This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, June 28th, 2021.

Later in the program, WFHB Assistant News Director Jake Jacobson interviews Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton in our weekly segment - A Few Minutes with the Mayor. That’s coming up in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, the Monroe County Fair kicked off today after being closed last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. More in today’s headlines.

But first, your local news brief:

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - JUNE 26: A group of family members and friends of Malik Malik stage a protest rally and vigil Saturday, June 26, 2021 at Peoples Park. The group then marched to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and back to demand body cam footage of Sheriff’s Deputies at the scene of Malik’s fatal crash in April be released. Malik was being pursued by deputies when his vehicle struck a tree at a high rate of speed and almost immediately caught fire. The sheriff’s office declined to release the body cam footage after a public records request, but did release a redacted crash report. Family members and friends of Malik are hoping the dash cam video will answer questions they have about Malik’s death. The Monroe County Coroner Joani Stalcup said Malik died from “hypoxia due to a flash fire.” “Hypoxia from a flash fire is when there is an explosion of intense heat/fire that literally sucks the oxygen out of the body,” said Stalcup. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)

On Saturday, people gathered to a vigil hosted by the Bloomington Young Democratic Socialists of America in Peoples Park for Malik Ali Malik - a man who died after a police chase by Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies.

According to The Herald-Times, Malik’s car collided with a tree and then caught on fire. Protestors at the vigil demanded Monroe County police to release the body camera footage. Those close to Malik then shared their favorite memories of him. Mother of Malik’s children, Barbara Dorman, said that she wants the body camera footage released to know if officers tried to help Malik get out of the burning car.

For those who would like to help in their efforts, they encouraged everyone to email the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department and demand that the bodycam footage from Malik’s death is released.

The Annual Monroe County Fair is officially open today until July 4th. Adult admission is $3 per person, kids ages 6-12 are $2 and ages 5 and under are free, with free parking available all week. Fair activities will include animal shows, Go Carts, Laser Tag and a Carnival starting Tuesday.

After all of the water damage caused the past two weeks, the City of Bloomington is asking residents to use the number 812-349-3400 for any after-hours emergencies related to areas such as water, sewers and streets. City of Bloomington Utilities said their normally-used 24-hour phone line is currently non-functioning and their service provider has been contacted. The number again is 812-349-3400.

Coronavirus Press Conference

Photo courtesy of University of Michigan. 

Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill discussed the Delta variants of COVID-19 at the June 25th Coronavirus press conference. She said that there are over 100 cases of the Delta variant confirmed in Bloomington. Caudill added that this was a minimum number, since not all cases are tested for variance.

Caudill also talked about the closure of the OptimServe testing site. She said the community testing site on South Morton Street will remain open through July, joining 8 other testing sites in Monroe County.

Indiana University Health President Brian Shockney added that the need for testing will continue to drop as more Hoosiers get their vaccines. I-U Representative Chuck Carney wrapped up by announcing that after July 2nd,