WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, June 1st, 2021.
Later in the program, BloomingOUT hosts Melanie Davis and Justin Robertson talk to Heather Carpenter-Smith and Jo Bean about organizing the Greenwood PRIDE Block Party, the city’s first ever PRIDE event. More coming up in today’s feature reports.
Also coming up in the next half-hour, News Director Kade Young talks to Indiana University Spokesperson Chuck Carney about changes to the University’s 2021 Fall Semester vaccine requirements.
But first, your local news brief:
The Indiana State Department of Health recorded 370 new cases of COVID-19 and 8 deaths in Indiana since yesterday. The weekly rate for positive COVID tests is currently at 4.7%. Monroe County is now under the advisory level blue. To be under blue, which is the lowest level possible, counties must have the following: a 7-Day positivity rate under 5% and less than 10 new cases per 100,000. Monroe county is at 41 weekly cases per 100,000 residents and has a 3.64% 7-day test positivity rate. Updated today by the New York Times, 35% of Indiana is fully vaccinated. 41% has had at least one dose of the vaccine.
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Indiana University has made the decision to go forward with their COVID-19 vaccination policy for students and staff members. The school said the decision will avoid expenses of $10 million if they were to test students regularly instead. IU has been receiving public and online criticism for the vaccination policy by students, legislators and others. IU assistant vice president for strategic partnerships Kirk White, explained that the policy will require everyone on campus and enrolled in IU to be fully vaccinated before the fall semester. Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton stated on Friday that IU’s policy was the right decision, calling it a “very significant step to make our community safer.”
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Bloomington’s Paynetown State Recreation Area has officially opened their swimming beach and Activity Center. The activity center had been closed for a year because of the pandemic. During that time, Interpretive Naturalist at Lake Monroe Jill Vance worked to keep virtual programs going through the Monroe Lake Facebook page, which she says will continue. Summer hours for the activity center will be 1-5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The center includes daily crafts, a kids play area, live snakes, displays, games, library, information and a recycling center for aluminum cans and plastic bottles.
Bloomington Historical Preservation Commission
The Bloomington Historical Preservation Commission discussed renovating a shed at a property on West Allen Street. At the May 27th meeting, Assistant Director of Housing and Neighborhood Development Brent Pierce presented a request to restore a historic garden shed in the McDoel local historic district. He explained the shed meets the criteria presented by local guidelines.
Petitioner Elizabeth Cox-Ash explained the doors had begun to rot due to winter weather. She said this changed her original plan to do a simpler replacement.
Commissioners approved the renovation 5 to 0.
Local Covid-19 Press Conference
Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton reported zero new positive COVID-19 cases among city workers for the second consecutive week at last Friday’s Coronavirus Press Conference. Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill shared local vaccine updates. She said the number of fully vaccinated residents range from just under to just over 50 percent.
Reporter Boris Ladwig asked if Indiana University would consider changing their decision to make the COVID-19 vaccine a requirement to attend or work at IU in the fall. Assistant Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at IU Kirk White said the University will be staying the course. He added that the decision covers a lot of smaller issues that could occur.
Monroe County will be hosting a pop-up vaccine clinic on June 7th at the convention center. This clinic is a second shot follow-up to the May 6th pop-up clinic.
IU Still Requiring Vaccines for Next Semester But Proof of Vaccination is Now Optional
Indiana University announced on Tuesday that it will modify its Covid-19 vaccine mandate making it optional for students, faculty and staff to show proof of vaccination.
The decision came in the aftermath of criticism after university officials said IU will require vaccination for the 2021 fall semester. While the vaccine is still mandatory for the upcoming school year, returning students and employees will have to verify their vaccination status in an online form rather than uploading documentation directly.
Chuck Carney, media spokesperson for Indiana University, discussed what led to the decision to modify the Covid-19 vaccine mandate.
“We had a lot of feedback,” said Carney, “and that prompted us to make an adjustment in this policy, but it’s important to note we still require the Covid-19 vaccine.”
Carney said there will be exemptions for the vaccine requirement, but he made it clear that those exemptions will be narrow.
In the university’s updated health and safety guidelines, most restrictions on mask wearing and physical distancing will be lifted.
According to the guidelines, due to uncertainty with variants, the duration of immunity and seasonal reoccurrence, the university will continue to monitor and update its policies.
Carney touched on some highlights of the new changes according to the university’s updated health and safety guidelines.
Again, Carney mentioned that IU’s most recent guidelines for the fall semester stemmed from critical feedback from students and parents, and even the state’s Attorney General and a handful of GOP lawmakers.
Carney described how he felt about the criticism towards the university for requiring vaccines for students and employees.
Carney clarified that even though there are changes to the proof of vaccination policy, vaccines are still required to return for the fall semester. He said that he hopes the vaccine mandate will lead to a return to normal.
To view IU’s updated health and safety guidance for the upcoming semester, click here.
Feature Reports:
BloomingOUT hosts Melanie Davis and Justin Robertson talk to Heather Carpenter-Smith and Jo Bean about organizing the Greenwood PRIDE Block Party, the city’s first ever PRIDE event.
BloomingOUT airs each Thursday at 6 p.m. You can also listen to the full program online here.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Katrine Bruner, Kade Young and Jake Jacobson , in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our engineer and executive producer is Kade Young.
Our feature was produced by Melanie Davis.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Anchors are Benedict Jones and Kade Young.
