This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, February 22nd, 2021.

Later in the program, we have the latest edition of A Few Minutes with the Mayor. In today’s segment, we ask listener-posed questions to Deputy Mayor Mick Renneisen on community issues. More on that in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, a law aimed to protect homeless encampments got its first reading in City Council last week. More on that in today’s headlines.

But first, your local news brief: 

(Photo courtesy of Indiana Grad Workers Coalition).

In a letter addressed to IU president Michael McRobbie and the board of trustees, the Indiana University Geography Department went on the record in their support of the IU Graduate Workers Coalition’s campaign to end the fees; that is the mandatory graduate and international fees.

In the letter, which was delivered on Friday, the department wrote, “...our stipends are already lower than most of our peer institutions, and our fees are higher… we are losing our ability to compete for top students.”

The department noted that many students have to take second jobs, on top of their full time studies. The financial precarity, the department wrote, “is an unnecessary obstacle.” Especially for some graduate students who have families and caretaking responsibilities. At least one grad student has had to sell blood plasma to make ends meet.

The geography department’s letter came a week after more than 100 IU faculty signed a petition supporting the Graduate worker fee strike, which is a part of the campaign to end mandatory and international fees.

(Photo courtesy of the Monroe County Education Association).

In education news, local teachers with the Monroe County Education Association will wear all black on Wednesday, to quote, “show the darkness facing Indiana public schools."

The protest is a part of a campaign by the Indiana State Teachers Association, the state’s largest teachers union, to raise awareness about underfunding and Covid-19 safety concerns in the state’s schools.

With the opening of a new biennial legislative session in the Indiana State House, lawmakers put forth a number of bills that, the organization says, will actually reduce funding for public schools.

COVID-19 Press Conference 

Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill spoke about COVID-19 vaccination clinic closure procedures during the February 19th COVID-19 Press Conference. She mentioned patients can choose how to be notified of a closure.

Caudill mentioned due to weather fewer COVID-19 tests have been taken. She reported this may cause a lower reported rate of community spread. IU Health South Central Region President Brian Shockney stated the COVID-19 numbers saw a continued decrease.

Monroe County Commissioner Julie Thomas stated about ten percent of the Monroe County population has been vaccinated. Indiana University Assistant Vice President for Engagement Kirk White mentioned vaccinated frontline workers may have a chance at obtaining tickets to watch NCAA games.

Caudill stated vaccination rates could factor into decisions of lessening restrictions.

A Bill Aimed to Protect Homeless Encampments Gets First Reading in City Council

A sign leaned up against a bicycle in Seminary Square Park says, "Everybody's Got A Right to Live."  (Young).

A new bill aimed to protect homeless encampments received a first reading during last Wednesday’s city council meeting.

According to Ordinance 21-06, the bill would amend the Bloomington Municipal Code to add protections for people experiencing homelessness.