This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, May 3rd, 2021.

Later in the program, we have a Few Minutes with the Mayor - a weekly segment where Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton answers questions on community issues. More coming up in our feature reports.

Also coming up in the next half hour, we have coverage on Bloomington's public zoning debate set to resume on Tuesday. More in today’s headlines.

But first, your local news brief:

Covid-19 cases are still high in Monroe county, with an average of 16 people per 100,000 testing positive per day. However, 29% of residents have gotten fully vaccinated - 3% lower than the national statistic. Although the CDC continues to encourage wearing masks and social distancing, they announced that fully vaccinated citizens after two weeks may gather in small groups without masks or social distancing.

Yesterday afternoon a U-Haul truck drove into the side of the tattoo and piercing studio - Evil by the Needle - while people were inside. Bloomington Police Department officers on scene are continuing to gather information about the incident. The two people inside the building were pushed to the other side of the studio by the truck and rushed to the hospital with minor injuries.

On Saturday, Bloomington’s only LGBTQIA+ inclusive nightclub, The Back Door, opened back up after more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Co-owner Smoove was reported to have applied for five loans to pay for utilities and keep the space over the past year as he quote “was all in favor of people over profits.” About 70 people celebrated the grand reopening outside on the newly renovated patio. The Back Door plans to continue to require masks for the time being and will slowly return back to business as usual.

COVID-19 Press Conference 

Mayor John Hamilton announced three new positive COVID-19 cases among city employees at the April 30th Coronavirus Press Conference. Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill talked about an upcoming vaccination site at the Boys and Girls Club. She said the resources from the Bloomington Convention Center site would be going towards outreach programs to help eliminate barriers to receiving vaccines.

Caudill said some local vaccine sites have been taking walk-ins, as well. Indiana University Assistant Vice President Kirk White confirmed that Assembly Hall is accepting walks-ins starting an hour after the site opens. The Boys and Girls Club pop-up vaccination site will be May 6th.

Holcomb Sues General Assembly Over Emergency Powers Law

Governor Eric Holcomb filed a lawsuit against the Indiana General Assembly over a law that gives the state legislature more authority during a public health emergency.

House Enrolled Act 1123 allows the Indiana General Assembly to convene for a special session if the governor declares an emergency. It also regulates how the state spends federal stimulus money.

After its passage, Governor Holcomb vetoed the legislation. Then, lawmakers overrode the governor’s veto.

According to the lawsuit, Holcomb says the ability to call a special session is given solely to the governor in the state constitution.

The complaint says, “the General Assembly has impermissibly attempted to give itself the ability to call special sessions, thereby usurping a power given exclusively to the governor under Article 4 and 9 of the Indiana Constitution.”

On Friday, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita moved for the court to strike the lawsuit, which Rokita calls “unauthorized.” Rokita said the law is constitutional and it leaves the governor’s ability to call a special session “untouched.”

He added, “The Constitution does not authorize the judicial branch to resolve disagreements between the other branches over legal policy, even when those disagreements implicate constitutional di...