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This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, February 16th, 2022.
Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Sofia Fitzgerald speaks with Watershed Coordinator Maggie Sullivan and Liminal Researcher Sarah Powers about issues with the Lake Monroe Reservoir. More in today’s feature report.
Also coming up in the next half hour, “Virtual Unreality” on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment with Richard Fish. More following today’s feature.
But first, your Environmental News Brief:
Late last month, police investigated the conditions at an alpaca farm near Owen County, Indiana and discovered multiple malnourished animals including horses, chickens, dogs, and alpacas. Overall, there were a total of 28 dead alpacas found on the property. The Indiana State Board of Animal Health sent a registered veterinarian to find out what the conditions were like on the farm and the veterinarian found them to be unacceptable, thus causing the police to get involved. SuPaca Farms LLC had never been under any scrutiny previously, and it is currently not understood how conditions got so bad on the farm. The Owen County Prosecutor is looking over the medical records and police reports before determining whether criminal charges should be pursued.
Cleveland-Cliffs, the owner of the steelmaker ArcelorMittal plant along a tributary of Lake Michigan, must pay $3 million for the environmental damages done when the plant dispelled millions of gallons of cyanide laden wastewater into a nearby river. The contamination resulted in 3,000 dead fish floating along the river, caused a shutdown of all public beaches including the Indiana Dunes, and closed a nearby water-treatment plant, thus directly affecting the drinking water supply. The plant had previously violated environmental laws over 100 times and did not notify environmental agencies when the cyanide, with an estimated amount of 25 times the permitted levels, was sent into the environment. Activists believe that this will send a message to big polluters to be more careful about what they are pouring into our state’s lakes and rivers.
A brand new discovery has brought excitement for the world’s understanding of marine ecosystems. Oceanographers found a pristine coral reef off the coast of the island of Tahiti that had never been seen before. Surprisingly, the reef has been completely unaffected by human activity, including from sources such as pollution or ocean acidification. Scientists are rejoicing because of how important coral reefs are to oceans, as they are home to a quarter of all marine species, and without them, many would go extinct. Similarly, humans depend on the reefs for food and income, with reefs contributing billions of dollars to economies around the world. This discovery has encouraged researchers to continue searching in unlikely places to find even more hidden reefs.
Ellettsville Town Council
At the Ellettsville Town Council meeting on February 14th, council members discussed the future of sick leave and time off payout for staff.
Council member Scott Oldham suggested that the council look into alternatives to unused paid time off. Clerk Treasurer Sandra Hash replied to his questions.
Hash responded saying that the Town of Ellettsville doesn’t have enough funding saved up to pay out staff members for their unused paid time off.
Oldham said that he wasn’t trying to bankrupt the town, but that they should consider adjustments moving forward.
The council also heard from Utilities Operation Manager Mike Farmer about increasing the sewer connection fee from fifteen hundred dollars to twenty five hundred dollars.
The board will vote on the fee increase at the next Ellettsville Town Council meeting which will be held on February 28th.
Feature Reports:
In today’s feature report, WFHB Correspondent Sofia Fitzgerald speaks with Watershed Coordinator Maggie Sullivan and Liminal Researcher Sarah Powers about issues with the Lake Monroe Reservoir. For more, we turn to WFHB Correspondent Sofia Fitzgerald.
Up next, Virtual Unreality on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB. Host and producer Richard Fish says Virtual reality is the latest uber-cool digital experience, but the Firesign Theatre predicted it over half a century ago. Richard Fish has more.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Nathaniel Weinzapfel and Noelle Herhusky-Schneider, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Sofia Fitzgerald.
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.
