This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, February 9th, 2022.

Later in the program, WFHB News speaks with Emily Weikert-Bryant, Executive Director of Feeding Indiana's Hungry, who urges state lawmakers to vote no on House Bill 1354. The bill would make it harder for residents to receive SNAP benefits. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, “Security Programs” on Better Beware - your weekly consumer-watchdog segment with Richard Fish. More following today’s feature.

But first, your Environmental News Brief:

Earlier this week, Sunrise Bloomington, a well known climate activist organization, held a rally insisting that the Indiana University Foundation divest all money that is invested in fossil fuels. This represents the next step in the ongoing and multi-year push to have the IU Foundation not support the fossil fuel industry and perhaps invest in cleaner energy sources. A petition from October saw over 1,300 signatures from students and members of the community in support of the actions of Sunrise Bloomington. Other student-led groups, such as the IU Student Government, have taken their own environmental initiatives as well, with the organization releasing its Carbon Neutrality Resolution that aims to have the university be carbon neutral after the next two decades. This has allowed both organizations to have a sit-down meeting with the new President of IU, Pamela Whitten and perhaps result in a change in IU policy.

Drive Clean Indiana, an organization that seeks to promote energy efficiency in automobiles through an emphasis on alternative and sustainable fuels, has recently been awarded $1.8 million from the Indiana Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Fund. The fund was a result of a settlement between the Volkswagen Corporation and the U.S. Department of Justice after it was found that actions by the Volkswagen Corporation were in direct violation of the federal Clean Air Act and were not meeting the established standards. The money will go towards building 42 sustainable non-road vehicles, specifically vehicles used in construction, at airports, or for agricultural reasons.

For the first time, researchers in New York have found that wild white-tailed deer on Staten Island are carrying the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus. Further studies have shown that deer across 15 other states are also harboring the virus, including Indiana's neighboring state of Illinois. This is one of the first documented cases of the Omicron variant being passed onto wild animals from humans. At the current moment, there is no evidence to say that the deer can give the virus back to humans, but researchers warn that a potential mutation among the virus in the deer population could enable a jump to humans in the future. Based on lab results, the researchers found that many of the deer sampled already had antibodies from the virus, and thus it is possible for deers to be reinfected. It is recommended that humans continue to avoid spending time with wild animals.

Monroe County Council Recaps Remonstration Process

At the Monroe County Council meeting on February 8th, County Auditor Catherine Smith gave an update on the annexation remonstration process. Smith explained that they are still counting the numbers, and double checking the parcels of land that submitted remonstration applications that had previously received waivers from the city.

Council member Jennifer Crossley gave an update from the Women’s Commission about the number of vacant positions on the commission.

Next the council heard from the prosecutor's office about appropriating funds toward a High Tech Crime Unit in partnership with Indiana University.

Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney Erika Oliphant outlined what the Tech unit would entail.