This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, December 2nd, 2020.

Later in the program, The League of Women Voters brings you the latest installment of its podcast, Civic Conversations. In today’s episode, host Jim Allison reviews 2020 Election outcomes with Julia Vaughn, Policy Director for Common Cause Indiana. That’s coming up in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, Better Beware - your weekly consumer-watchdog segment brought to you by WFHB’s Richard fish.

But first, your local headlines:

7th Positive Case of Covid-19 in Bloomington Police Department

On Wednesday, a Bloomington Police Department employee received a positive COVID-19 test. This positive case brings the total number of positive cases among BPD employees to 7.

According to a city press release the employee began to quarantine after experiencing symptoms on November 30th. They are being isolated while on paid leave. No close contacts were identified with the case.

This brings the total number of positive cases among city workers to 34.

December 1st Personnel Administration Committee Meeting

Monroe Commissioners' Administrator Angela Purdie requested a positive recommendation to create a Fleet and Building Manager, and Mechanic positions. Purdie described the Fleet and Building Manager role during the December first Personnel Administration Committee.

Purdie stated the mechanic position would be responsible for maintenance and repair of the highway fleet. Budget Administrator Kim Shell said the Manager position was NOT included in the 2021 budget. Purdie said the Manager should be hired before the Mechanic.

Committee members continued the requests to their January 5th meeting.

Decided Location for a Second Black Lives Matter Mural in Bloomington

Bloomington will see a new Black Lives Matter street mural painted on West Sixth Street between College Avenue and Walnut Street in the spring of 2021.

This mural is an addition to the already painted BLM street mural on Elm street next to the Banneker Community Center. Both murals are being paid for by unused Black and Brown Arts Festival funds from the cancelled 2020 festival. The Black and Brown Arts Festival monies paid for high traffic paint, artists, and continued maintenance. Any additional needs will be paid for through the city’s Department of Economic and Sustainable Development.

Unlike the Elm street mural, the one to be painted on West Sixth street will be painted in high traffic yellow, similar to street murals seen in multiple cities last summer. The tentative painting date is set for April 17th. The date still must be approved by the Board of Public Works and could move depending on weather or COVID-19 safety measures.

Feature Reports:

Up first, we have this month’s edition of Civic Conversations - a podcast brought to you by the League of Women Voters of Bloomington and Monroe County in collaboration with the WFHB Local News.

Today’s episode focuses on a review of the 2020 elections featuring guest Julia Vaughn, Policy Director for Common Cause Indiana. We turn to host Jim Allison for more.

Up next, Better Beware - your weekly consumer watchdog segment hosted and produced by our very own, Richard Fish.

Credits:

You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,

Today’s headlines were written by Aaron Comforty and Sydney Foreman, in partnership with Cats - Community Access Television Services.

Our feature was produced by the League of Women Voters of Bloomington and Monroe County.

Better Beware was produced by Richard Fish.

Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.