WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, October 28th, 2020.
Later in the program, WFHB News Director Kade Young breaks down last night’s second and final governor’s debate. More election coverage in today’s feature report.
Also coming up in the next half hour, Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment.
But first, your local news brief:
The Indiana State Department of Health reported just under 2,600 new Covid-19 cases today. That’s the state’s third-highest count on record.
Indiana is averaging about 2,400 new cases per day and about twenty-four deaths per day.
That means that at this point, about one in 100 Hoosiers who gets Covid, will likely die from it. Covid-related hospitalizations remain at their highest levels since mid-April. Right now, there are about 1,700 hundred Hoosiers hospitalized because of Covid-19.
Locally, Monroe County recorded about fifty new cases, that’s the highest number in a month and a half. Surrounding counties saw between two and about thirty new cases.
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In an email to WFHB, Indiana University Director of Communications, Dr. Chuck Carney, confirmed the university’s so-called, “new positive test results” term corresponds with the more common, “new positive cases” term.
As such, this morning Indiana University-Bloomington reported 99 new cases of Covid-19. That’s a slight uptick from last week.
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The 2020 Fall Fund Drive continues today at WFHB. WFHB broadcasts its local news shows four times a week: Monday through Thursday.
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MCCSC School Board
The Monroe County Community School Assistant Superintendent Doctor Markay Winston presented a Supporting the Whole Child update during the October 27th School Board meeting.
She mentioned the need for mental health responsiveness heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Winston reported every MCCSC school has implemented the Whole Child program.
Family Case Manager Supervisor, Byron Turner, of the Indiana Department of Child Services said reports of child abuse have dropped by forty three percent.
Turner stated the drop in reported cases resulted in a drop of investigations. He reported by June cases had doubled. He mentioned case manager claims of increased mental health needs for children.
However, Turner reported July and September saw a twenty five percent increase of reports, still below the percentages from last year. Lakeview Elementary Principal Angie Evans said three tiers of support would provide students with differing intensities of mental health instruction.
Also during the MCCSC School Board Meeting, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Operations Doctor Andrea Mobley said 12 out of 23 buildings with in-person learning have no reported COVID-19 cases.
Mobley said any transmission most likely occurred in gatherings outside of schools.
Monroe County Council Work Session
Monroe County Commissioners heard a Final Validation Report presentation on Pretrial Reform Indiana. Assistant Chief Probation Officer Troy Hatfield presented Pretrial Reform goals during their October 27th meeting.
Hatfield said the program began 4 years ago. He stated over 8 thousand pretrial defendants were assessed.
Hatfield said the assessment looked at defendant’s criminal histories, employment, residential stability, and substance abuse. Researcher and Professor Dr. Evan Lowder reported good predictive validity for any arrest, new arrest or failure to appear in Monroe County.
Lowder stated the risk assessment had similar positive changes for both Black and White defendants. She reported the levels for release within three days evened out between both demographics. Lowder said disparities also shrank in the average number of days in pretrial detention.
Hatfield encouraged a decrease in the use of bind release conditions. He said further research would look into pretrial sanctions and incentives, graduated supervision in pretrial, and criminal justice.
Ellettsville Town Council
The Ellettsville Town Council approved the creation of a Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Fund for payroll reimbursement. Clerk Treasurer Sandra Hash Spoke during their October 26th meeting.
She mentioned the total amount was approximately two hundred and 16 thousand dollars. Hash said the fund would be temporary and monies would be redistributed to the General Fund.
Now it’s time for your feature reports:
Last night was the second and final governor’s debate in Indianapolis. WFHB News Director Kade Young breaks down three topics of debate: the coronavirus vaccine, racial justice and legalized marijuana. We turn to Kade Young for more.
Now it’s time for Better Beware, your weekly consumer-watchdog segment hosted and produced by Richard Fish.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News
Today’s headlines were written by Aaron Comforty and Sydney Foreman, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Kade Young.
Better Beware was produced by Richard Fish
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Executive producer is Kade Young.
