This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, May 19th, 2021.

Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Benedict Jones spoke with Pat East, Executive Director for the Dimension Mill, here in Bloomington. East discussed the work he does for the Mill, and he also touched on an award the city received for being a Rising Tech City from Tech Point, a resource for Indiana’s technology industry. More coming up in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, we have the latest edition of Civic Conversations - a monthly podcast collaboration between The League of Women Voters of Bloomington and Monroe County and WFHB. In today’s show, host Jim Allison speaks with James Madison, author of The Ku Klux Klan in the Heartland and history professor at Indiana University.

But first, your local news brief:

Monroe County has seen a 60% decrease in reported COVID-19 cases within the last 14 days. A majority of the decrease is directly correlated with vaccinations according to the CDC.

Although vaccinated citizens are not encouraged to wear masks anymore, the CDC still highly encourages those who have not been vaccinated to continue social distancing, wearing masks, and to schedule their COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.

In order to encourage vaccinations, Joe Biden announced that Uber and Lyft will provide free rides to vaccination sites until July 4th.

Also, just yesterday, abortion rights groups asked a federal judge on Tuesday to block a new Indiana law signed by Governor Eric Holcomb that would require doctors to tell women undergoing drug-induced abortions about an unproven treatment for reversing the abortion.

A lawsuit has been filed with the U.S. District Court in Indianapolis that argues that the requirements would harm patients and break a doctor’s code of ethics.

MCCSC School Board

At the May 18th Monroe County Community School Corporation Board Meeting, Board member Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer presented several policies regarding weapons for second reading. She explained the policies would no longer let resource officers carry firearms on school property.

Board member Martha Street moved to delay the vote. She suggested the board make this decision alongside the new Superintendent. Street’s motion did not receive a second. Board member April

Hennessey spoke to the importance of supporting these policies. She said MCCSC needs to show that schools are safe without using firearms.

Board members voted to pass the policies 6 to 1, with Board member Street voting nay.

Feature Reports

In today’s feature report, WFHB Correspondent Benedict Jones spoke with Pat East, Executive Director for the Dimension Mill, a co-working space and business incubator here in Bloomington.

East discussed the work he does for the Mill, and he also touched on an award the city received for being a Rising Tech City from Tech Point, a resource for Indiana’s technology industry.

This is Part I of a two-part series.