This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, January 9th, 2023.

In today’s feature report, WFHB News Director Kade Young speaks with Christine Herring, Executive Director for the People and Animals Learning Service, about the therapeutic benefit of equine-assisted  services. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, we have a new segment titled Activate – first-person narratives from people working for positive change – done in collaboration with the Bloomington Volunteer Network.

But first, your daily headlines:

Monroe County Election Board Explains Recount in House District 62 Race

A banner reads, "Vote Here Today," at 401 W 7th Street, Suite 100 (Young).

On January 5th at the Election Board meeting, Election Supervision Karen Wheeler informed the board on the recount of District 62 ballots between Dave Hall and Penny Githens.

Chief Deputy of Monroe County Circuit Courts Tressia Martin broke down the numbers of the election. Board Member Donovan Garletts asked Martin about the technical portion of the vote margin.

Martin explained how voter errors work and how ballots get adjudicated. Garletts questioned if the vote difference happened during early, mail-in voting. Martin said that could be the case but added it also could be an issue with voters incorrectly filling out straight party tickets on Election Day.

Wheeler said after talking with someone from the state, it seemed that some voters filled out the icon instead of the box for straight party tickets. The state decided to include those ballots in the recount, where the scanners initially rejected them.

Board member David Henry thanked all of those involved with the recount. However, he pointed to 17 missing votes in Brown County as a cautionary tale for future elections.

The recount confirmed Dave Hall’s victory over Penny Githens in the House District 62 race. The next Election Board meeting will be held on February 2nd.

Feature Report:

In today’s feature report, WFHB News Director Kade Young speaks with Christine Herring, Executive Director for the People and Animals Learning Service. Herring discusses the therapeutic benefit of equine-assisted services and the unique relationship between humans and horses. We turn now to that story.

Up next, we have a new segment titled Activate – first-person narratives from people working for positive change – done in collaboration with the Bloomington Volunteer Network. In today’s edition of Activate, we hear from Josefa Madrigal – Latino Outreach Coordinator with the City of Bloomington.

Credits:

You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,

Today’s headlines were written by Noelle Herhusky-Schneider, in partnership with Cats - Community Access Television Services.

Our feature was produced by Kade Young.

Activate is produced by Kirsten Payton.

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

Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.