This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, November 5th, 2020.

Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Katrine Bruner offers commentary on the U.S. officially leaving the Paris Climate Accord. That’s coming up in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, we have another election announcement in the state of Indiana. Republican Victoria Spartz won the race for the state’s 5th Congressional District. That’s coming up in today’s headlines.

But first, your local news brief:

4,462 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Indiana on Wednesday, according to the Indiana State Department of Health. That’s a new daily record, the third time Indiana has broken its daily positive record since October 28th.

There were 45 newly reported deaths. Locally, Monroe County saw 40 new confirmed cases yesterday, while Lawrence County reported 23. Brown County reported 5 new cases.

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State Road 252 north of Martinsville will be closed on Monday, November 9. Crews will be installing a new drainage structure under the roadway.

The planned closure is part of the State’s effort to finish Interstate 69. Currently, the closure is planned to be short-term, though the release does not specify exactly how long the road will be closed.

I-69 Finish Line is the final section of I-69, a project that will, “upgrade the existing state road 37 to interstate standards between Martinsville and Indianapolis.”

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Our presidential election is ongoing, and will continue until every ballot cast is counted. However, local elections have begun to settle.

Let’s take a look at some County Council results. In Monroe County, incumbent Democrats Trent Deckard, Cheryl Munson, and Geoff McKim will all remain on the Monroe County council after Tuesday’s at-large election.

Conversely, in Lawrence County, incumbent Republican Julie Johnson Hewetson will retain her seat, while Republicans Rick Butterfield and Julie Blackwell Chase will join her on the Lawrence County council.

Republicans Scott Rudd, David Critser, and Judy Swift-Powdrill have been elected to the Brown County Council.

Governor Holcomb Says He Won’t Change Coronavirus Policy After Election

 Governor Eric Holcomb won re-election on Tuesday, but he said it will not have an impact on his decision making around Covid-19.

The announcement came before the state set a new record on Thursday with 4,462 new cases.

Holcomb addressed rumors that he would shut down the state and mandate online classes-only after the election. Holcomb said these rumors are false.

“False, 100 percent,” said Holcomb, “there’s no truth to that whatsoever.”

On Wednesday, Holcomb acknowledged the state’s increasing number of coronavirus cases during his weekly Covid-19 update.

“As that positivity rate increases, ” he said, “hospitalization rates go up – unfortunately, we see more deaths follow.”

On Tuesday, Holcomb won a second-term over Democratic candidate, Dr. Woody Myers, who was the former state health commissioner. Myers criticized Holcomb on his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, including the lack of enforcement for the statewide mask mandate.

Libertarian candidate Donald Rainwater also criticized Holcomb on his handling of the virus – saying that the mask mandate infringes on the public’s individual liberties.

Eric Berman, a reporter for WIBC, asked Holcomb whether his re-election would influence future coronavirus restrictions.

“The only campaign we’re running here is a campaign to save lives,” said Holcomb.

From October 23rd to November 4th, 45 new deaths have been reported. According to the Indiana State Department of Health, a total of 4,464 people died from Covid-19 in Indiana.

Republican Victoria Spartz won Indiana’s 5th Congressional District

On Wednesday,