Good morning. Welcome to your WFHB Local News Brief for Monday, March 23rd, 2020. Latest Numbers: The Indiana State Department of Health reported three cases of COVID-19 in Monroe County as of 10 a.m. today. State health department reports the total number of positive cases jumps to 259 people, as the number of those tested increased to almost 2,000 people. …
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The State Senate passed a bill to create special firearms training for teachers. House Bill 1253 will require that teachers and staff members complete at least 40 hours of firearms training, before they can carry a firearm on campus. Faculty will also be required to pass a mental health assessment test, to prove they are fit to carry a firearm. …
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The Indiana State Senate approved a nearly $34.5 billion state budget, today. Indiana works on a biennial budget, meaning every two years the state legislature votes on allocating billions of dollars to the state’s general fund. The 2020-2021 budget is nearly $3 billion more than the budget approved for 2018-2019, including an increase in funding for the Department of Child …
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Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill could lose his law license due to his alleged sexual misconduct against three legislative staffers and a State Representative, last year. Four women came forward over the past year, claiming the state’s highest-ranking law enforcement official groped them at a legislative party in March, 2018. AG Hill has refuted the claims, and refuses to step …
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A state court judge will issue a decision on the City of Bloomington’s lawsuit against the State of Indiana, next week. It is the first judgement in an ongoing legal battle between the city and the state, over the municipality’s attempt to annex areas of Monroe County, two years ago. Bloomington’s annexation attempt was blocked by the Indiana legislature, who …
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Bloomington Redevelopment Commission approves demolition and reconstruction of Fourth Street parking garage; Commission also approves design contract for Trades District parking garage; City of Bloomington continues legal battle with Indiana, over annexation. FEATURE After last night’s debate, we hear from Incumbent Mayor John Hamilton and his challenger, County Commissioner Amanda Barge, with their viewpoints on Bloomington’s housing. BICENTENNIAL JOURNAL Charlotte …
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Businesses and community leaders spoke out against the latest version of Indiana’s proposed hate crimes bill, after an amendment in the state senate deleted two-thirds of the proposed legislation. That amendment gutted protections for race, religion, age, sexual orientation and gender identity, among others. Indiana sits on a list of 5 states who do not have a hate crimes bill …
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State Senate Republicans passed an amendment to Indiana’s leading Hate Crimes Bill, yesterday evening. Republican State Senators voted to pass an amendment to Senate Bill 12, which deleted two-thirds of the proposed hate crimes bill; The original 21 page document was cut down to just seven pages, after the State Senate Republicans voted to pass an amendment gutting the bill. …
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The design firm selected to expand the Monroe Convention Center said they’re working to ensure public input is part of the process; Layoffs have begun at The Herald-Times of Bloomington; Indiana Sen. (R- Lawrenceberg) Chip Perfect stepped back from his initial effort to revise state child labor laws. FEATURE Area service providers in Bloomington officially signed a letter in support of the …
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Area service providers in Bloomington signed a letter, supporting a state-wide push to pass hate crimes legislation, this morning. Indiana is one of five states without state hate crimes laws. Any time a hate crime is suspected, federal agencies determine if the violation qualifies as a hate crime. After a Carmel synagogue was vandalized with swastika and other Nazi graffiti …
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