WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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Good afternoon. This is the WFHB Local News for Friday, July 3rd, 2020.
In today’s news, Indiana delays moving into Stage 5. Governor Eric Holcomb now says the state will move to a “cautious Stage 4.5.” Also, as the IU Health Bloomington Hospital is set to be demolished next year, concerns about spreading toxic lead dust around the community have been rising. You will hear from Aaron Lauer, the Senior Policy Analyst with the Institute of Politics about lead-safe demolition practices.
But first, your local headlines.
The Monroe County School Board held a special session to discuss and approve a re-entry plan on June 30th. Superintendent Dr. Judith DeMuth presented plan changes. She said additional sanitation forms have been added to the plan.
DeMuth said students must stay home if they are sick or either themselves or a family member is being tested for COVID-19. She said masks are mandatory in schools at all times. She said they could only be removed under 3 conditions.
Pediatrician Jason Semis said wearing masks may incline young children to touch their faces more often, in turn increasing their chances for contracting the virus. Board member Sue Wanzer said the plan should allow indoor breaks without masks.
Board member Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer said masks on 100 percent of time indoors is not practical. She said younger students will need mask breaks. She said weather may not permit an outdoor break. The board voted in favor to allow indoor mask breaks. DeMuth said the plan added a section regarding special education. She read an added statement.
DeMuth said students can only change from in person learning to online learning or vice versa within the first two weeks of school. She said Hybrid learning is available for 9th through 12 graders.
DeMuth said students attending online CAN take part in extra curriculars. She said all air filtration has been updated and windows will remain closed during school hours. She said families will receive registration information by July 6th and must register for their preferred learning method by July 20th. DeMuth said the entire plan is on the MCCSC website.
Governor Holcomb announced on Tuesday that Indiana will extend its eviction and foreclosure moratorium until July 31st.
This continues the halt on evictions and foreclosures that was initiated in March brought by the economic hardships Covid-19 has caused.
The executive order delayed utility connection shutoff until at least August 14th.
The Monroe County Board of Zoning Appeals approved an Autumn Circle property front yard and side yard setback to build a garage addition. During their July 1st meeting, petitioner Rebecca Payne said the expansion will not encroach into the nearby utility easement.
Payne said the petitioner must submit a professional survey showing the location of the garage and western boundary line for the side yard setback request. Board member Mary Beth Kaczmarczyk said the survey would cost the petitioner above 400 dollars. Petitioner David Drewes said the utilities easement is out of date.
Drewers said a side yard survey would take up to 6 weeks and cost between 5 hundred and 15 hundred dollars. Planner Jackie Nester Jelen said not all utilities are placed where the easement is marked. Board members required the petitioner to obtain a side yard survey.
A federal judge struck down a strict panhandling law before it was to take effect in Indiana.
The law would have restricted people from requesting money within 50 feet of an ATM, business and restaurant entrance, public monument, or the location of a monetary transaction, which would have included parking meters.
After a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson ordered it could not be enforced.
According to the Associated Press, the preliminary injunction on Tuesday said the law was, “an unconstitutional prohibition on the freedom of speech.”
The Monroe County Election Board discussed election sites for the November election. Board member Hal Turner said the election board is working with stone belt to ensure ADA compliance at all polling sites. He said the number of voting sites could be reduced.
Turner said rules for the election will be announced in August or September. Board member encouraged those how qualify to apply for a vote by mail ballot now. Turner said the deadline to file a declaration of intent to be a write in candidate is July 6th at noon.
Feature Reports:
- As the Hospital is set to be demolished next year, concerns about spreading toxic lead dust around the community have been rising. WFHB Correspondent Aaron Comforty spoke with Aaron Lauer, the Senior Policy Analyst with the Institute of Politics about Lead- safe demolition practices.
- Indiana will not move into Stage 5 as planned. According to a new executive order, the state will move into a “cautious Stage 4.5.”
Monroe County also issued a new public health order with some slight deviations from the governor’s plan. WFHB News Director Kade Young has more.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News.
Today’s headlines were written by Kade Young and Sydney Foreman, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Aaron Comforty and Kade young.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Executive producer is Kade Young.
