WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, September 8th, 2021.
Later in the program, we have an excerpt from Tuesday’s Interchange, “Authority and U: On the Anti-Democratic Campus,” with guest Steve Volan, a scholar of human geography and a city council member in Bloomington, Indiana since 2004. More coming up in today’s feature report.
Also coming up in the next half hour, Classic Scams on Better Beware, our weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB. More coming up following today’s feature report.
But first, your environmental news brief:
The path of hurricane Ida has left destruction to many pipelines and cables in the Gulf of Mexico. For example, a substantial oil spill has been found off of Louisiana’s coast in which three pipelines are leaking. Talos Energy has been diving in the area of the pipeline in order to stop the leaking but does not take responsibility for the spill. Luckily, the rate of oil reaching the surface has slowed down over the weekend. The Coast Guard has begun monitoring the situation and assessing the environmental impacts of the spill.
A recent study through the Indy Star has sought to understand how much of the U.S. carbon emissions are coming from Indiana. According to the research, 290 million metric tons of energy-related carbon dioxide was released into the atmosphere in Indiana in 2018 which places the state as the 8th most polluting state in the country. Indiana is also more reliant on coal than other areas of the country. In both 2019 and 2020, more coal was consumed in Indiana than all but two other states. At the current moment there is no movement at the state level to move away from fossil fuels. The study emphasizes reducing fossil fuel consumption as being the main solution to the pollution. The recent United Nations climate report indicates that a degree of urgency is needed to address carbon emissions.
Opposition has been growing against a proposed pipeline connecting Kentucky to new gas-fired electric generators in Posey County, Indiana. Environmental organizations have cited the environmental impacts to parts of Indiana and Kentucky that could be greatly affected by the pollution and construction of the pipeline. Similarly, the increase in emissions from the electrical generators could further harm air quality in the state. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has warned that the pipeline would hurt many animal and plant species, including those on the endangered species list. CenterPoint Energy, the company behind the project, is still waiting approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to begin construction.
Indiana to House 10,000 Afghan Refugees in the Coming Weeks
The first group of Afghan refugees arrived at the Indianapolis International Airport on Thursday of last week.
Refugees will be taken to Camp Atterbury – a military base in Southern Indiana that was selected as a temporary site for refugees.
According to a report by the Associated Press, refugees include American citizens, Afghan allies who helped in the military effort and, “those deemed as venerable Afghans by the US government.”
About 5,000 refugees will arrive at Camp Atterbury in the coming weeks. Governor Eric Holcomb said Camp Atterbury will temporarily house evacuees until they are placed in permanent housing.
Indiana Adjutant General, Brigadier General R. Dale Lyles described why Camp Atterbury was chosen and the process behind vetting refugees.
Officials say that Camp Atterbury has the capacity to temporarily house 10,000 people if it becomes necessary to house more refugees.
General Lyles says that over the course of the next ten weeks, non-governmental agencies will work to resettle the evacuees.
Shooting at a Drive-Thru in Bloomington
A 21-year-old male was shot multiple times in the drive-thru of Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
The victim and a passenger were in a vehicle when the suspect approached on foot, according to the police report released later that evening.
According to the Bloomington Police Department, the victim and another man inside the vehicle exited through the front passenger door, both running through the parking lot. The suspect then followed and began shooting at the victim as he ran.
“The victim was struck multiple times,” said Bloomington Police Captain Ryan Pedigo. “At some point during the altercation, the suspect reportedly dropped the handgun that he was shooting at the victim with, and the gun was then picked up by the other man that had been inside the vehicle.”
Police say that the other man fired at the suspect as the suspect attempted to flee the scene. The suspect was not hit.
According to Pedigo, the victim was taken to a residence on South Curry Pike and an ambulance from IU Health picked him up from there. The victim was then taken to emergency surgery. Further updates as to how he is doing have not been given.
Police found the suspect behind the strip mall inside a dumpster and was then taken into custody.
The investigation remains ongoing and police say no further information will be released at this time. Police say there is no current threat to public safety.
Local Covid-19 Press Conference
At the September 3rd Covid-19 Press Conference, Mayor John Hamilton cautioned residents about the increasing Covid-19 rates.
Health Administrator, Penny Caudill, shared that Monroe County is currently in the yellow advisory category for Covid-19 cases, however, the trajectory is moving toward the orange distinction.
According to the Indiana County Covid-19 guidelines, an orange status means that there is medium to high community spread. It also means more precautions should be put into place, for example, it is recommended that the size of gatherings be limited and common places in workspaces be limited.
Monroe County Commissioners President, Julie Thomas, reminded residents that the county is offering financial assistance for those who need help with utilities and rent. Residents of Monroe County can contact their township trustee for more information. She also encouraged members of the community to help each other.
President of IU Health, Brian Shockney, shared that the hospital is postponing non-urgent surgeries due to the rising numbers of patients with Covid-19. He explained that the number of patients at the hospital are predominantly non-vaccinated individuals.
The resounding message at the press conference was that individuals should get vaccinated because it is helping, and it will help even more if everyone gets the vaccine.
The next press conference will be held on September 11th.
Feature Report:
Up first, we have an excerpt from Tuesday’s Interchange, “Authority and U: On the Anti-Democratic Campus,” with guest Steve Volan, a scholar of human geography and a city council member in Bloomington, Indiana since 2004.
He’s recently completed a book titled Gownsburg: The Campus as a Municipal Phenomenon which details the origins and history of the authoritarian design and practices of the American university, often in opposition to the democratic will of the cities and towns where it is located. We start with our guest discussing a passage in his new book.
Up next, we have Classic Scams on Better Beware, our weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB. Host Richard Fish discusses three more famous scams, showing that the hand really is quicker than the eye, it’s risky to buy something you don’t want people to know about and danger can lurk inside an innocent package. Richard Fish 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.
Our feature was produced by Doug Storm.
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.
