This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, June 22nd, 2021.

Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Max Campbell covers a webinar from Common Cause Indiana on voting rights and redistricting in the Hoosier state. That’s coming up in today’s feature reports. Also coming up in the next half hour, WFHB Correspondent Robert Robinson reports on a lawsuit filed by eight students against Indiana University over its vaccine mandate. More in today’s headlines.

But first, your local headlines:

Richland Bean Blossom School Board 

The Richland Bean Blossom School Board discussed leadership training sessions at its June 21st meeting. Superintendent Doctor Jerry Sanders presented an agreement with Solution Tree for two days of training in August. He explained that this partnership differs from past attempts to create a professional learning community by focusing on becoming part of staff culture.

Doctor Sanders added the Ready Schools initiative as another big change. He said establishing a P-L-C would help tie everything together.

Board member Larry DeMoss voiced concerns with the partnership. He said that, as a teacher who had been through such partnerships, he was worried it would just become another thing on teacher’s plates.

Board members voted to approve the partnership unanimously.

Local Emergency Flood Resources

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 Monroe County Emergency Management Office released a statement encouraging residents and business owners who have been affected by the June 19th flood to report their flood damage. Residents can report damage over the phone by calling 211, or online by visiting in211.org and clicking on the Monroe County Storm and Flood Damage Assessment button in the top bar.

The Red Cross has set up an emergency shelter for folks who have been displaced by flooding. The shelter is operating out of Bloomington High School North, at 3901 North Kinser Pike at the N-16 entrance. A spokesperson for the Red Cross said they had initially planned on closing the shelter today, but due to high demand, will be keeping it open until further notice. The shelter is providing meals and clothes for residents who need them, as well as some other services, such as counseling and medication replacement. For more information about the Red Cross shelter and its availability, call 888-684-1441.

Other organizations you can contact for help with flood relief include the Monroe County Emergency Management Office via phone at 812-349-2546 from 9 to 4 P-M, and the Community Organizations Active in Disaster in Monroe County via email at [email protected].

Students File Lawsuit against IU Over Vaccine Mandate

On Monday, a group of eight students filed a lawsuit against Indiana University over its mandatory vaccine policy for the 2021-2022 academic year.

The lawsuit alleges a wide range of violations in Indiana University’s policy, claiming that it violates Indiana’s vaccine “passport” law, violates the Fourteenth Amendment, defies state and local policies, and is unjustified by the risks posed by COVID.

The vaccine mandate was recommended by the Indiana University Restart Committee, charged by President Michael McRobbie with restoring Indiana University to normal pre-pandemic operations. Initially, the university intended to require proof of vaccination, but the decision was rescinded after Attorney General Todd Rokita advised that it would be illegal under state law. Now, Indiana University only requires a student attestation of receiving the...