This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022.

Later in the program, WFHB News has special coverage on the 2022 Indiana Primary Election which takes place today. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, the Bloomington City Council continues its discussion on raising the Local Income Tax. That’s coming up next in your daily headlines.

Bloomington City Council Continues Discussion on Increasing Local Income Tax

Photo courtesy of the City of Bloomington.

On April 27th the Bloomington City Council continued their discussion on raising the Local Income Tax.

Council member Kate Rosenbarger asked the mayor about how reducing the proposed Local Income Tax rate would affect the budget - if it would affect the budget as a whole or eliminate funding for specific programs. Mayor John Hamilton responded.

During public comment Russ Skeeba shared that he was against raising the Local Income Tax. Skeeba said that the community is too divided to make any decisions.

Council member Jim Sims commented that the council has a tough decision to make when so many people want different things, and shared what he would like to see funding for.

The council will vote on the Local Income Tax at their next meeting on May 4th.

Bloomington Board of Public Works Approves Street Closure Request from CBU

At the Bloomington Board of Public Works meeting on April 26th the board heard from Engineering Public Improvement Manger Emily Herr about accepting East Short Street into the city’s inventory.

The addition was approved unanimously. The board also approved a street closure request from the City of Bloomington Utilities for East Queens Way and the intersection of South Montclair Avenue from April 27th 2022 until May 18th 2022.

Engineering Field Specialist Paul Kehrberg shared that the work will be done between 9 to 3, and said that the street will be open in the evenings. Board president Kayla Cox Deckard asked if arrangements have been made for the residents on the street to ensure they will have access to their driveways during that time.

Kehrberg said that he will make sure that Bloomington Utilities coordinates with them. The board approved their request unanimously. The next meeting will be held on May 10th.

2022 Indiana Primary Election

A banner reads, "Vote Here Today," at 401 W 7th Street, Suite 100 (Young).

Indiana’s primary election is today - Tuesday, May 3rd. The results of the 2022 primary determine the party nominees for the general election in November.

Hours for polling places in Monroe County are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., but if you are in line by 6 p.m. you will still have the opportunity to cast your ballot.

Monroe County Election Supervisor Karen Wheeler says that she believes the primaries are more important than you think for both political parties in the United States.

At around 12:30 p.m. Wheeler said the voter turnout has been slightly slow. However, she says the turnout looks somewhat similar to the last midterm primary.

She provided essential information voters need to know for this year’s primary election.

Wheeler talked about the importance of exercising your right to vote and what that means to her.

Tom Henderson has worked the polls at Binford Elementary for about a decade. He said voter turnout seemed low at around 1 p.m. but he said he hopes to see more voters before the polls close.

Henderson, who is a volunteer at WFHB Community Radio, gave his input on the importance of primary elections.

Prior to the election, Monroe County Election Central pushed out the message that more poll workers were needed.