WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:30 — 33.7MB)
Subscribe: RSS
This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, October 14th, 2021.
Later in the program, we have the October edition of Civic Conversations – a podcast collaboration between WFHB and the League of Women Voters of Bloomington and Monroe County.
Our guests today are Simone Smith, the winning contestant in the League of Women Voters Brown County’s essay contest on redistricting, and Shari Frank, the president of the League of Women Voters of Brown County.
But first, the Statehouse Roundup:
Indiana’s vaccination rate fell to its lowest level since becoming available last winter, according to a report by the Associated Press.
The state department of health reported about 6,000 shots per day last week. That’s about half of the shots given last month.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Indiana ranks the 14th lowest in the nation when it comes to vaccination rates.
Meanwhile, Governor Eric Holcomb has not held a Covid-19 news briefing since March of this year after announcing that the mask mandate would no longer be in effect.
***
Former First Lady of Indiana Susan Bayh was memorialized last weekend after Covid-19 caused delays for a proper memorial service.
Bayh died of cancer at 61 years old in February. She was first lady for eight years, while her husband Evan Bayh served as governor. Bayh, a Democrat, became governor in 1989, and he served two terms in the office.
Those in attendance at the memorial included Governor Eric Holcomb, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, former Senator Joe Donnelly and the current and former first ladies: Janet Holcomb, Karen Pence and Cheri Daniels.
Evan Bayh said at the memorial, “in a world with too much cynicism and apathy, she was the antithesis of both.”
***
State Senator Karen Tallian, a Democrat who represents a district in Northwest Indiana, announced that she will retire. In the coming months, Democrats will decide Tallian’s replacement.
According to an analysis by the Indy Star, when it comes to the process of filling vacant seats, more than a fifth of lawmakers at the Statehouse were initially caucused by party officials, known as precinct committee people. IndyStar analysis shows that this practice is used widely on the local level, as well.
Oftentimes, these precinct committee people or “PCs” are not elected officials. The breakdown shows that in the 2020 Republican elections for PCs, only 143 of the 600 precincts had candidates. In the 2018 Democratic election, only 279 of the 600 precincts had candidates.
That means the rest of the seats are filled by the county party chair, giving that person a disproportionate amount of political power.
It’s worth noting that neither party will disclose who these PCs are.
Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee Discusses Traffic Planning at New Hospital Site
On October 8th the Monroe County – Bloomington Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee discussed traffic planning near the new IU Health hospital.
Senior Transportation Planner Patrick Martin explained that IU Health had a traffic study done, and INDOT approved their plans. However, committee member Sarah Ryterband expressed concern over the lack of collaboration between the planning committee and INDOT. She said INDOT often plans four years in advance and doesn’t take the changes that are happening locally into consideration.
INDOT representative Chris Wahlman said that InDot is a big organization, and Bloomington is just one of its cities.
Committee member Steve Volan reiterated the concerns the committee was trying to voice. He said the local concerns should still be taken into account.
Committee member Kent McDaniel commented as a resident near the intersection, that the road needs work and will require more work with the influx of hospital traffic.
IU Health Bloomington Hospital is scheduled to open to the public in December. The next meeting will be held on November 5th.
Ellettsville Town Council Talks About the Acquisition of Road Leading to the Fire Station
At the Ellettsville Town Council meeting on October 12th, council members discussed the acquisition of a road leading to the fire station at 5080 West State Road 46. Council president Scott Oldham explained further.
Fire Chief Mike Cornman told the history of the road’s ownership and reiterated why it is being dedicated to the town.
The next town council meeting will be on October 25th.
Feature Report:
Now it’s time for Civic Conversations – a podcast collaboration between WFHB and the League of Women Voters of Bloomington and Monroe County. In today’s podcast, host Jim Allison speaks with Simone Smith, the winning contestant in the League of Women Voters Brown County’s essay contest on redistricting, and Shari Frank, the president of the League of Women Voters of Brown County. Jim Allison has 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.
Civic Conversations is produced by Becky Hill.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
