This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, July 21st, 2021.

Later in the program, we have an excerpt from Interchange. Host Doug Storm discusses social rights as human rights with philosopher Kimberly Brownlee. More coming up in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, we have a classic edition of Better Beware - your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB. More in the bottom half of tonight’s program.

But first, your local news brief:

Bloomington blues duo Carnes & Shew will be performing at People's Park on Thursday at 4:30 free to the public. One of the band members encourages people to come out because of their unique sound, with the band playing their original songs from their album released in 2019. The show will go until 6:00. Peoples Park will continue holding concerts every Thursday this summer through August from 4:30 to 6:00, free to the public.

Stinesville, a small town in northwest Monroe County is considering seeking historic designation for the entire town. At a town meeting on Monday, members of the community came with opinions about this decisions, with the majority being positive. It is estimated that it will take more than a year before the designation becomes official.

A woman charged with striking protesters with her vehicle last July has died. In July of 2020, when a Black Lives Matter rally was coming to a close outside of the Monroe County Courthouse, 66-year old Christi J. Bennett struck 2 people with her car and fled the scene. Bennett faced 2 felony charges of criminal recklessness committed with a deadly weapon and leaving the scene of an accident.

Monroe County Board of Health

The Monroe County Board of Health talked about administering the COVID-19 vaccine at the July 20th meeting. Board member Doctor Carol Touloukian said the number one reason people don’t get vaccinated is due to missed opportunities. She questioned Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill on whether County Health officials could distribute vaccines during outreach. Caudill responded that the vaccine’s short shelf life makes it difficult to bring door-to-door. She suggested that a nurse could return to the house of a resident who is interested in the vaccine later.

Board member Ashley Cranor asked if Monroe County would be getting a mobile vaccine clinic. Caudill said the Indiana Department of Health was deploying them, and had already visited Monroe County.

The next Board of Health meeting is August 9th.

Bloomington Board of Public Safety 

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – JUNE 18: Kirkwood is covered in water between Grant and Dunn after a flash flood Friday night, which left a large portion of downtown flooded. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)

The Bloomington Board of Public Safety discussed flood damage at its July 20th meeting. Bloomington Police Department Captain Scott Oldham talked about the damage to BPD headquarters caused by the June 18th floods. He said the BPD was able to continue working in its headquarters despite significant damage done to its basement.

Bloomington Fire Department Chief Jason Moore talked about relocating their Headquarters. He said the Fire Department has been working hard to get back to regular function.

Moore presented a lease agreement to have a temporary fire truck bay built at the new location. Board members voted to approve the agreement unanimously.

Monroe County Plan Commission

The Monroe County Plan Commission discussed a rezone in Perry Township. At the July 20th meeting, Developer Kevin Schmidt talked about the request to rezone the Trails at Robertson Farm location from Residential Zone 1 to Medium Residential Zone.