WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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This is the WFHB Local News for Friday, June 26th, 2020.
Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Alex Dederer has more on last week’s historic Supreme Court Decision which ruled that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects gay, lesbian, and transgender employees from discrimination based on sex. Also coming up in the next half hour, Better Beware, your weekly-consumer watchdog segment.
But first, your local headlines.
The Monroe County School Corporation discussed their reopening and recovery plan during the June 23rd School Board Meeting. Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Markey Winston said all teachers will receive training for online schooling. She said there are three key ways students will be present in school.
Winston said the other options include an online academy taught by MCCSC instructors and, what she called “Intermittent Online learning.” She also said that students attending the online academy must commit to at least one semester of online learning. The Intermittent Learning option, on the other hand, would be utilized in response to a significant resurgence Covid-19 cases or as it makes sense on a case by case basis.
Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Operations Dr. Andrea Mobley emphasized that any students taking in-person classes must screen for COVID-19 symptoms each morning. She also noted that students must wash their hands before leaving for school and upon arrival, hand-washing breaks will be scheduled throughout the day. Mobley said each school will also increase their sanitation procedures.
Dr. Mobley said that teachers should take advantage of outside-classroom settings as often as possible and she strongly encouraged independent travel to and from school, as opposed to bussing. She noted that MCCSC will still run buses however students must wear masks, sit in assigned seats, take attendance, and ride with the windows open as much as possible. She added that buses will attempt staggered pick up and drop off times. Shifting to from bussing, Mobley affirmed that playground equipment will also be cleaned daily.
Mobley said that in an effort to prevent outdoor transmission, recess times will be staggered. Winston said all students will receive frequent instruction on how to use Canvas, their online learning platform. She said all students will also have access to social Workers or counselors and have lessons on social/Emotional and Equity Lessons. Winston said Normal school year hours will resume on August 3rd.
Kirkwood Avenue will be closed again this weekend. Only pedestrians will be allowed on the street between Kirkwood Avenue and Grant Street.
WFHB News Director Kade Young talked to Bob Costello, owner of Village Deli, Soma Coffee and Laughing Planet Cafe. We turn to Kade Young as he speaks to Bob Costello about the Kirkwood dining experiment.
The Monroe County Council discussed a County Commissioner interlocal agreement with the Township Trustee Association to deliver COVID-19 relief funds during their June 23rd Work Session meeting. County Attorney Margie Rice described how the 100 thousand dollars of funding would be distributed.
Council member Geoff McKim said Nationally a 5th of rent payments were missed. Councilwoman Cheryl Munson said each Township must meet criteria before being rewarded with funds.
Rice said included in the agreement is a reporting requirement for each Township, once a month, to report on the use of funding. She said reports will also promote the availability of funding. County Attorney Margie Rice said the agreement would run through December 31, 2020. Council members unanimously approved the agreement.
Property adjacent to the City of Bloomington’s new Switchyard Park will be transformed into affordable housing and commercial space, according to a city press release.
The Bloomington Redevelopment Commission will review a proposed affordable housing design in its meeting next Monday.
The Redevelopment Commission bought the 1.5 acre site at the park’s eastern entrance. The press release said this was to help steer development near the park in ways that support the community’s “long-term goals.”
RealAmerica, the Indianapolis-based company, proposed to develop 1730 South Walnut Street into “Retreat at the Switchyard” — which would be a four-or-five story apartment building that would offer 50 one, two and three bedroom apartments, according to the city press release. There would also be 3,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor.
The press release says that between 20 to 25 percent of the residential units will be offered to clients of Stone Belt, which is a nonprofit that provides resources and support for individuals with disabilities.
According to the press release, the remaining units would be available to residents earning 50 to 80 percent of the Area Median Income.
The U.S. Census reported that Bloomington’s median income was $34,435 in 2018. According to PayScale, the median rent in Bloomington is 953 dollars per month, while the median home price sits at 304,319 dollars.
The City of Bloomington estimates the timeline will include the application for funding to the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program by September 2020. The city estimates construction to be completed in the summer of 2022.
The Monroe County Commissioners approved their 9th round of Food and Beverage Tax Grants for County businesses supporting local tourism. During their June 24th meeting, County Attorney Jeff Cockerill said this round of applications included the Monroe County History Center in Bloomington.
Commissioner Julie Thomas said the Monroe County History Center requested approximately 23 thousand 2 hundred dollars. Susan Dyer if the History Center said they are reopening.
Commissioner Penny Githens said Misfit Toy Enterprises applied for 6 thousand dollars for equipment to restart a safe karaoke league. Commissioners unanimously approved the grants.
Indiana saw 9 more deaths from Covid-19 with 510 new cases confirmed, according to state health officials.
The newly reported deaths bring the total death toll to 2,403 people. In addition, the state health department reported 192 deaths considered coronavirus-related by doctors without confirmation of the illness from test results.
That brings the total positive case count to 44,140 people who have contracted the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.
The numbers are likely higher due to a lack of testing. So far, 453,980 total tests have been issued, according to the state’s dashboard. There are about 6.85 million people who live in Indiana. That means about 6.6 percent of the population has been tested.
9.8 percent of all tests came back positive in Indiana.
The Bloomington Board of Public Works approved a Public Benefit of B-Line Trail Extension and Multi-Use Path Project. During their June 23rd meeting, Planning and Transportation Project Manager Roy Aten said approval will include right of way on 17 parcels of land.
Aten said within 6 months to a year all parcel should be obtained.
Now it’s time for your feature reports.
1. WFHB news correspondent Alex Dederer shares more on last week’s historical Supreme Court decision.
2. Now it’s time for Better Beware, our weekly consumer-watchdog segment produced by Richard Fish.
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 Alexandra Dederer.
Better Beware was produced by Richard Fish.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Executive producer is Kade Young.
