Over the July 4th weekend, a group of people physically assaulted local resident Vauhxx Booker at Lake Monroe. 

The racist incident was caught on cellphone video by a number of witnesses. After the assault Booker said he was diagnosed with a minor concussion, some abrasions, bruising, and some ripped out hair patches. He said some of the five men who assaulted him were wearing confederate flags.

“I was almost the victim of an attempted lynching,” said Vauhxx Booker. 

Booker said he and his friends met at Lake Monroe to see the lunar eclipse. On their way to the park, Booker said they encountered a large, white male who seemed drunk and wore a hat with a confederate flag print on it. 

“We noticed he began following us in an ATV, and we stopped as he drove up behind us and then [he] stated we were on private property,” said Booker.

Booker responded that he believed the organizers of the lunar eclipse viewing received permission to be on the property. When he arrived at the event, Booker said he told the event organizer what happened. 

According to a Facebook post by Booker, he was informed that the man who followed them on the ATV was not the property owner. 

Booker said he informed his friends that were on their way to the lake to use the public beach entrance to avoid any conflict. He said that he later found out that a group of men had blocked off the public beach entrance with a boat and ATVs, saying it was their land. 

In his Facebook post, Booker said when people attempted to cross, the men yelled “white power” at them. 

Booker said he and a friend decided to walk back and attempt to have a conversation with some of the “more sober seeming group members and see if we could smooth things over a bit.” 

“We were calm and polite, but looking back now, it’s apparent that these individuals began targeting our group the moment they saw myself, a Black man and were looking to provoke a conflict,” said Booker. 

The following audio comes from the Bloomingtonian. It was also posted on Vauhxx Booker’s Facebook account. We warn you, the listener, that the following audio is graphic.

Booker said, “My enduring gratitude to those who stopped merely being bystanders and acted to aid me, who told the police what they’d seen and heard, and who shared my outrage at DNR’s and our Prosecutor’s office inaction.”

***

Mayor John Hamilton and City Clerk Nicole Bolden sent out a press release this morning that said the city would like to express its outrage and grief in response to the two racist incidents that occurred in the community over the past week. The Mayor’s office later noted on Facebook that the incidents did not occur within the city’s jurisdiction but that the city would work with local and state officials to advocate for justice. The mayor’s statements drew praise and condemnation alike on social media, where people noted that one of the two recent racial profiling incidents occurred within the city limits and jurisdiction. Others noted that the mayor’s statements rang hollow given that they did not mention any concrete action the city would take to address racial equity and justice problems within Bloomington.

The first incident the city mentions was the physical assault of “one black resident” on nearby Indiana State Park land at Lake Monroe. 

The other incident recounts how a white, plainclothes officer, in an unmarked police cruiser, who identified himself as a detective from neighboring Lawrence County, questioned and detained a Black resident who was walking down the street where he lived. The city calls this, “an apparent example of racial profiling.” 

Monroe County Sheriff Brad Swain sent out a press release that said the area in which the incident occurred was in the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Jurisdiction.

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, July 6th, 2020.

Later in the program, local resident and member of the Monroe County Human Rights Commission, Vauhxx Booker, a black man, was physically assaulted by a group of white men at Lake Monroe on Saturday. In today’s program, you will hear from Booker’s attorney, Katharine Liell.

Also coming up in the next half hour, a few Minutes with the Mayor - where we ask Mayor John Hamilton about local issues.

But first, your local headlines.

Indiana saw 330 new positive cases with 5 new deaths. (Photo courtesy of the Indiana State Department of Health).

Six new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Monroe County yesterday, statewide the number was three-hundred-and-thirty.

That's according to the Indiana State Department of Health, which also attributed five new deaths to COVID-19 over the weekend, bringing the total number of deaths to two-thousand-five-hundred-and-five.

This box provides a safe location for any individual to leave any unwanted infant legally and anonymously. (Photo courtesy of WBIW).

Bloomington installed a Safe Haven Baby Box at the Bloomington Fire Department station at 300 East Fourth Street.

This box provides a safe location for any individual to leave any unwanted infant legally and anonymously. According to a Hoosier Times the city began consideration of the project in 2018 when Eric and LeeAnna Powell came to the fire department after having dealt with the death of an abandoned baby through funeral home work. In 2018, only 3 boxes were installed throughout the state, now there are 32 across Indiana.

According to the article Fire Chief Jason Morre said, “Every City of Bloomington Fire Station is already a safe place and a designated location where someone could use the Indiana Safe Haven Law to surrender a newborn.”

When a child is placed in the box a silent alarm informs the firefighters inside that a child has been left. The alarm also informs Monroe County Central Dispatch in the event no one is at the fire station.

The report clarifies from the Indiana Department of Child Services website that, “if there are no signs of abuse, no information such as date of birth and parental medical history is required of the individual leaving the baby, even though it’s appreciated. Babies dropped off this way are examined, given medical treatment if needed and taken into Child Protective Services to be placed with a caregiver.” The project will provide any people experiencing a crisis pregnancy an ensured safe place to leave their infant.

People gather at Monroe County Courthouse in solidarity with Vauhxx Booker. Stay tuned to Wednesday's local news to hear more on the demonstration (Nicholas DiBrita).

Over the July 4th weekend, a group of white people physically assaulted Black community leader Vauhxx Booker at Lake Monroe.

The racist assault comes shortly after two purported racial profiling incidents in Monroe County. One of them, which also involved the DNR at Lake Monroe, purportedly involved Black Indiana University athletes on one boat and white individuals on another boat flying Trump flags.

The incident resulted in the arrest of one white man who was praised on social media for standing up for the Black athletes. The other incident happened in Bloomington, IN, where a white, plainclothes officer, in a unmarked police cruiser who identified himself as a detective from neighboring Lawrence County, approached a black man walking near his house, after receiving a complaint that the man was purportedly looking into car windows. The man denies looking into the windows, claiming he was just going for a walk.

Fresh Friday will continue at Hoosier Hills Food Bank through the month of August. This happens every other Friday.

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, July 6th, 2020.

Later in the program, local resident and member of the Monroe County Human Rights Commission, Vauhxx Booker, a black man, was physically assaulted by a group of white men at Lake Monroe on Saturday. In today’s program, you will hear from Booker’s attorney, Katharine Liell.

Also coming up in the next half hour, a few Minutes with the Mayor – where we ask Mayor John Hamilton about local issues.

But first, your local headlines.

Six new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Monroe County yesterday, statewide the number was three-hundred-and-thirty.

That’s according to the Indiana State Department of Health, which also attributed five new deaths to COVID-19 over the weekend, bringing the total number of deaths to two-thousand-five-hundred-and-five.

Bloomington installed a Safe Haven Baby Box at the Bloomington Fire Department station at 300 East Fourth Street.

This box provides a safe location for any individual to leave any unwanted infant legally and anonymously. According to a Hoosier Times the city began consideration of the project in 2018 when Eric and LeeAnna Powell came to the fire department after having dealt with the death of an abandoned baby through funeral home work. In 2018, only 3 boxes were installed throughout the state, now there are 32 across Indiana.

According to the article Fire Chief Jason Morre said, “Every City of Bloomington Fire Station is already a safe place and a designated location where someone could use the Indiana Safe Haven Law to surrender a newborn.”

When a child is placed in the box a silent alarm informs the firefighters inside that a child has been left. The alarm also informs Monroe County Central Dispatch in the event no one is at the fire station.

The report clarifies from the Indiana Department of Child Services website that, “if there are no signs of abuse, no information such as date of birth and parental medical history is required of the individual leaving the baby, even though it’s appreciated. Babies dropped off this way are examined, given medical treatment if needed and taken into Child Protective Services to be placed with a caregiver.” The project will provide any people experiencing a crisis pregnancy an ensured safe place to leave their infant.

Over the July 4th weekend, a group of white people physically assaulted Black community leader Vauhxx Booker at Lake Monroe.

The racist assault comes shortly after two purported racial profiling incidents in Monroe County. One of them, which also involved the DNR at Lake Monroe, purportedly involved Black Indiana University athletes on one boat and white individuals on another boat flying Trump flags.

The incident resulted in the arrest of one white man who was praised on social media for standing up for the Black athletes. The other incident happened in Bloomington, IN, where a white, plainclothes officer, in a unmarked police cruiser who identified himself as a detective from neighboring Lawrence County, approached a black man walking near his house, after receiving a complaint that the man was purportedly looking into car windows. The man denies looking into the windows, claiming he was just going for a walk.

The Hoosier Hills Food Bank will continue their Fresh Friday Food Distribution through August. This will be a distribution of free food every other Friday from 11am to 3 pm at the Hoosier Hills Food bank – 2333 W. Industrial Park Drive.

There are no income or identification requirements to receive food. The distribution dates are as follows. July 10th, July 24th, August 7th, and August 21st. The program started in June and provided distribution to 393 households. In the last week of June the program served up to 765 households. The food bank reported their distribution rates to be at a 52 percent increase from the same time last year.

Feature Reports:

Indiana delayed moving into Stage 5 after Governor Eric Holcomb signed a new executive order on Wednesday.

The state will keep its current capacity limits at bars, restaurants and entertainment venues. According to the governor, the restrictions will be kept in place until at least July 18th. The 250-person social gathering limit will also be kept in place. In addition, the state will release Covid-19 nursing home data.

In a Covid-19 briefing on Wednesday, Governor Holcomb cited a recent increase in Covid-19 hospitalizations as a rationale for his decision. He said other states have seen spikes after lifting occupancy restrictions. 

“Knowing that a date doesn’t drive us, but the data does,” he said, “we are prepared to go into Stage 4.5.”

Dr. Kristina Box, state health commissioner, said there was an increase in new positive cases and deaths on Wednesday at the governor’s weekly coronavirus briefing. Box clarified how the testing process works. 

“The total number tested on our dashboard represents unique individuals,” she said, “Some people have had more than one test.”

Dr. Dan Rusyniak, chief medical officer for the Family and Social Services Administration, gave an update about Covid-19 nursing home data in the state.

Although the state is not requiring masks, it shared a video during the weekly briefing on Wednesday to encourage Indiana residents to wear a face covering.

Dr. Kristina Box said wearing a mask is one of the best things to do to protect yourself and others. 

What will Stage 4.5 look like according to the governor’s executive order?

First off, all Indiana counties except for Elkhart County will move to stage 4.5 at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, July 3rd. The stage will end on Friday, July 17th, unless extended. 

In Stage 4.5, fairs, festivals, parades and other places of “public amusement” are allowed to resume in accordance with the governor’s executive order. 

If the public amusement venue is indoors, occupancy limits need to be less than 50 percent capacity. Public amusement parks are required to ensure social distance and proper sanitation. 

Youth overnight camps will reopen according to the new executive order. Those camps are subject to the following requirements:

There must be an employee screening which is required to have a daily health assessment for all employees and prevent any employee who shows symptoms of the virus. 

The state will start a procedure to detect symptoms of campers and those who come into contact with someone else who shows symptoms. 

It is only recommended that adults and campers over the age of two years old wear face masks. 

Adult to child ratio monitoring is recommended. 

In this stage, conventions are legally allowed to resume, but only 250 people are allowed to attend, provided they can social distance and maintain sanitation. 

Stage 4.5 also says horse racing is allowed, but only to 50 percent capacity. 

Public access to government buildings will be available by appointment only.

Face Coverings Not Required at Local, State Level

Monroe County has not issued a mandate to require masks. In a new public health order, businesses must put up a 8 x 10 sign that recommends customers to wear a mask. (Photo courtesy of Community Access Television Services).

Face coverings are not required in the governor’s plan. Some local officials throughout the state have taken it upon themselves to order mandatory face coverings.

Indiana delayed moving into Stage 5 after Governor Eric Holcomb signed a new executive order on Wednesday.

The state will keep its current capacity limits at bars, restaurants and entertainment venues. According to the governor, the restrictions will be kept in place until at least July 18th. The 250-person social gathering limit will also be kept in place. In addition, the state will release Covid-19 nursing home data.

In a Covid-19 briefing on Wednesday, Governor Holcomb cited a recent increase in Covid-19 hospitalizations as a rationale for his decision. He said other states have seen spikes after lifting occupancy restrictions. 

“Knowing that a date doesn’t drive us, but the data does,” he said, “we are prepared to go into Stage 4.5.”

Dr. Kristina Box, state health commissioner, said there was an increase in new positive cases and deaths on Wednesday at the governor’s weekly coronavirus briefing. Box clarified how the testing process works. 

“The total number tested on our dashboard represents unique individuals,” she said, “Some people have had more than one test.”

Dr. Dan Rusyniak, chief medical officer for the Family and Social Services Administration, gave an update about Covid-19 nursing home data in the state.

Although the state is not requiring masks, it shared a video during the weekly briefing on Wednesday to encourage Indiana residents to wear a face covering.

Dr. Kristina Box said wearing a mask is one of the best things to do to protect yourself and others. 

What will Stage 4.5 look like according to the governor’s executive order?

First off, all Indiana counties except for Elkhart County will move to stage 4.5 at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, July 3rd. The stage will end on Friday, July 17th, unless extended. 

In Stage 4.5, fairs, festivals, parades and other places of “public amusement” are allowed to resume in accordance with the governor’s executive order. 

If the public amusement venue is indoors, occupancy limits need to be less than 50 percent capacity. Public amusement parks are required to ensure social distance and proper sanitation. 

Youth overnight camps will reopen according to the new executive order. Those camps are subject to the following requirements:

There must be an employee screening which is required to have a daily health assessment for all employees and prevent any employee who shows symptoms of the virus. 

The state will start a procedure to detect symptoms of campers and those who come into contact with someone else who shows symptoms. 

It is only recommended that adults and campers over the age of two years old wear face masks. 

Adult to child ratio monitoring is recommended. 

In this stage, conventions are legally allowed to resume, but only 250 people are allowed to attend, provided they can social distance and maintain sanitation. 

Stage 4.5 also says horse racing is allowed, but only to 50 percent capacity. 

Public access to government buildings will be available by appointment only.

Face Coverings Not Required at Local, State Level

Face coverings are not required in the governor’s plan. Some local officials throughout the state have taken it upon themselves to order mandatory face coverings. 

For instance, Mayor Hogsett in Indianapolis issued an order to require face coverings in public spaces on Thursday. Elkhart, La Grange and St. Joseph counties issued similar mask mandates. 

As of Thursday at 7 p.m. Monroe County has not issued any mandates to require masks. 

Penny Caudill, Monroe County Health Administrator, said in a new county public health order that the...

Good afternoon. This is the WFHB Local News for Friday, July 3rd, 2020.

In today's news, Indiana delays moving into Stage 5. Governor Eric Holcomb now says the state will move to a “cautious Stage 4.5.” Also, as the IU Health Bloomington Hospital is set to be demolished next year, concerns about spreading toxic lead dust around the community have been rising. You will hear from Aaron Lauer, the Senior Policy Analyst with the Institute of Politics about lead-safe demolition practices.

But first, your local headlines.

Changes were made to MCCSC's reopening plan in the school board's June 30th meeting (Photo courtesy of Community Access Television Services).

The Monroe County School Board held a special session to discuss and approve a re-entry plan on June 30th. Superintendent Dr. Judith DeMuth presented plan changes. She said additional sanitation forms have been added to the plan.

DeMuth said students must stay home if they are sick or either themselves or a family member is being tested for COVID-19. She said masks are mandatory in schools at all times. She said they could only be removed under 3 conditions.

Pediatrician Jason Semis said wearing masks may incline young children to touch their faces more often, in turn increasing their chances for contracting the virus. Board member Sue Wanzer said the plan should allow indoor breaks without masks.

Board member Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer said masks on 100 percent of time indoors is not practical. She said younger students will need mask breaks. She said weather may not permit an outdoor break. The board voted in favor to allow indoor mask breaks. DeMuth said the plan added a section regarding special education. She read an added statement.

DeMuth said students can only change from in person learning to online learning or vice versa within the first two weeks of school. She said Hybrid learning is available for 9th through 12 graders.

DeMuth said students attending online CAN take part in extra curriculars. She said all air filtration has been updated and windows will remain closed during school hours. She said families will receive registration information by July 6th and must register for their preferred learning method by July 20th. DeMuth said the entire plan is on the MCCSC website.

 

Governor Holcomb announced on Tuesday that Indiana will extend its eviction and foreclosure moratorium until July 31st.

This continues the halt on evictions and foreclosures that was initiated in March brought by the economic hardships Covid-19 has caused.

The executive order delayed utility connection shutoff until at least August 14th.

 

Photo courtesy of Community Access Television Services.

The Monroe County Board of Zoning Appeals approved an Autumn Circle property front yard and side yard setback to build a garage addition. During their July 1st meeting, petitioner Rebecca Payne said the expansion will not encroach into the nearby utility easement.

Payne said the petitioner must submit a professional survey showing the location of the garage and western boundary line for the side yard setback request. Board member Mary Beth Kaczmarczyk said the survey would cost the petitioner above 400 dollars. Petitioner David Drewes said the utilities easement is out of date.

Drewers said a side yard survey would take up to 6 weeks and cost between 5 hundred and 15 hundred dollars. Planner Jackie Nester Jelen said not all utilities are placed where the easement is marked. Board members required the petitioner to obtain a side yard survey.

 

A federal judge struck down a strict panhandling law before it was to take effect in Indiana.

The law would have restricted people from requesting money within 50 feet of an ATM, business and restaurant entrance,

Good afternoon. This is the WFHB Local News for Friday, July 3rd, 2020.

In today’s news, Indiana delays moving into Stage 5. Governor Eric Holcomb now says the state will move to a “cautious Stage 4.5.” Also, as the IU Health Bloomington Hospital is set to be demolished next year, concerns about spreading toxic lead dust around the community have been rising. You will hear from Aaron Lauer, the Senior Policy Analyst with the Institute of Politics about lead-safe demolition practices.

But first, your local headlines.

The Monroe County School Board held a special session to discuss and approve a re-entry plan on June 30th. Superintendent Dr. Judith DeMuth presented plan changes. She said additional sanitation forms have been added to the plan.

DeMuth said students must stay home if they are sick or either themselves or a family member is being tested for COVID-19. She said masks are mandatory in schools at all times. She said they could only be removed under 3 conditions.

Pediatrician Jason Semis said wearing masks may incline young children to touch their faces more often, in turn increasing their chances for contracting the virus. Board member Sue Wanzer said the plan should allow indoor breaks without masks.

Board member Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer said masks on 100 percent of time indoors is not practical. She said younger students will need mask breaks. She said weather may not permit an outdoor break. The board voted in favor to allow indoor mask breaks. DeMuth said the plan added a section regarding special education. She read an added statement.

DeMuth said students can only change from in person learning to online learning or vice versa within the first two weeks of school. She said Hybrid learning is available for 9th through 12 graders.

DeMuth said students attending online CAN take part in extra curriculars. She said all air filtration has been updated and windows will remain closed during school hours. She said families will receive registration information by July 6th and must register for their preferred learning method by July 20th. DeMuth said the entire plan is on the MCCSC website.

 

Governor Holcomb announced on Tuesday that Indiana will extend its eviction and foreclosure moratorium until July 31st.

This continues the halt on evictions and foreclosures that was initiated in March brought by the economic hardships Covid-19 has caused.

The executive order delayed utility connection shutoff until at least August 14th.

 

The Monroe County Board of Zoning Appeals approved an Autumn Circle property front yard and side yard setback to build a garage addition. During their July 1st meeting, petitioner Rebecca Payne said the expansion will not encroach into the nearby utility easement.

Payne said the petitioner must submit a professional survey showing the location of the garage and western boundary line for the side yard setback request. Board member Mary Beth Kaczmarczyk said the survey would cost the petitioner above 400 dollars. Petitioner David Drewes said the utilities easement is out of date.

Drewers said a side yard survey would take up to 6 weeks and cost between 5 hundred and 15 hundred dollars. Planner Jackie Nester Jelen said not all utilities are placed where the easement is marked. Board members required the petitioner to obtain a side yard survey.

 

A federal judge struck down a strict panhandling law before it was to take effect in Indiana.

The law would have restricted people from requesting money within 50 feet of an ATM, business and restaurant entrance, public monument, or the location of a monetary transaction, which would have included parking meters.

After a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson ordered it could not be enforced.

According to the Associated Press,

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, July 1st, 2020.

Later in the program, WFHB News Director Kade Young talked to Jonah Crismore, executive director of the Buskirk Chumley and Jared Thompson, owner of the Comedy Attic about how Covid-19 has impacted their local entertainment venues.

But first, your local headlines.

Monroe County Council held a special meeting to discuss community concerns and law enforcement resourcing on June 30th. The county Council brought in a community mediator, Latasha Williams to facilitate the meeting. She said the meeting was a beginning for change against racial injustice.

Williams started the discussion with reallocation of police budgeting to social services. Community member Macklin said they work in teenage social services. They said police involvement in a social case never turned out well and escalated the situation. Community member Dave Owens said the current funding for Sharif’s Department, given the services they provide, is not sufficient. Resident Sarah Ericson said the police are not properly trained.

Resident Kel said reallocation should start with refusing the sheriffs request for two deputy hires. Community member Ellen Wu said she wants transparency of Sheriff Diekhoff’s involvement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Community member Eli Parker said enforcement should share a public database of information. He requested to see complaints according to officer badge numbers. Resident Kate Blake said officers should be searched for white supremacist affiliations. Kel said police officers with body cameras are not always reliable.

Community resident Peter Reeves said there is no success under a police system that began as slave patrols.

 

Indiana State Department of Health reported 371 new positive cases of Covid-19 on June 30th. 8 new deaths were reported from June 14th to June 30th. This comes after 5,555 new tests were issued from May 13th to June 30th.

That brings the total number of positive cases to 45,952 people with 2,456 deaths. Almost 490,000 total tests have been issued with 9.4 percent of all tests coming back positive.

51 percent of ICU beds are in use due to non-covid related illnesses. 9.5 percent of ICU beds in the state are in use due to Covid-19. 39.4 percent of ICU beds are available in Indiana.

14 percent of ventilators are in use to non-covid-19 patients. 3.5 percent of ventilators are being used to treat Covid-19 patients. 82.5 percent of ventilators are available, according to the state department of health.

 

The Bloomington Redevelopment Commission discussed a preliminary design for the housing project located on South Walnut Street, known to be the former Night Moves location. Petitioner Jeff Ryan of Real America said the development would be called Retreat @ the Switchyard. He said the design is inspired by Switchyard park architecture.

Ryan said retail and parking would be on the ground floor of the building and apartments above. He said the development would include 64 apartment units, 50 of which are affordable living. He said up to 25% of apartment units would be reserved for Stone belt clients. Commissioner Nick Kappas said the building is too simple.

Commissioner Don Griffin said using natural stone would be more favorable than concrete. Ryan said for the final design, Real America will partner with a local architect. He said construction is projected to begin in July 2021 and leasing would begin October 2022.

 

Last week, citizens living near the Mississippi gulf coast such as Texas, Florida and Louisiana were recommended to wear face coverings not just for COVID-19 but also to protect themselves from the dense dust plumes that came in Thursday.

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, July 1st, 2020.

Later in the program, WFHB News Director Kade Young talked to Jonah Crismore, executive director of the Buskirk Chumley and Jared Thompson, owner of the Comedy Attic about how Covid-19 has impacted their local entertainment venues.

But first, your local headlines.

Monroe County Council held a special meeting to discuss community concerns and law enforcement resourcing on June 30th. The county Council brought in a community mediator, Latasha Williams to facilitate the meeting. She said the meeting was a beginning for change against racial injustice.

Williams started the discussion with reallocation of police budgeting to social services. Community member Macklin said they work in teenage social services. They said police involvement in a social case never turned out well and escalated the situation. Community member Dave Owens said the current funding for Sharif’s Department, given the services they provide, is not sufficient. Resident Sarah Ericson said the police are not properly trained.

Resident Kel said reallocation should start with refusing the sheriffs request for two deputy hires. Community member Ellen Wu said she wants transparency of Sheriff Diekhoff’s involvement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Community member Eli Parker said enforcement should share a public database of information. He requested to see complaints according to officer badge numbers. Resident Kate Blake said officers should be searched for white supremacist affiliations. Kel said police officers with body cameras are not always reliable.

Community resident Peter Reeves said there is no success under a police system that began as slave patrols.

 

Indiana State Department of Health reported 371 new positive cases of Covid-19 on June 30th. 8 new deaths were reported from June 14th to June 30th. This comes after 5,555 new tests were issued from May 13th to June 30th.

That brings the total number of positive cases to 45,952 people with 2,456 deaths. Almost 490,000 total tests have been issued with 9.4 percent of all tests coming back positive.

51 percent of ICU beds are in use due to non-covid related illnesses. 9.5 percent of ICU beds in the state are in use due to Covid-19. 39.4 percent of ICU beds are available in Indiana.

14 percent of ventilators are in use to non-covid-19 patients. 3.5 percent of ventilators are being used to treat Covid-19 patients. 82.5 percent of ventilators are available, according to the state department of health.

 

The Bloomington Redevelopment Commission discussed a preliminary design for the housing project located on South Walnut Street, known to be the former Night Moves location. Petitioner Jeff Ryan of Real America said the development would be called Retreat @ the Switchyard. He said the design is inspired by Switchyard park architecture.

Ryan said retail and parking would be on the ground floor of the building and apartments above. He said the development would include 64 apartment units, 50 of which are affordable living. He said up to 25% of apartment units would be reserved for Stone belt clients. Commissioner Nick Kappas said the building is too simple.

Commissioner Don Griffin said using natural stone would be more favorable than concrete. Ryan said for the final design, Real America will partner with a local architect. He said construction is projected to begin in July 2021 and leasing would begin October 2022.

 

Last week, citizens living near the Mississippi gulf coast such as Texas, Florida and Louisiana were recommended to wear face coverings not just for COVID-19 but also to protect themselves from the dense dust plumes that came in Thursday.

Nicknamed the “Gorilla Dust Cloud” the storm came from the northwest originally from the Saharan Desert. The storm swept over San Juanas well,

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, June 29th, 2020.

Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Nicholas DiBrita covers the Joseph Smedley story. DiBrita talked to Andrea Sterling, a graduate student at Indiana University. Also coming up in the next half hour, Sydney Foreman talked to Mayor John Hamilton in our Monday segment, a Few Minutes with the Mayor.

But first, your local headlines.

Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton announced that a third city employee tested positive for COVID-19 during a COVID-19 press conference on June 26th. He said the employee is a firefighter and is isolating and following procedure guidelines. Hamilton added that many states are moving backwards in the reopening process.

Hamilton described Indiana’s public health system as underfunded and noted that careful evaluations must be made. President of Indiana University Health Brian Schockney pointed out that the overall infection rate is down.

Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill said COVID-19 takes on a wide range of illness and not every person experiences the same symptoms. She observed that phasing in reopening avoided a resurgence of COVID-19.

Caudill emphasized that all businesses can mandate wearing face masks. She said Governor Holcomb’s next order will influence their decision to further reopen. Emergency Management Director Allison Moore said Monroe county will hold two additional blood drives on June 30th and July 17th, adding that homemade masks are still being collected.

Caudill encouraged long term care facilities and nursing homes to share their data with the public.

 

WFHB Correspondent Aaron Comforty delivers an update on Covid-19 testing developments in Monroe County. We turn to Aaron Comforty for more.

 

The Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission approved a partial demolition and addition to a home on East 10th street during their June 25th meeting. Connor Herterich said the new construction will lift the roof.

Commission member Deb Hutton said most change will happen behind the front of the building. Commissioner Sam DeSollar said the petitioner’s decision to center the front door would clean up the front of the home

 

The Monroe County School Corporation discussed the reopening and recovery plan during their June 23rd School Board Meeting. Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Markey Winston said all teachers will receive training for online-teaching. She said there are three key ways students will be present in school.

Winston said the other options are an online academy instructed by MCCSC instructors and curriculum, or an Intermittent Online learning. She said students attending the online academy must commit to at least one semester. She said intermittent leaning would be in case of resurgence or case by case.

Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Operations Dr. Andrea Mobley said any students taking in person classes must screen for any COVID-19 symptoms each morning. She said students must also wash their hands before leaving for school and upon arrival, hand washing breaks will be scheduled throughout the day. She said each school will also increase sanitation.

Mobley said classes should use outside classroom settings as often as possible. She strongly encouraged independent travel to and from school. She said MCCSC will still run buses however students must wear masks, sit in assigned seats, take attendance, and ride with windows open as much as possible. She said buses will attempt staggered pick up and drop off times.

Mobley said playgrounds will also be disinfected daily and recess times staggered. Winston said all students will receive frequent instruction on how to use Canvas, their online learning platform.