WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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This is the WFHB Local News for Friday, September 4th, 2020.
Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Aaron Comforty reports that Indiana University’s Covid-19 data has not been included in the Indiana State Department of Health’s coronavirus dashboard.
Also coming up in the next half hour, Better Beware, your weekly consumer-watchdog segment.
But first, your local headlines.
Monroe County reported 29 new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday. That’s according to the Indiana State Department of Health, which reported 1,044 new positive cases and 17 new deaths in the state yesterday.
Since the first day of classes, Indiana University has reported 274 new positive test results at the Bloomington campus. Before classes started, the university reported another three-hundred and forty-six positive tests.
It’s unclear how many of those positive tests reflect unique individuals, versus multiple positive tests for the same individual.
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Indiana University’s Covid-19 testing results aren’t on the Indiana State Health Department’s online COVID-19 dashboard for Monroe County.
That’s according to the Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill’s opening statements at a press conference in Bloomington on Friday afternoon. It’s unclear whether the university has reported its testing results to county or state officials.
There doesn’t appear to be any mention of Indiana University’s testing results on the state dashboard. If it hasn’t reported its testing results, Indiana University may be in violation of the CARES Act law, the COVID-19 aid package law that was passed by congress and signed by the president back in March.
The CDC website quotes the CARES Act testing results reporting requirements as such, “Testing sites must report data for all… testing completed [and] for each individual tested. These data must be reported daily, within 24 hours of test completion, to the appropriate local, state, territorial or tribal health department, based on the individual’s residence.”
Without Indiana University’s reporting, the actual number of positive cases in the county is unknown.
The Monroe County Election Board discussed November General Election voting sites during their September first meeting. Board member Hal Turner said all sites must be determined by September 6th. He said Bloomington Public Transport would not provide enough space for voting.
Board members agreed to move the Public Transport location to Free Methodist Church, and also the Bloomington Utilities voting site to Bloomington High School South. Turner said Ellettsville voting sites would include Saint John’s Church and Ellettsville Christian Church.
Turner said Edgewood High school and the fire station will not be voting sights. Board members debated to combine the Meadowood voting site into either the Genesis church or the Unitarian Universalist church. Special Projects Coordinator for Community and Family Resources Michael Shermis said Genesis would require a ramp.
Board members decided to further discuss the combination of Meadowood. Sherry said the Indian Fire Creek Fire Station would not be a voting site option. She said the Indian Creek Lions Club would be the alternate site.
This report was submitted on Wednesday afternoon.
The number of Indiana University Greek Houses that have been placed in quarantine has increased to 30, with eleven additional houses moved to quarantine by Wednesday night.
Nearly three-fourths of the 42 communal living houses at IU have been instructed to quarantine since last week. The continued quarantine of greek housing is a response to mitigation testing on campus.
During the first week of mitigation testing, 8.1% of people living in greek housing tested positive for COVID-19.
The list of greek houses under quarantine updates in the afternoons and evenings on the sororities and fraternities section of the student affairs page on IU’s website.
Assistant Director of Sustainability Lauren Travis presented a Climate Vulnerability Assessment Report to the Bloomington City Council. During their September 2nd meeting, Travis said a venerability Survey assesses future climate affects.
Travis said annual precipitation has increased by 15 percent and the average annual temperature by 2 degrees, since 1895. Travis said an increase in storms, floods, and public health concerns could be expected.
Travis said residents would also be vulnerable to power failure and energy costs. She said the community would be disproportionately impacted by public health concerns.
Travis said Council Districts one and three are the most vulnerable areas. She said infrastructure would also be impacted by electricity damage, freeze and thaw damage, flooding, and crop reduction. Travis said impervious surface reduction could mitigate some effects.
Travis said a reduction of car pollution would also relieve some intensity of change. She said a long-term need would be a balance between mitigation and adaptation strategies. Travis said the city plans to plant about 800 trees in the coming year. Council member Sims requested language minorities be a separate category from people of color in the report.
Travis said the full report can be accessed through the city of Bloomington sustainability webpage.
Hoosier Hills Food Bank announced last week that it has extended its Fresh Fridays food distribution program into September.
Families can stop by the Hoosier Hills Food Bank tomorrow, September 4th from 11 AM to 3 PM to pick up food, no questions asked. Each family will receive a box of dairy, a box of produce, and a box of meat.
Pick up is at Hoosier Hills Food Bank’s West Industrial Park Drive location. There will be another Fresh Friday on September 18th, as well.
Bloomington Parks and Recreation Administrator Paula McDevitt presented an extension of the Lower Cascades Conversion Pilot Project to the Bloomington Board of Public Works. During their September 1st meeting she said the projects benefitted from bicentennial funding.
McDevitt said a posted survey gathered the trail users’ feedback. She said the extension of the project would include a survey for drivers.
McDevitt said the survey would include questions about resident’s past present and future park street usage. She said signage and barricade adaptations were made throughout the pilot. McDevitt said park trail usage has increased since COVID-19 struck. She reviewed the most recent survey reports.
Resident Carroll Canfield said Blueridge Neighborhood residents need Lower Cascades as an alternate driving route. She said COVID-19 would skew the pilot results. Resident Linda Kurn said past survey questions were not appropriate.
Bicycle pedestrian safety commission member Mark Stosberg said the closure relieved stress on cyclists of all ages. Board members unanimously approved the extension through June 30th of 2021.
Feature Reports:
- WFHB Correspondent Aaron Comforty reported that Indiana University’s Covid-19 has not been included in the Indiana State Department of Health’s coronavirus dashboard. He speaks with News Director Kade Young about what he discovered in his reporting.
- Better Beware, your weekly consumer watchdog segment hosted by Richard Fish.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News.
Today’s headlines were written by Jake Jacobson, Aaron Comforty and Sydney Foreman, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Aaron Comforty and Kade Young.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
