This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, June 3rd, 2024.

Later in the program, local journalist Dave Askins of the B-Square Bulletin provides an editorial on the procedures of the Bloomington City Council during their work session last Wednesday. More in today’s feature report.

That’s Heather Stettler from the Bloomington Bicycle Club. The club was instrumental in getting drainage grates rotated on city streets so that bicycle tires wouldn’t get caught in them. Hear about their new project later in the show on a new episode of Activate!

But first, your daily headlines:

Monroe County Prosecutor Drops Charges for Dunn Meadow Protesters

The Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office decided not to file criminal charges against the 55 protesters who were arrested for “criminal trespass” at Dunn Meadow in late April.

According to a revised statement released on Friday, the prosecutor’s office said, “based upon the facts and circumstances surrounding these arrests, including, among other things, the constitutionally dubious process by which the University passed and enforced its new policy regarding structures in Dunn Meadow, the State is unlikely to be able to convict these individuals at trials on the merits. To attempt to do so would be a poor use of limited resources and wholly inconsistent with the sound exercise of prosecutorial discretion.”

The arrests were made in Dunn Meadow after the Indiana State Police and the IU Police Department were called in to enforce an overnight policy change by Indiana University making prior approval necessary to have tents on campus. Dunn Meadow had been designated as an area to hold public forums for expression on all subjects since 1969. The change in the decades-long policy led to police arresting 55 people, which included both students and faculty of the university.

In addition to the county prosecutor dropping charges for protestors, the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana filed a lawsuit against the university alleging the university violated the First Amendment rights of three plaintiffs facing a one-year ban from campus for their participation in political protests on the IU-Bloomington campus.

Organizers of the protest, the IU Divestment Coalition, wrote on their Instagram account, “while this decision marks a significant victory within our movement, our work is far from complete. The Israeli occupation continued to murder and violate innocent Palestinians every single day.”

Meanwhile, tents remain in Dunn Meadow as demonstrators continue their 40th day of the protest on the war on Gaza. The IU Divestment Coalition maintains that it will continue its occupation until demands are met, which include: the university terminating its partnership with Crane Naval Base and divesting from entities “implicated in genocide.”

Monroe County Commissioners Discuss Health Clinic Vendor Switch

At the Monroe County Commissioners meeting on May 29th, H-R Administrator Elizabeth Sensenstein, also known as E, presented on the staff recommendation to change service providers for their clinic from Everside to Proactive M-D. Sensenstein said that they were recommended to shift to a nurse practitioner model.

Sensenstein shared that over the five years they have worked with Everside, there have been issues that have not gotten resolved.

County Attorney Jeff Cockerill informed the commissioners that they have until August 1st to make a decision.

During public comment on the Service Provider Agreement, county staff members asked the commissioners to forgo the change in providers, saying that they have long standing relationships with Dr. Clifford Mitcheff.

County Assessor Judy Sharp said that Sensentein brought up issues with Everside that she wasn’t aware of, but wanted the commissioners to think about the human aspect that they have all gotten to know Dr. Mitcheff.

County Planner Anne Crecilius said she doesn’t have any problems with the current clinic, and that she has never heard of other county employees having issues with it either.

Sheriff Office Administrator and Coordinator Liane Johnson said that Dr. Mitcheff has played an important role in her health and wellbeing, and she was surprised to learn that he might be replaced so soon.

County Council Member Pete Iverson spoke to the commissioners in support of keeping the current clinic structure to help keep the county competitive by offering good benefits.

Sensentein introduced the consultant that helped with the decision to move to Proactive. Apex Benefits Consultant Sarah Michaels said they are talking about changing vendor management not the primary care providers, and outlined why they decided to move away from Everside. Michaels said it could be possible to hire Dr. Mitcheff under the administration of Proactive.

Commissioner Lee Jones commented that she understands the desire to have a long term relationship with your doctor, but said that the doctor could change regardless of whether or not they stay with Everside. She also said that she was glad to see the position of Patient Advocate that Proactive was offering.

Commissioner Julie Thomas also said that the discussion wasn’t about the providers, it was about the vendor administrator. She said that if they want to have a physician, county staff can communicate with Proactive M-D, and they would allow the model to change whereas Everside was not as flexible of a vendor.

The commissioners voted to approve the agreement with Proactive M-D with the hope that the providers would be able to be hired again through Proactive.

The next Monroe County Commissioners meeting will be held on June 5th.

Feature Report:

Up next, local journalist Dave Askins of the B-Square Bulletin provides an editorial on the procedures of the Bloomington City Council during their work session last Wednesday. We turn to Askins for more.

Heather Stettler loves to ride her bike. When she first moved to Bloomington Heather found her people in the Bloomington Bicycle Club. In addition to organized rides, the club also advocates for bike safety and bicycle-friendly urban development. Their latest initiative is a program that will provide safety lights to local cyclists. Heather is here to ask you to join the Bloomington Bicycle Club on a new episode of Activate!, coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.

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