Good afternoon. Welcome to the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, April 1st, 2020.

Coming up in the next half hour, Sydney Foreman talks to Adam Wason, Director of Public Works for the City of Bloomington about early starts on road construction.

Also coming up later in the program, our consumer watchdog segment Better Beware. But first, your local headlines.

Headlines:

There are over 2500 cases of coronavirus in Indiana. The Indiana State Department of Health reports the death toll is now at 65 people. This is out of 14,000 people tested. Monroe County now has 33 positive cases of covid-19. These numbers were updated by the Indiana State Department of Health at 11:59 p.m. on March 31st.

Photo courtesy of Indiana Daily Student.

On Saturday March 28th, one of the Bloomington Fire Department’s firefighters tested positive for COVID-19. The confirmation came after three firefighters, one of which tested positive, were quarantined after potential exposure to the virus on March 23rd, according to a city press release. The firefighter was immediately placed in self quarantine at home and the department, "implemented a thorough decontamination of the station, equipment, and apparatus with which the firefighter had had recent contact." According to the report, the firefighter experienced mild symptoms and is expected to make a full recovery.

The Bloomington Fire Department has identified colleges whom may have been in close contact with the firefighter and are advising them to take the necessary processionary measures from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and the Indiana Department of Health. The city report also states the BPD is working to identify and advise any members of the public whom may have come in contact with the individual.

All three firefighters are expected to return to work by April 7th. In the city release Bloomington Fire Chief Jason Moore said, "Our department is committed to the safety of our residents and the firefighters who serve them."

Up next, WFHB Correspondent Katrine Bruner reports on the future of the Bloomington farmer’s market in a time of crisis. She also reports on a new farmer’s market project. We now turn to Katrine Bruner for the latest scoop on the farmer’s market during the coronavirus pandemic.

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

Area 10 On Aging’s Rural Transit is now taking orders by call for prescription and grocery deliveries. Services will include Monroe, Owen, Putnam, and Lawrence county residents. For those in Monroe County, Rural Transit deliveries will only be made outside of city limits. This service comes at no cost, however the transit system does accept donations. Appointments can be made by calling the rural transit office. Phone numbers differ by county and can be found at area ten agency DOT org backslash rural transit.

IU Trustee Pat Shoulders will continue his position while the election is postponed until next summer.

Indiana University’s trustee election was postponed by one year due to the pandemic. It was originally scheduled for this summer. The election will now take place in June of 2021.

IU President Michael McRobbie said the schedule change will allow for a more regular election. Interacting with alumni face to faces proves as an important component of the election.

Trustees chair Michael Miro said, “The Board of Trustees is grateful to Governor Holcomb for his order postponing this spring's alumni election in light of the COVID-19 pandemic."

Current Board member Pat Shoulders will hold his seat until next June.

Photo courtesy of City of Bloomington.

The Food and Beverage Tax Advisory Commission discussed the City of Bloomington’s request for funds to support local restaurants, bars,