This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, June 23rd, 2022.

Later in the program, we have Civic Conversations - a monthly podcast collaboration between the WFHB Local News and the League of Women Voters of Bloomington and Monroe County.

More in the bottom half of our program.

Also coming up in the next half hour, the Statehouse will reconvene for a special session on July 6th to tackle the governor’s tax refund proposal. However, the special session may also discuss the future of Indiana’s abortion laws.

That’s coming up next in your Statehouse Roundup:

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb called on the Statehouse to reconvene for a special session on July 6th.

The special session aims to tackle the governor’s proposal to send out 225 dollar payments to all Indiana taxpayers drawing from the state’s budget surplus.

In a statement, the governor said, “This is the fastest, fairest and most efficient way to return taxpayers’ hard-earned money in a time of economic strain.”

However, the session would not be limited to only the topic of the governor’s tax refund plan. The Republican-dominated legislature could take action toward abortion restrictions depending on how the U.S. Supreme Court votes on a case that could end nationwide abortion access.

According to the Associated Press, in the next week or so, the Supreme Court will rule on a Mississippi law banning most abortions after 15 weeks. An early, leaked draft of the court’s opinion showed that the justices voted to strike down Roe v. Wade and give the states the authority to regulate abortions.

The AP reported in March that 100 of the 110 GOP legislators signed a letter asking the governor to call them back in a special session if abortion is, “wholly or partially overturned.”

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The second case of monkeypox was identified in Indiana after a Gary resident contracted the virus. The case was confirmed Sunday after testing on Saturday.

Last weekend, the Indiana State Department of Health sent out a press release detailing the first confirmed case of monkeypox in the state.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, monkeypox is rare and does not spread easily between people with close contact. The CDC says that the threat of monkeypox to the general U.S. population remains low.

Symptoms of the virus include flu-like symptoms in addition to a rash that can look like pimples on the face, inside the mouth and on other parts of the body. The virus spreads through direct contact with the infectious rash, sexual activity and touching items that previously came into contact with the rash. Pregnant people can also spread the virus through the placenta.

According to Gary Health Commissioner Dr. Roland Walker, the patient has been isolated and has reached out to close contacts. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box said to check with your healthcare provider if you have any new signs of symptoms.

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As temperatures climb to 90 degrees and higher this week, Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute reports that extreme heat is the deadliest weather hazard in the US.

The ERI says that over the next 30 years, average temperatures in Indiana are projected to rise about 5 to 6 degrees Fahrenheit due to climate change.

According to the ERI, that means, “the frequency, duration, and intensity of heat waves are expected to increase across the Midwest.”

Some groups are more vulnerable to effects of extreme heat, including people experiencing homelessness, low-income communities, communities of color and people who suffer from health conditions, such as heart disease or mental illness.

For more information on how communities can prepare for extreme heat, you can visit