This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, November 11th, 2020.

Later in the program, Bring It On hosted its first live program since the start of the pandemic. Host William Hosea welcomes a variety of guests to discuss the results of the 2020 election. We will have an excerpt from the episode in today’s feature report.

Bloomington Sustainability Commission Reviews Climate Action Plan

Assistant Director of Sustainability Lauren Travis reviewed the Bloomington Climate Action Plan during the November 10th Commission on Sustainability meeting. She said a local survey expressed community concern about climate change.

Travis stated the action plan will move Bloomington toward carbon neutrality by 2050. She reported emission reduction strategies were created by a series of focus groups.

Travis said there are goals, strategies, actions, metrics, and benefits listed for each category. She mentioned a city-wide desire for increased solar energy and energy efficacy. Travis said the plan is now available on the city website for review.

Commission member Dave Rollo requested a letter of recommendation to the City Council be drafted for the Climate Action Plan and reviewed at their December 2nd meeting.

Governor Holcomb Announced Executive Order After Covid-19 Hospitalizations Increase

Governor Eric Holcomb provided updates on the state’s response to Covid-19 at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

The update comes after record high numbers of new Covid-19 cases in recent weeks. Indiana set a single-day record on Saturday with more than 5,000 new Covid-19 infections.

He announced a new executive order with more pandemic restrictions amid what he called a “second surge.” The new restrictions will take effect this weekend.

Certain counties will limit social gatherings to 50 people – if the county’s positivity rates are orange, according to the state’s color-coded map of coronavirus spread. Counties in red will have a social gathering limit of 25 people.

“Beginning November 15h and for the next month, I’ll sign an executive order that will implement pandemic requirements for all Hoosiers and targeted restrictions for counties that are in the orange and red status,” said Holcomb.

Any special events with a planned large attendance will be required to receive permission from their local health department. These restrictions will take into effect for high school sporting events. The statewide mask mandate will be extended for another month.

The executive order marks a reinstatement of coronavirus limits after the increases in hospitalizations and deaths. It will take effect in 87 of the state’s 92 counties. Holcomb confirmed the number of hospitalizations are increasing and healthcare workers are experiencing staff shortages.

“The number of hospitalized Covid patients is at an all-time high – 2,544 to be exact,” said Holcomb.

However, he said we need to see the “light at the end of the tunnel” despite the state’s increasing numbers in most of the state’s counties. In September, Holcomb lifted almost all of the state’s crowd size restrictions.

According to the Associated Press, Indiana hospitals have seen a 200 percent increase in Covid-19 patients and the seven-day rolling average of deaths has jumped from 10 a day to 38 per day – the highest we’ve seen since late-April.

Indiana Economy Expected to Recover, Said Panelists at 2021 Business Forecast

Indiana will likely recover economically in the coming year, said panelists at the IU Kelley School’s 2021 Business Forecast on Tuesday.

Sponsors of the presentation included the Bloomington Rotary Club and the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. Panelists discussed economic recovery in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kyle Anderson, clinical assistant professor of business economics at Indiana University,