WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, March 8th, 2021.
Later in the program, we have the latest edition of A Few Minutes with the Mayor – a weekly segment where Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton answers listener-posed questions on community issues. WFHB Assistant News Director Sydney Foreman has more in today’s feature reports.
Also coming up in the next half hour, Indiana teachers of all ages can now receive the Covid-19 vaccine through a federal pharmacy program. More coming up in today’s headlines.
But first, your local news brief:
On Wednesday, the Indiana State Department of Health announced that residents ages 50 and older are now eligible to sign up and receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The age of eligibility has been lowered twice, just this week, from 60 plus on Monday.
Covid-19 cases and deaths in Indiana have not been this low since early last fall. The state is averaging just above 800 new cases and about 10 deaths per day.
The situation is still very serious though. For context, Indiana has more new Covid-19 cases per capita than any country in the European Union. If Indiana were a country, it would have the 5th highest new Covid-19 cases per capita in the world.
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Some Bloomington city council members are still getting blow back for their votes to reject a new law aimed at providing protections to people without housing who have been forced to camp in city parks.
The law ordinance was drafted in response to the recent encampment evictions executed by the City of Bloomington earlier this year.
The evictions went counter to CDC Covid-19 safety guidelines that say encampments should be left intact during the ongoing pandemic. Before the meeting took place, the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce released a letter in opposition to the proposed legislation.
Only eight of the council members were present at the meeting. The ninth member, Jim Sims, was not at the meeting because he was mourning the loss of his daughter, who died from Covid-19.
Half of the present council members vote in favor, of course, half voted against. Those in favor wanted to push the vote back, to allow Council Member Sims, who is the only Black council member, to vote on the issues.
The same four who voted against the law also voted against letting Simms vote on the law at a later time. The meeting was the longest in memory, lasting 9 hours. Council Member Dave Rollo had a number of outbursts, including personal attacks on other council members as well as the use of expletives.
Local Covid-19 Joint Press Conference
Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill reported over one million doses of the COVID-19 vaccination have been given in Indiana. She mentioned over 13,000 people are fully vaccinated in Monroe County. She announced that the County vaccination center will be transitioning to Indiana University.
Caudill reported a mass vaccination clinic is scheduled to be held at Notre Dame. She said the single dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine would be given at this clinic.
Caudill mentioned the move was due to capacity limitations. She stated teachers can receive their vaccinations through Kroger, Meijer, Sam’s Club, or Walmart. Indiana University Health South Central Region President Brian Shockney stated visitors would again be allowed inside of the hospital.
Shockney stated the IU Health Medical Arts building will remain a vaccine site.
Teachers of Any Age Eligible for Covid-19 Vaccine at Kroger, Meijer and Walmart
Teachers of any age in Indiana can now receive the Covid-19 vaccine through a federal pharmacy program during the month of March.
All educators and child-care workers are eligible to get the vaccine at certain pharmacy sites. In Indiana, those sites include Kroger, Meijer and Walmart.
If you are under the age of 50 in Indiana, you must register for the vaccine directly with those three stores.
Despite guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state of Indiana has not yet prioritized teachers in its vaccine rollout. However, the federal pharmacy program provides a way for educators to have access to the vaccine.
Governor Eric Holcomb addressed the federal program during the state’s March 3rd Covid-19 update.
To make an appointment at Kroger, visit kroger.com/rx/guest/get-vaccinated. For Meijer, visit clinic.meijer.com. Lastly, to make an appointment at Walmart, visit walmart.com/cp/1228302.
Ellettsville Plan Commission
The Ellettsville Plan Commissioner approved a seven lot plat in the Burberry Lake Estates Subdivision on West Reeves Road. During their March fourth meeting, Planning Director Kevin Tolloty stated the proposal was for five single family lots, with plans for future development in the future. He spoke about sidewalk connectivity.
Community member Russel Ryle was concerned about adding traffic around the school. He stated the area has also seen drainage issues.
Tolloty stated the five homes were not a concern. He mentioned additional developments would be approved at a later time. Community member Ben Russel questioned Developer Josh on what types of homes would be built on the lots.
The developer mentioned the homes could range from three bedrooms to five bedrooms. The next Ellettsville Plan Commission meeting will be held on April 8th.
Monroe County Commissioners Work Session
Monroe County Commissioners discussed the Duke Trail during their March third Work Session. Operations and Development Division Director Tim Street spoke about the pedestrian trail location.
Street stated phase one of trail development would end at Summit Elementary. He mentioned the trail would also connect to RCA park and a Habitat for Humanity development. Deputy Public Defender Noah Williams said the trail would not be directly under the powerlines.
Commissioner Julie Thomas mentioned further discussions with the county legal department were needed before additional steps could be made. The next County Commissioners meeting will be held on March 10th.
Feature Report:
In today’s segment, WFHB Assistant News Director asks Mayor John Hamilton listener-posed questions on homelessness in Bloomington, Covid-19 safety protocol in restaurants and bars, and the coronavirus vaccine.
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 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.
