This is the WFHB Local News for Friday, July 10th, 2020.

Later in the program, you will hear from city councilman Jim Sims on the ‘Black Lives Matter’ mural overlay in People’s Park. You will hear the city arts commission discuss future plans for the mural.

Also, you will hear about the Black Market Firebombing in 1968 by members of the Ku Klux Klan. Today, the site stands as People’s Park – where a mural was overlaid with the words ‘Black Lives Matter.’

But first, your local headlines.

On Wednesday, Governor Holcomb responded to a question about DNR officers’ conduct at the 4th of July racist assault at Lake Monroe. Our correspondent Aaron Comforty filed this report.

Police released the hit-and-run passenger who cleared the way for a car attack on protestors in Bloomington. Officers questioned the passenger but did not arrest him. That’s according to a press release from the Bloomington Police Department. The department did not publish the man’s identity. In videos taken at the scene of the hit and run, the man is seen getting out of the passenger side of the car, he then threw a scooter off to the side that protesters placed in the middle of the street as a makeshift barricade. He slammed the door shut as he got back in the car and, moments later, the driver rammed through the protest.

Recent developments in the car attack have brought to light that Christi Bennet, the driver in the car attack on protesters in Bloomington, has a criminal record with twelve entries that includes multiple charges of stalking while armed with a deadly weapon and intimidation. Bennet’s record, in relation to her $500 bond, has caused some activists to question the appropriateness of the bond amount.

The Monroe County Commissioners discussed an Interlocal Memorandum of Understanding with Ellettsville. County Attorney Dave Shilling said the MOU was regarding building inspections during their July 8th meeting.

Shilling said the agreement is for a one-year period. He said Monroe County Building Department would continue to perform class one inspections of non-residential buildings. However, he said Ellettsville would have a building inspector present during the inspection.

Shilling said the County Building department has some concerns. He said the county would rather receive class one building applications.

Shilling said the county department would rather the County determine service fees than the Town of Ellettsville and obtain entire service fees. He said the county is willing to have an Ellettsville inspector.

Commissioner Julie Thomas requested Ellettsville inspector training validation to ensure the safety and quality of inspection. Commissioners continued the MOU until a later meeting.

Indiana saw 748 new positive cases and 9 new deaths from novel coronavirus. That brings the state total to more than 50,000 positive cases and 2,555 deaths. The state issued over 550,000 total tests. 9.1 percent of total tests came back positive.

Monroe County reported 14 new positive cases on Friday. New deaths were left blank on the Indiana State Health Department’s Covid-19 dashboard..

Brown County reported 43 positive cases of Covid-19 since testing began in March.

One resident has died in the county since the virus began. As of Friday, the county reported one new positive case. 583 total tests were issued in Brown County.

The Ellettsville Plan Commission approved a Starbucks development off of State Road 46 during their July 9th meeting. Director of Planning Services Kevin Tolloty said the dive through lane would hole up to 15 vehicles. He said new trees will be planted. He said the developer Monon Retail Holdings is out of Indianapolis. Engineer Trent Baxter described the development.

Baxter said construction would be complete 180 days after the permit is granted.

Today, July 10th Gallery Walk will hold a virtual artist panel. The First Friday Gallery Walks were put on hold in March of this year due to concerns of COVID-19. Today at 5pm, the organization will hold a virtual Art and Activism panel discussion via the gallery walk facebook page.

A mix of Artists and Activists will, “discuss how ART, in all its different forms, plays a role in our society and the world.” The panel will include local artists, Nefertiti Morris, Terin JD, and Aaron “Ezi” Underwood.

Enough is Enough: Bloomington said it raised over $8,000 to support the Banneker Center in a Facebook post on Thursday.

The group said, “One of the goals when our group was founded was to find ways to ease funds to support our community centers, businesses and other organizations that will amplify the voices of our Black and Brown communities.”

Enough is Enough: Bloomington said there is still work to be done. It encouraged residents to visit the group’s website at enoughbtown.com.

Feature Reports:

YDSA Bloomington said it will host a demonstration at People’s Park on Friday at 6 p.m. to demand the arrest of Vauhxx Booker’s attackers. Over 50 years ago, People’s Park was the site of the Black Market, which was firebombed by the Ku Klux Klan. Today, the mural in the park is overlaid with the words ‘Black Lives Matter.’

In today’s feature report, you will hear from city councilman Jim Sims and excerpts from the July 8th city arts commission meeting. You will also hear reporting from the state archives to revive the story of the Black Market.

Credits:

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