WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, March 15th, 2021.
Later in the program, we have the latest edition of A Few Minutes with the Mayor – our weekly segment where we ask Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton listener-posed questions on community issues. More coming up in today’s feature report.
Also coming up in the next half hour, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a cleanup plan for the Martinsville Superfund Site at Pike and Mulberry Streets. More in today’s headlines.
But first, your local news brief:
Indiana University basketball coach Archie Miller has made the news twice in the past week. The first time was when IU football coach Tom Allen got a raise to an almost five million dollar yearly salary, surpassing Archie Miller’s three and a half million a year. Archie Miller again made the news this morning, after Indiana University fired him. His firing comes after a disappointing season’s finish.
Last week the City of Bloomington announced that it would provide $12,000 one-time mortgage down payments and a vehicle ownership subsidy for Bloomington Police officers. Chief Diekhoff described the measure as a way to, “Attract and retain the best possible candidates for our department is our goal.” Critics of the program have voiced disappointment, noting that the City consistently allocates more funds to the police department over issues like homelessness and social services.
In state news, Indiana teachers are now eligible to get the Covid-19 vaccine. After months of lobbying by statehouse Democrats and state teachers unions, it was only after Biden’s presidential executive order on vaccinating teachers, that Indiana assented. Starting today, teachers and staff in pre-K through high school, at childcare centers, and in Head Start and Early Start programs can schedule vaccine appointments. While College level instructors are not yet eligible, licensed childcare providers, classroom aides, bus drivers, janitors, counselors, administration staff, cafeteria workers, and substitute teachers may all make vaccination appointments as well.
All Hoosiers 50 years old and older are currently eligible to sign up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Bloomington COVID-19 Press Conference
Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill announced that any childcare and education workers can receive a COVID-19 vaccination at any clinic during their March twelfth COVID-19 press conference. She reminded the community of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions definition of fully vaccinated individuals.
Caudill mentioned CDC guidance for fully vaccinated people concerns only small gatherings. She stated vaccinated individuals in public spaces must still maintain a six-foot distance and wear a mask.
Caudill stated vaccinated individuals would have to quarantine if determined a close contact but should still monitor for symptoms. Indiana University Health South Central Region Brian Shockney said IU Health has given about 20 percent of Indiana Vaccinations.
Caudill mentioned Monroe County saw a moderate increase of COVID-19 community spread. IU Vice President for Engagement Kirk White stated the IU vaccination clinic will open on March 29th.
Monroe County Board of Public Health
The Monroe County Board of Health debated COVID-19 regulations concerning guests at communal living facilities. Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill stated the current regulation.
House Director Bill Kershner requested the board allow fifteen guests outside of the communal living building. Board member Ashley Cranor stated she would not want to see more than fifteen people outdoors together including house residents. Board member Carol Litten Touloukian expressed her support for the change.
Board members approved to delegate the decision regarding outside guests to Caudill and Monroe County Health Officer Doctor Thomas Sharp in collaboration with Indiana University officials.
Music Production Incentive Bill in Indiana House
Senate Bill 323 is a music production incentive program. It would work with the Indiana destination development corporation to provide a report on music production incentives in other states and to make a recommendation on the type of incentive Indiana should offer.
Last month, the bill passed out of the state Senate. Now, the bill has been referred to the Indiana House Ways and Means committee.
If the bill passes the House, Indiana would join ranks with 32 other states in having a music production incentive program, according to the Statehouse File.
As of now, Indiana has an 8 billion dollar music industry with around 50,000 jobs.
State Senator Justin Busch, a Republican from Fort Wayne, helped author the bill. He said, “If we’re going to play in the music industry, this is a program we need to have. Otherwise, we’re really getting overlooked when we have a hidden robust music ecosystem in our state.”
Bloomington has a thriving music industry with independent record labels like the Secretly Group, concert venues such as the Bluebird and the IU Jacobs School of Music, which ranks second in the nation according to the QS World University Rankings.
The music industry was hit hard in 2020. However, Goldman Sachs projected the music industry’s revenue to increase from 62 billion dollars in 2017 to 131 billion dollars by 2030.
Busch says he hopes the bill will enhance Indiana’s music industry. He said in the Statehouse File, “we all appreciate music. Even when we had a downturn last year, we all kind of turned to music. It’s a universal language.”
EPA Announces $11.9 million Cleanup Plan at Martinsville Superfund Site
On Friday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced an 11.9 million dollar cleanup plan for the Pike and Mulberry Streets Superfund site in Martinsville.
According to a news release, the EPA’s cleanup plan will address soil and groundwater contamination caused by industrial and dry-cleaning chemicals which were “illegally dumped and mishandled in the late 1980s.”
The cleanup plan will tackle contamination of tetrachloroethylene, or PCE, in the groundwater. It will also address Trichloroethylene, or TCE, gases in the soil.
The EPA says it preferred to use a chemical oxidation method, an environmental remediation technique to reduce contaminants.
On May 24th, 2018, during the Daily Local News, former news director Wes Martin asked Dr. Diane Henshel, an environmental toxicology expert, what PCE can do to the human body. She said there both short-term and long-term effects, which can lead to cancer.
Hoosier Action, a local non-partisan advocacy group, hosted a town hall on the Superfund site in October 2020. Town hall moderator Tasha Coppinger discussed the health impacts of contaminated sites in Morgan County and provided some background on the site. She said, according to the CDC, Morgan County has the highest cancer rates in the state of Indiana.
The EPA will hold a virtual public forum on Zoom to learn more about the cleanup and to develop community-based recommendations. For more information, contact Kirstin Safakas, community involvement coordinator, at [email protected] or 312-919-4621.
You can register at https://cbuilding.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_toRCwH4MTTif2zMM31_mCA.
Monroe County Stormwater Management Board
The Monroe County Stormwater Management Board considered a Memorandum of Understanding for one thousand dollars with the Lake Monroe Water Fund task Force during their March 10th meeting. MS4 Coordinator Kelsey Thetonia stated the donation would initiate an education and outreach program.
Thetonia stated the funds would be available until the end of 2021. Board member Penny Githens questioned Task Force Member Jane Martin what the education was for.
Martin stated Lake Monroe was built to last one hundred years and needs preservation work. She mentioned the education would inform people on the importance of contributing to their water fund. Board members unanimously approved the MOU.
Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission
The Bloomington Board of Historical Preservation discussed the restoration of a commercial storefront damaged by an automobile accident during their March 11th meeting. The building is located at 118 South College Avenue. Historic Preservation Manager Conor Herterich spoke about the reconstruction.
Herterich stated the original bronze was too difficult to source and replace. Board members unanimously approved the restorations.
Feature Report:
Now it’s time for A Few Minutes with the Mayor – a weekly segment where we ask Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton listener-posed questions on community issues.
In today’s edition, WFHB Assistant News Director Sydney Foreman asks Mayor Hamilton about Covid-19 vaccines and about a failed City Council ordinance that would have added protections for people experiencing homelessness.
All that and more in today’s segment of A Few Minutes with the Mayor.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Aaron Comforty, Kade Young and Sydney Foreman, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Sydney Foreman
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young
