Good afternoon. You’re listening to the WFHB Local News for April 17th, 2020.

Your local headlines:

There are 42 new deaths from Covid-19 reported from April 3rd to April 16th. 642 new positive cases are reported.

Total numbers are at 10,154 infected with the virus, with 519 total deaths from the virus. This is out of 54,785 people tested.  Monroe County has 108 total positive cases with 3 deaths.

Some BMV branches will reopen to commercial drivers who need a new driver’s license or change their existing one.

Indy Star reports, “While the branches remain closed to the general public during Gov. Eric Holcomb’s stay-at-home order, drivers looking to obtain a new commercial learner’s permit, obtain a new commercial driver’s license or change the endorsement of their commercial license may set up an appointment.”

Gov. Eric Holcomb and six other Midwestern governors announced they would work together to determine when and how their states would begin to reopen their economies.

The governor did not provide a specific date, but he did say his prediction would be sometime in early May.

Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health said social distancing measures might need to be kept until 2022 in the fight against coronavirus.

COVID-19 has people staying at home which has led to an atmospheric change on Earth that can be seen from space, according to a WTTW interview with atmospheric scientist Scott Collis.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, all forms of traveling accounts for up to 28 percent of carbon emissions. Because of the stay at home orders circling the globe, including Indiana, people aren’t traveling nearly as often.

In the interview, Collis mentions satellites capturing a sudden reduction in nitrogen caused by the burning of oil based products. He said burning of these products is what creates smog and respiratory issues for many individuals. Such images of the reductions in smog have been circulating on social media showing the fast reduction in air pollution over cities such as New York City. Also circulating media is news of animals reclaiming territory taken and developed by humans.

An example as dolphins swim through the empty canals of Venice Italy. In the United States, according to San Francisco Gate, coyotes have been strolling the empty streets and sidewalks. However, as regulations are loosening up in order for emergency COVID-19 response, the government has also loosened environmental regulations.

According to a Forbes article, at the end of March President Donald Trump announced significantly reduced fuel efficiency standards for new cars which could “result in increased gasoline consumption by 80 billion tons, increasing carbon emissions in the atmosphere.”

He has also announced “US Environmental Protection Agency is stopping the enforcement of monitoring and reporting requirements of environmental protection for companies for an indefinite period, if the company can show a COVID-19 related reason for non-compliance.”

In light of these changes Indiana has been seeking to reduce air quality reporting standards. Earlier this month Indystar reported, “Based on data from EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory, Indiana has the most releases of toxic chemicals nationwide per square mile.”

In the article assistant director of policy and implementation at Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute Janet McCabe said there are no limitations on what could not be reported on, including emission violations. She said those emissions could definitely create public health issues.

Monroe County Council discussed appropriating Food and Beverage Tax funds for tourism related business COVID-19 Emergency Response. Commission Administrator Angela Purdie said the approved transfer of 200 thousand dollars on March 25th never happened.