This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, July 29th, 2021.

Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Max Campbell concludes his series of Bloomington annexation. You will hear from both the city and county on their respective concerns regarding annexation. That’s coming up in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, we have a new segment on Indiana news and politics titled the Statehouse Roundup. That’s coming up following your daily headlines.

But first, your local news brief:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated this week on Tuesday that residents should be wearing masks while indoors if they live in a county with a high or substantial amount of Covid-19 spread. This is recommended to both people vaccinated and unvaccinated. The CDC explained that substantial transmission means that there have been 50-100 cases per 100,000 over a 7-day period and high transmission means there have been more than 100 cases per 100,000 over a 7-day period. According to these guidelines, 65 of Indiana’s 92 counties have a high or substantial transmission. Monroe county is in the substantial transmission category.

President at Bloomington Bagel Company Inc., Suzanne Aquila announced via their social media pages that after reviewing the CDC guidelines the company would be going back to requiring guests to wear a mask when inside their stores. She also stated that indoor ordering and outdoors seating will be available but indoor seating will not. The stores had just recently opened their doors for people to order and sit down inside. She concluded the statement saying, “ The more we mask and vaccinate the sooner we return to normal. Thank you as always for your understanding and support of our locally owned and boiled BBC.”

A fisherman from Illinois spotted an alligator in the water while fishing at a lake in Whitley County, Indiana. The man, Sawyer Burgett reported the sighting to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, who then sent a conservation officer to the lake on Sunday, and a second officer on Monday. When both came up empty-handed, Burgett returned to the lake during overnight hours and ended up capturing and putting down the alligator. It ended up measuring 5 foot 3 inches in length. Officials stated that the wild animal was likely kept as a pet by someone who then dumped it in the lake when it became too big. Indiana state law allows ownership of an alligator, however you must obtain a permit once it grows to be 5 feet or more. Burgett stated, “Around the lake, everyone is very relieved. Social media standpoint, not so much.” Many people took to WANE-TV’s Facebook page to discuss the decision to put the alligator down. Several questioned why it wasn’t taken to a zoo or an animal sanctuary. Burgett responded saying, “We caught the animal and had to take matters into our own hands… No one is scared to swim anymore or scared to go fishing.”

Storms are expected to roll into Indiana and cause some severe weather today. Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis, Mike Koch said the entire state is under marginal risk for severe weather including storms, damaging winds, small hail and possible a tornado. Koch said that because of this cold front moving in, high temperatures will drop across the state starting Friday.

Bloomington City Council Committee of the Whole

The Bloomington City Council Committee of the Whole looked at the first wave of American Rescue Plan Act appropriations. Council member Jim Sims asked for clarification on whether the appropriation to City of Bloomington Utilities is a grant or a loan. Director of C-B-U Vic Kelson said it was a grant that may be repaid.

Council member Dave Rollo asked about Bloomington Parks’ request for 250 thousand dollars. Bloomington Controller Jeff Underwood broke down the funding.