This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, January 14th, 2021.

Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Katherine Patterson speaks with Emily Isaacman, co-editor of the Indiana Daily Student about how local, independent sources of media are struggling to make ends meet in today’s corporate news media landscape.

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

But first, your local news brief:

4,411 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Indiana on Wednesday, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.  There were 40 newly reported deaths. Locally, Monroe County saw 105 new confirmed cases yesterday as well as two confirmed COVID-19 deaths. Lawrence County reported 25 new cases and one confirmed death. Brown County reported one new case.

The age requirement to sign up to receive the COVID-19 vaccination from the Indiana Department of Health has been lowered to 70 years of age and older. If you qualify, you can sign up by visiting ourshot.in.gov, or by calling 211 for assistance.

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The League of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County will be hosting its first legislative update of 2021 this Saturday, January 16th. Saturday’s legislative update is the first of four scheduled updates, and is free and open to the public. In a press release, the League of Women Voters clarify that these meetings are intended to be informative. Saturday’s update will be held over Zoom, from 9:30 to 11 am. To register for the meeting, go to www.lwv-bmc.org/leg/update. The recording will also be available on Community Access Television Services shorting after the update.

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The Bloomington City Council’s public safety committee will be meeting tonight to hold a public discussion about members of the community who are experiencing homelessness. According to the city’s website, the meeting, which will be held over Zoom, is to, “receive public comment from the unhoused population, other advocates and social service agency providers.” 

In Early December, the city’s Board of Parks Commissioners voted down a proposed ban on tents and similar structures during daytime hours in city parks. Days later, on December 9, the Bloomington Police Department dismantled an encampment at Seminary Park. Temporary Guidelines set by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention make clear that such encampments should be allowed to stay up, so long as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues. Regardless, the City posted signage in January that people staying in Seminary Park would be required to clear out by January 11th, though as of this reporting, the encampment in Seminary Park is still there.

Tonight’s Public Safety meeting starts at 7 PM. The link to join via Zoom can by found on the city’s website, by going to bloomington.in.gov/council, then clicking on the Calendar button, and navigating to January 14th on the calendar.

Bloomington Economic Development Commission

Bloomington Housing Authority Director Amber Skoby presented the second phase inducement resolution for Crestmont to the Bloomington Economic Development Commission. The resolution would issue revenue bonds for financing economic development facilities. Skoby spoke of the location during their January 13th meeting.

Skoby stated Crestmont contains 196 apartment units. She mentioned the inducement would not affect ownership of Crestmont.

Skoby mentioned the subsidy could be moved from section 9 into section 8 of Public Housing Choice Voucher Subsidy. She stated more funding would be available within section 8.

Skoby reported renovations would bring units up to code requirements such as handicap...