WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, March 1st, 2021.
Later in the program, WFHB Assistant News Director Sydney Foreman speaks with Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton in our weekly segment – A Few Minutes with the Mayor.
Also coming up in the next half hour, we revisit a segment submitted by WFHB Correspondent Katherine Patterson. Patterson reports on an anti-abortion bill that recently passed through the Indiana House. More following today’s headlines.
But first, your local headlines:
Local COVID-19 Joint Press Conference
Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill spoke about the Monroe County Advisory level during the February 26th COVID-19 Press Conference. She mentioned the advisory level will remain in yellow.
Indiana University Health South Central Region President Brian Shockney stated COVID-19 inpatient levels were at an all-time low. Caudill mentioned COVID-19 testing clinic closures could have affected the number of reported local cases. She stated veterans who are over 50 years of age could be eligible for the COVID vaccine.
Caudill reported over 11,000 Monroe county residents have been fully vaccinated. Shockney stated Monroe County received additional eleven hundred and seventy Pfizer vaccine doses.
Caudill mentioned only Indiana residents are eligible to receive the vaccine in Indiana.
2021 State of the City Address
Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton gave the 2021 State of the City Address on February 25th. Hamilton spoke about what changes 2020 brought to the city and it’s families.
Mayor Hamilton thanked the numerous essential workers who fought to keep the community functioning. He mentioned that 2020 was not the end of hard times.
Hamilton reported the initiation of Recover Foreword provided the community with over 8 million dollars to combat the effects of the economic recession. He mentioned five other large city projects which are underway.
Hamilton stated the city has also committed to a hospital site redevelopment plan, undertook a new Unified Development Ordinance, and Climate Action Plan.
He mentioned future decisions are to be made about the Convention Center site expansion, and the John Waldron Arts Center. Hamilton discussed future work towards climate and racial justice.
Hamilton said the city would work to align their ambitious goals with the available resources.
Bloomington Historical Preservation Commission
The Bloomington Board of Historical Preservation discussed the restoration of a commercial storefront damaged by an automobile accident during their February 25th meeting. The building is located at 118 South College Avenue. Petitioner Victor Gutierrez spoke about finding a match for the damaged bronze window frame.
Board member Duncan Campbell questioned if the original bronze frame was repairable. Gutierrez mentioned plans to replace the existing damaged door with a windowpane would not allow for repair.
Board members continued the hearing until their March 11th meeting.
Indiana House Environmental Affairs Committee Missing in Action
The Indiana House Environmental Affairs Committee has not met at all during the 2021 legislative session.
According to a report by Sarah Bowman and London Gibson of the Indy Star, thirteen environmental bills were filed in the House this year. However, none of those bills made it to the House Environmental Committee.
Those bills included lead testing for pre-school and daycare, a prohibition on dumping contaminated coal ash in unlined ponds that pollute groundwater and limiting toxins in drinking water.
The deadline to hear bills in the House has now passed, so that means these environmental bills died before any committee heard them.
Meanwhile, the state of Indiana ranks as the second worst state in terms of toxic chemical pollution and long-term chronic health effects on state residents as a result of pollution, according to a study by US News.
The House Environmental Committee is chaired by State Representative Doug Gutwein, a Republican from Francesville who was appointed to the position in December 2020. Gutwein said in an email that pandemic protocols led to the committee not hearing any bills this year.
Gutwein said, “we’ve been more deliberate about hearing only legislation that is critically important to pass this year.”
According to members of environmental groups and committee members, Gutwein said that the bills were “too complex” to be heard in a 2-hour committee meeting. Committee members also said that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would take care of the bills the committee was supposed to address.
A study by the EPA shows that Indiana has more toxic releases per square mile than any other state in the US. According to the EPA, Hoosiers are exposed to at least 1,000 more pounds more toxins per square mile than residents of surrounding states.
Feature Reports:
Last week, WFHB Correspondent Katherine Patterson reported on an anti-abortion bill that recently passed through the Indiana House of Representatives. For more, we turn now to Katherine Patterson.
Now it’s time for the latest edition of A Few Minutes with the Mayor – a weekly segment where we pose questions to Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton on community issues.
In today’s program, WFHB Assistant News Director Sydney Foreman speaks with Mayor Hamilton about local Covid-19 protocol and a new bill in the Bloomington City Council which would add protections for people experiencing homeless. All that and more in today’s edition 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 features were produced by Sydney Foreman and Katherine Patterson.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
