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This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022.
Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Zyro Roze speaks with Thomas Linzey, senior legal counsel at the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights in Part Two of an ongoing series. More in the bottom half of tonight’s program.
Also coming up in the next half hour, More Phony Phoners on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB. More following today’s feature report.
But first, your Environmental News Brief:
According to a new report from the Environmental Integrity Project, Indiana has the most polluted rivers out of any state in the country, with over 25,000 miles of river being contaminated and not suitable for human activities. The report was created to mark the 50th year anniversary of the signing of the Clean Water Act, which hoped to have clean rivers across the United States in ten years. While many scientists and environmentalists still hope to reach this goal, there are many problems hindering it in Indiana. The state suffers from an overabundance of bacteria and nutrients in the water coming from agricultural sources. This occurs because agricultural runoff is barely regulated by the Clean Water Act. Steps are being made to raise awareness concerning this issue. The one area that Indiana exceeds in includes its water testing facilities, which tests more water than any other state, hoping to ensure clean drinking water for Hoosiers.
Last week’s fire at a Walmart Fulfillment Center in Plainfield, Indiana is likely to have led to contaminated pollutants affecting the air quality. The Environmental Protection Agency has confirmed that there was a high level of fine particulate matter in the form of microscopic dust or soot. This has the potential to be stuck inside the lungs if inhaled. Residents near the fire have been warned to wear N95 masks and gloves when cleaning up any of the fire debris nearby. These contaminants can cause breathing problems and possibly lead to cancer. The EPA has stated that there has not been any sign of the fire affecting water quality. Federal investigators have yet to determine what exactly caused the fire or what allowed it to spread so fast throughout the distribution center.
On a positive note, four Bengal tigers, housed in cramped cages for almost two decades as a part of a circus act, have been rescued by Four Paws International, an animal welfare organization, in the country of Argentina. The tigers, which had never touched grass or seen the sky, were finally able to live at the Lionsrock Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa. While they are still in a fenced off enclosure, it represents the closest thing to a natural habitat for these majestic creatures. This group of tigers, once approved for release by a veterinarian after a few more months of study, will be free to move into a mega enclosure and thus be able to live as close as possible to how their natural habitat counterparts do.
Richland Bean Blossom School Board
At the Richland Bean Blossom School Board meeting on March 21st, Assistant Superintendent Matt Irwin asked the board to approve a grant called the Build, Learn, Grow Child Care Stabilization grant.
He said the F-S-S-A or the Family and Social Services Administration, awarded the Richland Bean Blossom School district a 131,000 (one hundred and thirty one thousand) dollar grant that they intend to use to install an outdoor playground at the preschool.
President of the board, Dana Robert Kerr commented that the staff’s ability to find and apply for grants is important to help fund special expenses.
They also approved the Intermediate School fourth grade class trip to Conner Prairie. The board approved the motion unanimously.
The next school board meeting will be held on April 18th.
Feature Report:
In today’s feature report, WFHB Correspondent Zyro Roze speaks with Thomas Linzey, senior legal counsel at the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights, about the meaning behind Rights of Nature and what inspired Linzey to advocate for them. This is Part II of this ongoing series on the WFHB Local News.
Up next, More Phony Phoners on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB. In today’s segment, host and producer Richard Fish describes how he keeps robo-callers at bay and offers a warning about a tech scam that’s hit locally. We turn to Richard Fish for more.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Nathaniel Weinzapfel and Noelle Herhusky-Schneider, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Zyro Roze.
Better Beware is produced by Richard Fish.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
