WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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Good afternoon. This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Later in the program, WFHB News Correspondent Aaron Comforty reports on the future of the 24-acre Bloomington Hospital site on Second Street. He talked to Deputy Mayor Mick Renneissen.
Also coming up in the next half hour, your weekly consumer-watchdog segment, Better Beware.
But first, your local headlines.
Up first, the Broadening Inclusion Group was disbanded at a Farmers’ Market Advisory Council meeting on Monday. This came after a controversial statement was released on Facebook from the Broadening Inclusion Group. Many commenters denounced the statement as racist. For more on the story, we turn to WFHB News Correspondent Alex Dederer.
Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton said the county has moved into stage 4 of reopening on June 12th during a COVID-19 press conference. He said many outdoor public spaces are reopened.
County Commissioner Julie Thomas said water fountains are NOT open. She said some park restrooms also remain closed. Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill explained sport regulations.
Regional Director for Strategic Integration Mary Ann Velenta said IU Health Hospital relaxed patient visitor restrictions on June 15th.
Caudill said state COVID-19 case numbers continue to decline and National numbers remain steady. She said Monroe County has a low positive test percentage.
Caudill said testing sites include the IU Health Bloomington Hospital, Monroe Hospital, CVS, and the OptumServe site. Emergency Management Director Allison Moore said spots are still available for the June 23rd Blood Drive. She said participants can register at RedCross.org.
Next up, the Buskirk Chumley Theater announced plans to reopen its box office for upcoming events. For more on the story, we turn to WFHB News Correspondent Katrine Bruner.
County Attorney Jeff Cockerill presented a policy change to the Food and Beverage Tax Advisory Commission to present a business within city limits for a food and beverage tax grant. Cockerill said the commissioners funding was originally just for businesses outside of city limits. He said the Monroe County History center provides services to all of the county during their June 16th meeting.
Commissioner Julie Thomas said the center received funding from an Arts grant and Personal Protective Equipment funding. City Controller Jeff Underwood said they did NOT receive any city loans. Commissioners approved the policy change.
Feature Reports:
- Earlier in the year, Taste of Bloomington, the annual, local food festival was canceled in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, Visit Bloomington found a way to keep the spirit of the festival alive despite the lockdown measures currently in place. WFHB Correspondent Jake Jacobson has more.
- The current Bloomington Hospital site on Second Street is set to close its doors next year, re-opening instead at the new IU Health Center on Bloomington’s east side. The mayor’s office hosted a virtual town-hall yesterday, focused on the future of the twenty-four acre hospital site. WFHB News Correspondent Aaron Comforty joined the town hall meeting and filed this report.
- Your weekly consumer-watchdog segment, Better Beware, hosted and produced by Richard Fish.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News.
Today’s headlines were written by Alex Dederer, Jake Jacobson, Katrine Bruner, Kade Young and Sydney Foreman, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our features were produced by Aaron Comforty and Richard Fish.
Our engineer is Kade Young.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Executive producer is Kade Young.
