This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, December 15th, 2020.

In today's program, WFHB Correspondent Aaron Comforty speaks with Reverend Forrest Gilmore, Executive Director at Beacon Inc., formerly the Shalom Community Center. Gilmore talks about the city’s decision to force people experiencing homelesness to leave their Seminary Square Park encampment last Wednesday. That’s coming up in today’s feature reports.

Also coming up, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled that the state legislature was unconstitutional by banning the city of Bloomington from annexing several areas of land until 2022. That’s coming up in today’s headlines.

But first, your local news brief:

4,347 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Indiana on Monday, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.

There were 129 newly reported deaths. Locally, Monroe County saw 63 new confirmed cases yesterday while Lawrence County reported 50. Brown County reported 14 new cases.

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Spencer, Indiana native Sergeant Michael Wood will be serving as the new Public Information Officer of the Bloomington State Police Post.

Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas Carter announced this morning that Sergeant Wood will be filling the position, which became vacant when the previous public information officer, Sergeant Curt Durnil, retired from the State Police in November.

Sergeant Wood served at the Indiana State Police Academy before this transfer.

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The City of Bloomington is accepting applications from community members who wish to serve on one of the city’s boards or commissions.

According to a press release, the city is expecting several vacancies, as terms end this month and in January 2021. It’s important to note that city residency is required to serve the majority of city boards and commissions.

You can find more info on each board and commission on the City’s website at bloomington.in.gov/boards. The application can be found online as well, at bloomington.in.gov/onboard/applicants/apply.

COVID-19 Joint Press Conference 

Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton reported on increasing COVID-19 deaths in Indiana during a COVID-19 press conference on December 11th. He compared local and state numbers.

Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill said multiple testing sites are open in Monroe County. She mentioned the OptumServe testing site would be open through January. Caudill states the Morton Street testing site would now offer walk in tests, but recommends scheduling an appointment. She spoke of holiday testing hours.

President of Indiana University Health South Central Region Brian Shockney reported a 77 percent occupancy of ICU beds. He said the hospitals are well supplied with personal protective equipment. Shockney mentioned all frontline healthcare workers would receive their COVID-19 vaccinations from IU Health.

Shockey stated administering vaccinations would begin on December 21st.

Indiana Supreme Court Rules on Bloomington Annexation

On Tuesday, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled that the state legislature was unconstitutional by banning the city of Bloomington from annexing several areas of land until 2022.

The state’s highest court voted three to two in favor of the city of Bloomington. The opinion, written by Justice Christopher Goff said that Bloomington is within its rights to challenge the statute.

Goff, said that the Indiana General Assembly targeted the city of Bloomington when it could have enacted a law that applied throughout the state.

In February of 2017, Mayor Hamilton announced plans that proposed to annex several areas of land.