Good evening. Welcome to the WFHB Local News for Monday, March 30th, 2020.

Photo courtesy of the Indiana General Assembly.

According to the Indiana State Department of Health, 1,786 people tested positive for coronavirus in Indiana. 35 people died from Covid-19 out of 11,685 people tested. These numbers were updated at 11:59 p.m. on March 29th.

The Indy Star reports that the final days of the Indiana General Assembly were dominated by legislation that state lawmakers added onto other bills at the 11th hour that did not receive proper public vetting. 

Governor Holcomb vetoed a bill passed by the Indiana General Assembly. This bill sought to reverse a decision by Indianapolis to protect the rights of tenants from predatory landlords. 

Lawmakers approved another bill that opens a path for charter schools to tap into tax dollars approved by referendums normally intended to help local school districts.

The Indy Star reported two efforts failed as the clock ran out on March 11th. One would have stalled mass transit approved by voters in Indianapolis and another would have potentially removed Attorney General Curtis Hill from office. 

Proposed legislation Senate Bill 178 was amended last week in the House. This was in response to an Indiana Supreme Court disciplinary case against Hill. This case accused Hill of inappropriately touching four women. A hearing officer said they recommend suspending Hill’s license for two months. 

No resolution was made by lawmakers on the Curtis Hill case before the state’s legislative session ended.

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

The Monroe County Council discussed the creation of Account Lines for use during the COVID-19 emergency during their March 25th meeting. County Attorney Margie Rice said the county received COVID-19 fund relief advice from the state.

Rice said the council can, later, appropriate additional funds to backfill the lines. Council member Marty Hawk said the usage of funds should be transparent to the public. County Auditor Catherine Smith said the process needs to happen quickly.

County Commissioner Julie Thomas said the process may become less transparent to speed up the distribution of funds. She ensured the funds will be focused toward small local businesses.

Council members unanimously approved the account line creations.

Council members also discussed transferring County Commissioner general funds into the COVID-19 Emergency Contractual line. Budget Administrator Kim Shell said Commissioners funds are being used to begin distribution quickly.

Council members unanimously approved the fund transfer.

Photo courtesy of Reuters.

15 cases of Covid-19 were reported at a Johnson County nursing home. 8 patients are now in the hospital. 6 nursing home residents are in isolation, while three are awaiting results. 

Otterbein Franklin Senior Life worked with the state health department to test 10 residents who were showing symptoms or had direct contact with people who previously tested positive. 

Of the 19 people that were tested, 7 people tested positive while 12 nursing home residents tested negative. 

Spread of the virus in nursing homes is now a concern in both Indiana and the rest of the country. The Indy Star found about 73 percent of Indiana’s nursing homes have been cited for failed infection controls in the last 3 years.

Photo courtesy of IUPD.

Indiana Daily Student reports the I.U. Police Department shut down three parties on Saturday night. Enforcement came, because party goers did NOT follow the CDC’s recommended practice of social distancing and Governor Holcomb’s Stay-at-Home order.

IUPD tweeted,