This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, March 1st, 2021.

Later in the program, WFHB Assistant News Director Sydney Foreman speaks with Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton in our weekly segment - A Few Minutes with the Mayor.

Also coming up in the next half hour, we revisit a segment submitted by WFHB Correspondent Katherine Patterson. Patterson reports on an anti-abortion bill that recently passed through the Indiana House. More following today’s headlines.

But first, your local headlines:

Local COVID-19 Joint Press Conference

Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill spoke about the Monroe County Advisory level during the February 26th COVID-19 Press Conference. She mentioned the advisory level will remain in yellow.

Indiana University Health South Central Region President Brian Shockney stated COVID-19 inpatient levels were at an all-time low. Caudill mentioned COVID-19 testing clinic closures could have affected the number of reported local cases. She stated veterans who are over 50 years of age could be eligible for the COVID vaccine.

Caudill reported over 11,000 Monroe county residents have been fully vaccinated. Shockney stated Monroe County received additional eleven hundred and seventy Pfizer vaccine doses.

Caudill mentioned only Indiana residents are eligible to receive the vaccine in Indiana.

2021 State of the City Address 

Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton gave the 2021 State of the City Address on February 25th. Hamilton spoke about what changes 2020 brought to the city and it’s families.

Mayor Hamilton thanked the numerous essential workers who fought to keep the community functioning. He mentioned that 2020 was not the end of hard times.

Hamilton reported the initiation of Recover Foreword provided the community with over 8 million dollars to combat the effects of the economic recession. He mentioned five other large city projects which are underway.

Hamilton stated the city has also committed to a hospital site redevelopment plan, undertook a new Unified Development Ordinance, and Climate Action Plan.

He mentioned future decisions are to be made about the Convention Center site expansion, and the John Waldron Arts Center. Hamilton discussed future work towards climate and racial justice.

Hamilton said the city would work to align their ambitious goals with the available resources.

Bloomington Historical Preservation Commission 

The Bloomington Board of Historical Preservation discussed the restoration of a commercial storefront damaged by an automobile accident during their February 25th meeting. The building is located at 118 South College Avenue. Petitioner Victor Gutierrez spoke about finding a match for the damaged bronze window frame.

Board member Duncan Campbell questioned if the original bronze frame was repairable. Gutierrez mentioned plans to replace the existing damaged door with a windowpane would not allow for repair.

Board members continued the hearing until their March 11th meeting.

Indiana House Environmental Affairs Committee Missing in Action

The Indiana House Environmental Affairs Committee has not met at all during the 2021 legislative session.

According to a report by Sarah Bowman and London Gibson of the Indy Star, thirteen environmental bills were filed in the House this year. However, none of those bills made it to the House Environmental Committee.

Those bills included lead testing for pre-school and daycare, a prohibition on dumping contaminated coal ash in unlined ponds that pollute groundwater and limiting toxins in drinking water.

The deadline to hear bills in the House has now passed, so that means these environmental bills died before any committee heard them.

Meanwhile,