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This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, March 11th, 2021.
Later in the program, we have the latest edition of our podcast, Prescription for Healthcare, hosted by Dr. Rob Stone and Karen Green-Stone. Our guest is Dr. Stan Houston, a professor of medicine and public health, and specialist in infectious diseases at the University of Alberta in Canada. More coming up in today’s feature report.
Also coming up in the next half hour, state health officials announced on Wednesday that Indiana will open up vaccine eligibility to educators at all clinics starting next week. More in today’s headlines.
But first, your local news brief:
Hoosiers ages 50 and older are currently eligible to sign up and receive the COVID-19 vaccine. In a briefing on Wednesday, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb announced that, starting on Monday March 15, certain Indiana teachers will be able to make their COVID-19 vaccine appointments as well.
The new group of Hoosiers eligible for the vaccine include teachers and staff in pre-K through high school, at childcare centers, and in Head Start and Early Start programs. The directive, which matches President Joe Biden’s federal directive to vaccinate school staff in an attempt to reopen schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, does not include college professors.
The list also includes licensed childcare providers, classroom aides, bus drivers, janitors, counselors, administration staff, cafeteria workers, and substitute teachers.
Hoosiers who are first responders or healthcare workers still qualify to sign up for the vaccine, as well. If you qualify, you can sign up online by visiting ourshot.in.gov, over the phone by calling 211 for assistance, or by contacting one of Indiana’s Area Agencies on Aging.
The next group to qualify for vaccine eligibility, according to Governor Holcomb, will be Hoosiers ages 40-49.
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The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce opened up nominations for the 11th annual Women Excel Bloomington, or WEB, Awards. The Chamber of Commerce announced in a press release that it will recognize 7 area women for, “their outstanding leadership in influencing the growth of others in the community and/or in their professional organization.”
Nominees must be at least 21 years of age or older, and cannot be previous WEB honorees. To submit a nomination, visit chamberbloomington.org/web/nomination, or call 812-336-6381.
Indiana to Vaccinating Educators At All State Clinics Starting Next Week
Starting next Monday, Indiana will begin to open vaccine eligibility to teachers at any state clinic.
State health officials made the announcement during Governor Eric Holcomb’s Covid-19 update on Wednesday.
The eligibility expansion includes other school workers, such as bus drivers, cafeteria workers and substitute teachers.
Dr. Lindsay Weaver, the state’s chief medical officer, addressed the new initiative to vaccinate teachers. She also mentioned the next steps in terms of future eligibility expansion.
“Starting Monday, per direction from the White House, we will open eligibility to educators and support staff,” said Dr. Weaver.
State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box broke down Covid-19 vaccine metrics during the statewide update on Wednesday.
“This past weekend marked a turning point for the state, as the number of fully vaccinated Hoosiers surpass the number of Covid-19 cases we’ve had since March 6th of 2020,” said Dr. Box.
Dr. Box clarified when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers someone to be “fully vaccinated.”
“A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the final dose,” said Box.
The state’s positivity rate currently stands at 3.1 percent, which is down from last week’s 3.5 percent. So far, only 11 percent of Indiana residents are fully vaccinated.
Within the next two weeks, Governor Holcomb will deliver an address to explain how the state will allocate future doses of vaccines.
The state’s next coronavirus update will be Wednesday March 17th at 2:30 p.m.
Monroe County Commissioners Considers Racial Justice Data Project with IU
Monroe County Commissioners considered the approval of a Racial Justice Data Project with Indiana University. During their March 10th meeting, Prosecutor Beth Hamlin stated the project was indicated by Prosecutor Erika Oliphant.
Hamlin mentioned the project would track and evaluate prosecutorial decision making. She stated data would be collected from multiple sources.
Project Leader Doctor Eric Grommon mentioned the data would be collected from private justice record systems. He said there was a backup plan if electronic files were unobtainable.
Commissioner Penny Githens questioned what data gathered from victims would look like. Grommon stated surveys or focus groups would capture their experiences.
Commissioners unanimously approve the project totaling $68,000.
Bloomington City Council Land Use Committee Debates New Switchyard Park Housing Project
Senior Zoning Planner Eric Greulich presented a District Ordinance Amendment and Preliminary Plan for development at 300 West Hillside Drive. Greulich said the location is an old warehouse on the B-line trail in Switchyard Park.
Greulich stated the townhomes would be three stories tall and include 19 living units with surface parking. He said the two multi use buildings would be five stories tall with ground level business and about 32 apartment units each. Greulich mentioned the parking garage and apartment building would also be five stories tall.
Greulich said the development included multiple pedestrian connections to switchyard Park and Rogers Street. He mentioned a roundabout would facilitate emergency vehicle access.
Committee members questioned petitioner Doug Bruce about the usage of parking spaces. Bruce stated the parking should remain under .5 spaces per unit and the surface lots would be posted as resident and customer only parking. Councilman Matt Flaherty asked Bruce about green roofs.
Community member Elizabeth Ash spoke about concerns regarding added traffic, creating congestion on Rogers Street and Grimes Street. Bloomington environmental Commission chair Andrew Guenther said the development does not align with the climate action plan. Council members continued their discussion to the next Land Use Committee meeting.
Bloomington Arts Commission Discusses New Black Lives Matter Street Mural
The Bloomington Arts Commission spoke about the development of a new Black Lives Matter street mural. Assistant Director for the Arts Sean Starowitz stated the project was a Banneker Center Advisory Council led project. He mentioned the two artists who designed the mural during their March 10th meeting.
Starowitz stated volunteer sign ups would be available to help paint the mural. The mural will be located on 6th Street, in between North College Avenue and North Walnut Street.
Feature Reports:
Now it’s time for our podcast Prescription for Healthcare, our monthly podcast from hosts Dr. Rob Stone and Karen Green Stone. Our guest is Dr. Stan Houston, a professor of medicine and public health and specialist in infectious diseases at the University of Alberta in Canada.
Prescription for Healthcare airs on the second Thursday of each month on the WFHB Local News. It’s also available wherever you find your podcasts.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Jake Jacobson, Kade Young and Sydney Foreman, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Prescription for Healthcare is produced by Rob Stone and Karen Green Stone.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
