laws. More in today’s headlines.
But first, your local news brief:
COVID-19 cases are increasing in Indiana. The state reported 612 new cases yesterday, which is the highest number seen since May 27th. The seven-day positivity rate has gone from mid-June levels of 2.1% to 4.1% as of last week. State health officials held a COVID briefing for the first time in months where they noted the state’s slight increase in hospitalizations. Many experts are blaming the delta variant of COVID-19 for these spikes in numbers. The delta variant was first seen in India but has since spread to the U.S. and was seen in 273 samples this past week. According to health officials, the majority of cases seen recently have been from unvaccinated individuals. 53.4% of 18 and older Hoosiers are fully vaccinated currently. The overall average for states within that age range is 58.9%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Indiana has identified 10 species of sick and dying birds in 69 Indiana counties recently from a mysterious illness, resources say. The Illness has been found primarily in blue jays, robins, cardinals, and starling; however more have been added to the list over time by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Although the only birds on the watch list right now are wild birds, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health encourages poultry owners to protect their birds as well. Pets are also suggested to keep away from areas where sick or dead birds have been found. Reports of the birds began in late May. by the beginning of July, cases were found in more than eight other states. The cause of the birds dying is still unknown but the DNR has ruled out avian influenza, West Nile virus, Salmonella, Chlamydia, Newcastle disease virus, herpesviruses and poxviruses, and Trichomonas parasites. Symptoms from the birds have been eye discharge, tremors and disorientation, swollen heads, and an inability to fly. The DNR asks that if someone spots a sick or dead bird they report it online and if dead, double bag it without touching the bird and dispose of it in household trash. Since birds have plenty of food right now, the DNR is also requesting residents to remove bird feeders with seed or nectar, as it may be a possible cause of illness and death.
Crumbl Cookies, spelled C-R-U-M-B-L, opened this Friday on the east side at 115 S. College Mall Road. The store sells specialty cookie flavors that rotate each week, as well as regular milk chocolate chip and sugar cookies. Crumbl has more than 120 flavors. The local franchise started in Utah and now has more than 200 bakeries in 32 states. There is no indoor seating but outdoors seating will likely become available, says owner and operator of the Bloomington store, Kevin Jones. The shop has options of in-store pickup, curbside delivery and catering. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to Midnight on Friday and Saturday.
Cosecha Indiana Marches through the Streets of Bloomington
On Thursday, members of Cosecha Indiana marched through the streets of Bloomington with demands to reform identification and driver’s license laws.
According to a spokesperson for the organization, Cosecha Indiana is part of a national movement working toward permanent protection, dignity and respect for all immigrant workers.
Volunteer Field Organizer Wendy Catalán Ruano talked about the activist group and the purpose of the protest.
“We are here because we’re demanding that the Driver’s License Bill is not ignored,” said Ruano. “We’re demanding that this is visible and our bodies are visible and that we have the right to drive without fear.”
Ruano discussed the lasting impact of the REAL ID Act – passed over 15 years ago – which requires federal agencies to only accept state driver’s licenses or ID cards issued upon proof of documentation of legal status and driver’s licenses.
“2007 was when driver’s licenses were revoked. Folks like my parents. My aunts and uncles were also having driving licenses at that time, but it’s now been more than 15 years since we’ve had that right back,” she said. “Everyone deserves to travel home, travel to their jobs and schools without fear of getting deported.”
The march started at Switchyard Park and ended at the Sample Gates on Kirkwood Avenue. Protesters chanted, “fighting for justice and driver’s licenses.”
Ruano said Cosecha Indiana has marched in various cities throughout the state and will end its series of marches in Indianapolis. She described how the advocacy group assembled the protest in Bloomington.
“We organized this week-long march which is more than 300 miles,” she said. “We started in the Gary-East Chicago area, now making our stop in Bloomington… Saturday, we’ll end up in Indy.”
“This is really just to be visible in all the cities,” she said, “demonstrating that there are undocumented leaders that are taking this issue head on. We are the frontline of this campaign, of this movement. Nobody understands our struggle more than ourselves.”
The organizer said she wants to emphasize how the decisions politicians make affect the lives of real people. She said she hopes to ignite a conversation among lawmakers to reform current driver’s license and identification policy.
“We do have politicians that think this issue is not important, but a lot of us here have suffered the consequences of that being ignored,” she said. “A lot of us have had loved ones, families, parents deported.”
On its Facebook page, Cosecha Indiana says immigrants in Indiana deserve to drive without fear. Stay tuned at 6 p.m. on Friday for more coverage of the march and protest during our weekly airing of Hola Bloomington.
Monroe County Stormwater Management Board
The Monroe County Stormwater Management Board considered additional funding for the Lake Monroe Water Fund. Lake Monroe Water Fund Chair Jane Martin asked for funds to hire a full time Fundraising Officer at the July 14th meeting. She said funding from City of Bloomington Utilities had fallen through at the last minute.
County Surveyor Trohn Enright-Randolph suggested that the Water Fund was competing with another Lake Monroe organization, Friends of Lake Monroe, for the same funding sources. He wondered whether the money could be better spent on a new county staff member.
Enright-Randolph suggested moving discussion to a future meeting so all county commissioners could be present. County Commissioner Lee Jones agreed. She cited a recent vote she missed which caused problems.
Board members voted to table the request to the August 11th meeting.
Monroe County Commissioners
Monroe County Commissioners discussed Small Business Administration emergency loans at its July 14th meeting. SBA Public Affairs Specialist Julie Garrett talked about offering disaster loans to county residents and small business owners who are still recovering from the June 18th floods. She clarified that despite the organization’s name, the SBA offers loans to multiple residents in need.
Commissioner Penny Githens pointed out that residents can qualify for an SBA Disaster Loan if they do not qualify for other emergency funds. Director of Emergency Management Allison Moore clarified residents who do not qualify for the SBA loan can then apply for state emergency funds.
Garrett said residents have until September 7th to apply for a disaster loan. Monroe County residents who want to apply can contact the SBA online at sba.gov/disaster, or over the phone by calling 800-659-2955.
Bloomington Economic Development Commission
Commissioners talked about setting a new recurring meeting date for future Bloomington Economic Development Commission meetings. At the July 14th meeting, Assistant Director of Small Businesses Jane Kupersmith proposed that E-D-C meetings occur on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 4 PM starting in September. She said Commissioner Kurt Zorn had recently been appointed to a new position and had a conflicting meeting with current Economic Development Commission meetings.
Commissioners voted to approve the new schedule 3 to 0.
Feature Reports:
Now it’s time for Civic Conversations – a monthly podcast collaboration between WFHB and the League of Women Voters. Our guest today is Jennifer Haan, lead volunteer for the Indiana Chapter of Moms Demand Action.
Civic Conversations is available online at WFHB Dot ORG or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Credits:
Today’s headlines were written by Katrine Bruner, Kade Young and Jake Jacobson, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Becky Hill.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
Anchors are Benedict Jones and Katrine Bruner.
Thanks for supporting Indiana’s only volunteer-powered, listener supported independent daily news program. You can hear tonight’s full broadcast online, at WFHB dot org
WFHB Community Radio is seeking an Assistant News Director to assist with our award-winning, independent news department. Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume to [email protected] by July 31.
If you enjoyed this episode of the WFHB Local News, consider listening to our one-on-one interview public affairs program, Big Talk.
