WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, July 19th, 2021.
Later in the program, WFHB Assistant News Director Jake Jacobson interviews Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton, in today’s edition of a Few Minutes with the Mayor.
Jacobson tackles local issues ranging from affordable housing to the allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds. All that and more in the bottom half of tonight’s program.
Also coming up in the next half hour, all criminal charges were dropped against the woman who drove into a crowd of protesters in downtown Bloomington last year. More in today’s headlines.
But first, your local news brief:
Photo courtesy of University of Michigan.
In an overnight ruling last night, federal judge Damon R. Leichty affirms Indiana University’s vaccine requirement, saying that, “The Fourteenth Amendment permits Indiana University to pursue a reasonable and due process of vaccination in the legitimate interest of public health for its students, faculty, and staff.” This result comes after 8 IU students sued Indiana University for the vaccination requirement, with the students ranging from incoming freshman to graduate students. Because of this ruling, all students, faculty and staff will be required to have the vaccine before returning to campus with religious and medical exemptions and those who are taking all online classes.
The Bloomington-Monroe County Metropolitan Planning Organization is holding a public meeting tonight from 7-8:30 through Zoom to get community input on the 2022-2026 Transportation Improvement Project Document. Attendees of the meeting will contribute to the decision making on where the Transportation money goes. A zoom link for the meeting is posted on the Indiana Daily Student website and the City of Bloomington website.
The Delta variant of COVID-19 is expected to become the dominant variant in Indiana, with the CDC saying that it is 50% more transmissible than the original Alpha variant. Many medical professionals in Indiana are worried, as less than 50% of the population is vaccinated. The counties that are extremely high risk in Indiana include Newton County, Warren County and Montgomery County. Monroe County is currently high risk, therefore the CDC encourages all non-vaccinated persons to continue wearing a mask and social distancing.
Coronavirus Press Conference
At the July 16th Coronavirus Press Conference, Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill talked about the COVID-19 Delta variant. Caudill said that the majority of positive COVID-19 cases are still the Alpha strain. She cautioned that the Delta variant is growing, and that residents should be aware of the ways they can help lower their own risks.
IU Health President Brian Shockney said that 99 percent of patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 symptoms are unvaccinated. He commented on the lower vaccine rates of neighboring counties and identified it as an opportunity for Monroe County to help lower the risk of catching COVID-19.
Future Coronavirus Press Conferences will continue biweekly. The next press conference will be on July 30th.
Bloomington Environmental Commission
The Bloomington Environmental Commission discussed Lake Monroe as a water source. Commissioner David Parkhurst gave an update on Friends of Lake Monroe at the July 15th meeting. Commissioner Dedaimia Whitney asked what the group would do if Indianapolis made a bid to use Lake Monroe as a water supply. Parkhurst responded that they had discussed it at length. He said he wasn’t sure there was much they could do about it.
Commissioner Michael Litwin suggested that Lake Monroe could not support both Bloomington and Indianapolis during extreme droughts. Commissioner Sam Armstrong agreed and suggested that be the focus of an argument against an Indianapolis bid.
City Environmental Planner Linda Thompson suggested Commissioners speak with Director of City Utilities Vic Kelson for more information. The next Environmental Commission meeting is scheduled for August 19th.
Monroe County Solid Waste Management District Citizens Advisory Committee
The Monroe County Solid Waste Management District Citizens Advisory Committee discussed its 2022 budget. At the July 15th meeting, Committee member Joseph Wynia talked about a recommendation by District Board member Isabel Piedmont-Smith. Piedmont-Smith suggested that Monroe County budget funds for a new staff member. Executive Director Tom McGlasson explained the additional funds were leftover from an old truck driver position.
Committee member Andrew Manley commended the board for setting their minimum wage at $15. Committee members voted 7 to 0 to draft a letter of approval of the budget. The next Citizens Advisory Committee meeting will be August 19th.
Criminal Charges Dropped Against Woman Who Drove into a Crowd of Protesters in Downtown Bloomington
Last year, a woman behind the wheel of a red Toyota drove into a crowd of protesters in downtown Bloomington.
Now, the Monroe County prosecutor’s office says that it will drop all criminal charges against Christi J. Bennett after the prosecutor was informed that Bennett had died.
In July 2020, WFHB Correspondent Nicholas Di Brita filed a report on the incident. Here is that broadcast.
According to the City of Bloomington Police Department, Bennett faced charges for two counts of criminal recklessness and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury – both of which are level 6 felonies.
Furthermore, Bennett faced another charge of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in bodily injury, which is a Class A misdemeanor.
Feature Report:
WFHB Assistant News Director Jake Jacobson interviews Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton, in today’s edition of a Few Minutes with the Mayor. Jacobson tackles local issues ranging from affordable housing to the allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds. All that and more in today’s “A Few Minutes with the Mayor.”
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Katherine Patterson, Kade Young and Jake Jacobson, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Jake Jacobson.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
Anchors are Katherine Patterson and Don Geyra.
More:
The WFHB News Department is seeking a part-time Assistant News Director to report on government meetings, work on news features and assist our award-winning news department. Interested applicants should send their resumes and cover letters to [email protected].
If you enjoyed this broadcast of the local news, consider listening to our Monday evening public affairs program, Bring It On!
