WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022.
In today’s feature report, we have a teaser from Big Talk where host Michael Glab covers the recent announcement of Cardinal Stage, the Bloomington Playwrights Project and Pigasus Institute joining together for a three-way merger. More in today’s feature report.
Also coming up in the next half hour, “Bake Those Cookies” on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB. More following today’s feature.
But first, your Environmental News Brief:
The City of Bloomington announced this week that over $800,000 dollars will be spent planting trees at over 300 locations throughout the city. The city hopes that the new trees will improve air quality, provide more shade, and mitigate the occasional flood. Similarly, the sites chosen are in lower income areas, as historically higher income areas are often the sole benefactors of new city landscaping. The locations chosen have been listed on the City of Bloomington’s website. The planting will begin in April.
A recently passed Indiana Senate Bill is likely to entice solar and wind businesses to the state. Senate Bill 411 establishes a new development center focused on renewable energy within the Indiana Economic Development Corporation that lists whether counties are commercially ready for renewable energies or not. This process is entirely optional, as it allows counties that want to attract renewable energy companies to do so and counties that want to keep solar and wind out can do that. The bill has support from both environmental organizations and electric utilities as they view it as a way for companies to reliably begin construction on new projects without the risk of individual counties passing laws against renewables. The bill has been modified by the Indiana House and is now making its way once again through the Indiana Senate before reaching Governor Holcomb’s desk.
A rare moment occurred at the United Nations Climate meeting last week when the head of the Russian delegation apologized to the participants, specifically those from Ukraine, for Russia’s invasion of the country. This occurred during a virtual meeting of delegates from 195 nations seeking to finalize a new report about how climate change will impact parts of the world in the coming years. The head of the Russian delegation, Oleg Anisimov, a scientist at a St. Petersburg hydrological institute admits that there is no justification for the current war in Ukraine. His Ukrainian counterpart, Svitlana Krakovska, spoke as well, and highlighted how fossil fuels are an important factor that caused Putin to invade. Krakovska stated that the Russian dependency on oil exports, and Ukraine’s newfound abundance of oil and relative location to Russia’s buyers in the west, may have partially led to the invasion. These reasons were also cited for being one of the causes of Russia’s invasion into Crimea in 2014.
Monroe County Commissioners
At the Monroe County Commissioner meeting on February 23rd Journalist Dave Askins asked about construction at early voting sites, and if everything will be finalized before early voting in April.
Facility Manager Greg Crohn answered that he believes it will be.
The commissioners heard from the Assistant Director of the Planning Department Jackie Nester Jelen, about a scrap metal processing facility that would require a zoning ordinance change.
She said the facility would be to reuse iron, steel, or nonferrous metal. Nester Jelen shared that the plan commission recommended the approval of the ordinance 7 to 0.
Commissioner Penny Githens asked about whether the ordinance allowed melting appliances like refrigerators and freezers that have freon in them. She explained she is concerned about chemicals going into the groundwater and recommended a concrete pad to contain any spills.
Jackie Nester Jelen said that the commissioners can add amendments and get them approved by the Plan Commission.
Commissioner Julie Thomas said that she would not approve of the ordinance unless more parameters were put into place.
During public comment Monroe County resident Mark Cranley spoke in opposition of the facility.
Commissioner Julie Thomas suggested they revisit the ordinance at the next meeting on March 9th.
Feature Report:
In today’s feature report, we have a teaser from Big Talk where host Michael Glab covers the recent announcement of Cardinal Stage, the Bloomington Playwrights Project and Pigasus Institute joining together for a three-way merger.
This feature is a preview for the full interview, which will air tomorrow on Big Talk at 5:30 p.m. on WFHB.
Up next, “Bake Those Cookies” on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB. Host and producer Richard Fish says every time you go online you’re being stalked – tracked, by the websites you visit. We turn to Richard Fish for more.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Kade Young and Noelle Herhusky-Schneider, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Michael Glab.
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.
