WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:01 — 41.3MB)
Subscribe: RSS
This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, June 9th, 2021.
Later in the program, WFHB correspondent Max Campbell provides updates on how Monroe County is approaching the city of Bloomington’s annexation plans. More coming up in today’s feature report.
Also coming up in the next half hour, volunteers from Bloomington’s chapter of the advocacy group Moms Demand Action hosted a gun safety event this past weekend. Learn about this and more in today’s headlines.
But first, your local news brief:
The Indiana State Department of Health has recorded 302 positive COVID-19 cases in the last 30 days and 10 deaths related to COVID that occured between June 4th and June 6th. 42% of Monroe County is now fully vaccinated. President Biden has set a goal of getting 70 percent of adults in the United States to be fully vaccinated by July 4th.
Marion County will now end their mask mandate, after the City-County Council approved the proposal with a 19-5 vote. The proposal included recommendations from Indianapolis mayor, Joe Hogsett and Director of Marion County Public Health Department Dr Virginia Caine. Ending the mask mandate will mean that Hoosiers fully vaccinated in Marion County will not be required to wear face masks in public, unless a business or venue requires it.Other restriction changes include indoor service in bars and restaurants to move to 75 percent, public pools open at 100 percent capacity, and large gatherings to move from 50 people to 500 people. Masks are still required nationally in hospitals and public transportation. Although the mask mandate is lifted, Marion county is still encouraging people to get vaccinated, to wear masks and continue social distancing when possible.
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb announced in May that unemployment benefits for hoosiers would change in June. This week, residents in Indiana that are looking for employment will need to provide proof that they are seeking work, Holcomb said. This process was waived for over a year due to the pandemic. According to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, unemployed Hoosiers need to complete and report at least one work activity each week to maintain unemployment benefits. An example of this would be creating a resume or attending a job fair. Indiana will end all federal unemployment benefits programs later this month.
Bloomington Utilities Service Board
The Bloomington Utilities Service Board discussed hazardous waste disposal from Bloomington storm sewers. Assistant Director of Environmental Programs James Hall presented a partnership that would cost the city over 109 thousand dollars. He said a new approval will reduce that cost down significantly.
Board member Kirk White wondered why the city had to pay if a business caused the damage. Hall said Bloomington would have to foot the bill now in order to continue with the Hidden River Pathway Project.
Board member Amanda Burnham asked whether the disposal project would cause delays in other local projects. Hall was not sure. Board members voted to approve the partnership unanimously.
Overnight Military Testing in Bloomington
On Monday night, starting at around 7 p.m., members of the United States Military conducted training in Bloomington.
According to a flyer distributed to neighborhoods near the training area, the exercises included, “loud bangs and simulated weapons fire.” Bloomington residents also reported seeing and hearing helicopter and plane flight.
One resident, who left a voicemail at the station, reported, “constant planes in the skies at 2:30 in the morning.” Our assistant news director, Jake Jacobson, reported hearing helicopters in the air on the east side of Bloomington at around the same time.
The flier says the Bloomington Police Department was aware of the training. A spokesperson for the Bloomington Police Department confirmed that the BPD was contacted to help block off parts of the city where the training took place.
However, the spokesperson said any other questions about the BPD’s involvement with the training would need to be directed at an Army Representative. The spokesperson did not have any contact information available.
The Office of the Mayor was made aware, as well. A statement posted on the City of Bloomington’s Facebook page recognizes that some residents were still, “surprised and concerned,” by the training exercises.
The statement confirms that flyers were distributed, but residents responded to the post wondering why they had not been warned.
According to the statement, this was intentional, as the military specifically requested that Bloomington not give broad public notice, “in order not to compromise the safety and security of the exercise.”
Bloomington Redevelopment Commission
The Bloomington Redevelopment Commission talked about the old hospital site reuse project. Project Engineer Patrick Dierkes presented the design contract for Phase 1 of the project. He explained that, since this contract designs the demolition package, Phase 1 is focused on the land east of the Hospital site.
Dierkes said that most of the land in Phase 1 is owned by IU Health. Commissioner David Walter asked for clarification on land that Bloomington does not own yet. Commissioner Nick Kappas asked how the contract would be affected if the city cannot get that land. Dierkes said the contract includes those properties, but the project will not slow down if they cannot be acquired.
Commissioners voted to approve the contract 4 to 0.
Feature Reports:
Last Saturday, members of the advocacy group Moms Demand Action gathered downtown as part of the gun safety movement Wear Orange Weekend. For more, we turn to WHFB Correspondent Robert Robinson who covered the event.
Earlier this year, Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton announced that the city of Bloomington will be continuing the annexation process that began in 2017.
In today’s feature report, WFHB Correspondent Max Campbell provides updates on how Monroe County is preparing ahead of the August 4th public hearing.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Katrine Bruner, Robert Robinson, Max Campbell and Jake Jacobson, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
Our feature was produced by Max Campbell.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
