Welcome to the October edition of Prescription for Healthcare on WFHB Community Radio in collaboration with Medicare for All Indiana. 

Today, hosts Karen Green Stone and Dr. Rob Stone continue their conversation with Dr. Ed Weisbart, a retired family physician from St. Louis and chair of the Missouri chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program. 

Dr. Weisbart lectures around the country on the problems and inequalities of our healthcare system and the need for single-payer Medicare for All. He was recently in Bloomington and Indianapolis giving presentations for medical students.

Hear Dr. Weisbart propose his prescription for the state of our healthcare system. To your good health, everyone.

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, October 20th, 2021.

Later in the program, Big Talk Producer Michael Glab speaks with music writer and author Stephen Deusner who recently wrote a book about the alternative Southern rock band, The Drive By Truckers.

Also coming up in the next half hour, we have Better Beware - your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB.

But first, your environmental news brief:

Indiana University has recently joined the Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center which is an organization of universities and natural resource agencies that is focused on supporting scientific discoveries that will help Midwestern states respond to the climate crisis. The Midwest CASC will fund individual research projects that will center on this adaptation to climate, and particularly how it will affect the tribal communities of the Midwest. The program hopes to share the knowledge learned to rural areas throughout the Midwest to help those areas become more prepared for the effects of climate change.

Last week, President Biden appointed Debra Shore, a wastewater treatment official from the Chicago area, as the new director of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Midwest office, which encompasses Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. The Midwest office coordinates work between the states and promotes efforts to clean and protect shared areas of the Midwest, such as the rivers and the Great Lakes. Recently, the focus of the organization has been on dealing with wastewater pollution and contamination of drinking water. This appointment represents President Biden’s bold plan to address environmental issues through an approach of reinforcing the power of governmental organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency.

One of the key environmental policies in President Biden’s “Build Back Better” reconciliation package is likely to be cut due to opposition from West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin. The main environmental policy is called the Clean Electricity Performance Program which would offer $150 billion dollars total to energy suppliers who make the switch away from fossil fuels and to renewable energy sources. Climate experts have cited this program as being one of the most significant policies that could prevent global temperatures from rising above 1.5 degrees Celsius, which is a threshold that when crossed will result in the most dangerous effects of climate change. It is important to note that Senator Joe Manchin benefits financially from the coal industry, so left-leaning Democratic politicians believe this to be the root of his opposition. These politicians are planning to protest Manchin’s decision.

Local Officials Provide Covid-19 Update at Joint Press Conference

Photo courtesy of University of Michigan.

At the Covid-19 Press Conference on October 15th, Health director Penny Caudill shared the Board of Health’s recommendations for Halloween and the holidays with friends and family. She said it is important to get vaccinated now so that the vaccine can be effective in time for festivities.

President of IU Health Brian Shockney said that getting the seasonal flu shot in addition to the Covid-19 vaccine, helps make the holiday season more safe.

Shockney added that the hospital is still struggling to schedule the surgeries that had to be postponed due to the latest surge. He said that this surge has been more aggressive than the others, and resulted in more individuals being hospitalized.

The next Covid-19 Press Conference will be held on October 22nd.

Now it’s time for your feature reports:

Author and music writer Stephen Deusner listened to the Drive-B...

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, October 19th, 2021.

Later in the program, we have a Few Minutes with the Mayor - a weekly segment where we pose questions to Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton on community issues. Assistant News Director Noelle Herhusky-Schneider has more in the bottom half of tonight’s program.

Also coming up in the next half hour, The Indiana Department of Transportation announced that Interstate 69 in Martinsville should reopen by the end of the year. WFHB News interviewed project spokesperson Natalie Garrett about what motorists can expect in the coming months.

And now, your daily headlines:

Road Report: I-69 to Open in Martinsville by the End of 2021

About nine months ago, a five-mile section of State Road 37 in Martinsville closed to the public in order to upgrade to interstate status.

However, motorists can expect the Martinsville portion of the I-69 Finish Line project to open soon, says spokesperson Natalie Garrett.

"I-69 through Martinsville is expected to open to traffic by the end of 2021," said Garrett.

The I-69 Finish Line project stretches from Martinsville to Indianapolis, and it will include more than 26 miles of new interstate highway and dozens of new or replaced bridges.

Garrett explained the project at large and how the Martinsville portion fits into the broader construction.

"It's the sixth and final section of I-69 between Evansville and Indianapolis in the state of Indiana," she said. "The actual finish line portion begins in Martinsville and ends in Indianapolis, they will connect with the south side of 465."

She also touched on some major changes motorists can expect to see once the interstate opens.

"Access to the highway and future interstate will be different than it was prior to the closure. Access points will be limited to the entrance and exit ramps along what is currently State Road 37, future I-69," said Garrett.

As we move into the fall and inch closer to the winter months, construction becomes dependent on weather conditions.

However, Garrett maintains that road construction remains steady. She says crews are on schedule for the expected unveiling of the interstate by the end of the year.

"Construction is continuing on schedule along the corridor. As I said earlier, paving is one of the main operations going on at least in the Martinsville area," she said.

Looking ahead, Garrett says that construction crews will continue to work on the highway even after the road opens to the public.

"Work will continue in the Martinsville area through mid 2022. Just because end of the year hits, that doesn't mean our contractor is going to pack up and leave the Martinsville area," said Garrett.

For more information on project updates and frequently asked questions, you can visit i69finishline.com.

Feature Report:

Photo courtesy of the City of Bloomington.

Up next, we have a Few Minutes with the Mayor - a weekly segment where we pose questions to Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton on community issues.

Assistant News Director Noelle Herhusky-Schneider talked to the mayor about the 2022 city budget and the actions taken by the city for people experiencing homelessness in the winter.

All that and more in today’s edition of A Few Minutes with the Mayor.

In case you might have missed yesterday’s local news, we talked to social work students who protested the City of Bloomington’s National Conference on Police Social Work at the Monroe Convention Center. We revisit that report from WFHB’s Kade Young and Abe Shapiro.

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, October 18th, 2021.

Later in the program, WFHB News talked to social work students who protested the City of Bloomington’s National Conference on Police Social Work. More coming up in the bottom half of our show.

Also coming up in the next half hour, we have some recent prison related news and announcements from the producers of our public affairs program, Kite Line.

But first, your local headlines:

Bloomington City Council Pushes Back Against Proposed 2022 Budget

The Bloomington City Council pushed back against the proposed budget at the October 13th meeting.

Mayor John Hamilton introduced the 2022 city budget, and warned council members that the 2021 budget will be reinstated if the new budget is not approved.

Council member Susan Sandberg commented that she would rather renegotiate the budget with the Mayor rather than approve a budget she does not agree with. She said she would prefer to see sufficient funding for the basic necessities and wait to fund additional amenities.

Council member Matt Flarehty also said that he would be voting no on the budget unless changes were made. He said that he did not agree with the budget’s inability to meet the demands of the city’s climate action plan.

Council member Isabel-Piedmont Smith pointed out the mayor’s role in collaborating with the council to pass a budget. She emphasized that both parties share 50 percent of the budget obligations. That way, the council should have just as much input.

Council member Steve Volan explained that the mayor can increase funds in the budget, but the council can only decrease funding. He highlighted the fact that the position for a Director of Climate Action has not been funded, and only the mayor has the ability to change that.

President Jim Sims said that based on his colleagues’ comments it is quite clear that the budget still needs work. The city council recessed for the night, and will revisit the budget at 6:30 p.m. on October 27th.

Bloomington Board of Public Works Talks About Bike Lane Project

On October 12th at the Bloomington Board of Public Works meeting the board discussed the 7th Street Protected Bike Lane Project.

Senior Project Manager Roy Aten gave an overview of the project’s funding, and explained the changes they have made to the contract with Milestone Contractors.

Board member Beth Hollingsworth asked about the educational outreach the project has been doing to reach the public.

Senior Project Engineer Neil Kopper shared that they have been getting more questions from the public since the construction is almost finished, and that they are working with the Planning and Transportation Department to decide what future outreach they can do.

The board approved the changes to the contract with Milestone Contractors unanimously. The next board meeting will be held on October 26th.

Monroe County Commissioners Discuss Safety in AMC Movie Theaters and More

On October 13th at the Monroe County Board of Commissioners meeting during public comment resident Guy Loftman thanked the commissioners and Monroe County staff for their work, saying that he has been able to pay more attention due to the meetings being held on Zoom.

Shelter Outreach and Safe Place Program Coordinator Brigitt Nasby presented a contract with National CineMedia to promote the Safe Place Program to Monroe County residents in AMC movie theaters.

Commissioner Lee Jones said that she was glad the program is able to advertise this way, and that residents will be able to learn about the programs Monroe County has to offer.

The commissioners unanimously approved funding for the o...

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, October 14th, 2021.

Later in the program, we have the October edition of Civic Conversations - a podcast collaboration between WFHB and the League of Women Voters of Bloomington and Monroe County.

Our guests today are Simone Smith, the winning contestant in the League of Women Voters Brown County's essay contest on redistricting, and Shari Frank, the president of the League of Women Voters of Brown County.

But first, the Statehouse Roundup:

Indiana’s vaccination rate fell to its lowest level since becoming available last winter, according to a report by the Associated Press.

The state department of health reported about 6,000 shots per day last week. That’s about half of the shots given last month.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Indiana ranks the 14th lowest in the nation when it comes to vaccination rates.

Meanwhile, Governor Eric Holcomb has not held a Covid-19 news briefing since March of this year after announcing that the mask mandate would no longer be in effect.

***

Former First Lady of Indiana Susan Bayh was memorialized last weekend after Covid-19 caused delays for a proper memorial service.

Bayh died of cancer at 61 years old in February. She was first lady for eight years, while her husband Evan Bayh served as governor. Bayh, a Democrat, became governor in 1989, and he served two terms in the office.

Those in attendance at the memorial included Governor Eric Holcomb, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, former Senator Joe Donnelly and the current and former first ladies: Janet Holcomb, Karen Pence and Cheri Daniels.

Evan Bayh said at the memorial, “in a world with too much cynicism and apathy, she was the antithesis of both.”

***

State Senator Karen Tallian, a Democrat who represents a district in Northwest Indiana, announced that she will retire. In the coming months, Democrats will decide Tallian’s replacement.

According to an analysis by the Indy Star, when it comes to the process of filling vacant seats, more than a fifth of lawmakers at the Statehouse were initially caucused by party officials, known as precinct committee people. IndyStar analysis shows that this practice is used widely on the local level, as well.

Oftentimes, these precinct committee people or “PCs” are not elected officials. The breakdown shows that in the 2020 Republican elections for PCs, only 143 of the 600 precincts had candidates. In the 2018 Democratic election, only 279 of the 600 precincts had candidates.

That means the rest of the seats are filled by the county party chair, giving that person a disproportionate amount of political power.

It’s worth noting that neither party will disclose who these PCs are.

Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee Discusses Traffic Planning at New Hospital Site

Photo courtesy of Indiana Public Media.

On October 8th the Monroe County - Bloomington Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee discussed traffic planning near the new IU Health hospital.

Senior Transportation Planner Patrick Martin explained that IU Health had a traffic study done, and INDOT approved their plans. However, committee member Sarah Ryterband expressed concern over the lack of collaboration between the planning committee and INDOT. She said INDOT often plans four years in advance and doesn’t take the changes that are happening locally into consideration.

INDOT representative Chris Wahlman said that InDot is a big organization, and Bloomington is just one of its cities.

Committee member Steve Volan reiterated the concerns the committee was...

Welcome to the October edition of Civic Conversations - a podcast collaboration between WFHB and the League of Women Voters of Bloomington and Monroe County.

In today’s podcast, host Jim Allison speaks with Simone Smith, the winning contestant in the League of Women Voters Brown County's essay contest on redistricting, and Shari Frank, the president of the League of Women Voters of Brown County.

Simone won the contest for the Grade 9-12 category. Essays were judged anonymously by members of the Brown County Retired Teachers Association.

The prompt was developed in conjunction with the 7th-8th grade "We the People" teacher, and a high school AP History teacher, who just won History Teacher of the Year in Indiana and is going on to Nationals.

Essay_Grade9-12_1st Place Simone Smith (1)

In November, we are talking to Congressman Lee Hamilton on the status of our current democracy. In December, we are talking to Scott Shackelford and Abbey Stemler, IU Mauer School of Law on election security.

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, October 13th, 2021.

Later in the program, Monroe County Residents Against Annexation have begun the process to remonstrate, or formally challenge, Mayor John Hamilton’s annexation plan. More coming up in the bottom half of tonight’s show.

Also coming up in the next half hour, host Richard Fish covers some of the most famous swindlers in history during a classic edition of Better Beware, our weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB. That’s following today’s feature report.

But first, your environmental news brief:

In Portage, Indiana, the U.S. Steel Midwest plant has reported a second pollution spill in the last two weeks. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management announced that the nearby Burns Waterway was polluted with an oily sheen from the steel plant. Existing pollution precautions have contained the spill and it is unlikely that it will enter nearby Lake Michigan. This event occurred a week after nearly twenty Lake Michigan organizations called on Indiana politicians to do more to protect the waterways and Lake Michigan.

President Joe Biden has recently announced the restoration of national monuments that were reduced in size under former President Donald Trump. Biden signed three proclamations that increased the sizes of the national monuments of Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine off the coast of New England. The national monument of Bears Ears has an important historical connection with the Native American tribe of the Laguna Pueblo. This represents a sizable step forward for the Biden Administration’s climate priorities and the Native American community.

A recent study from the Pew Research Center has found that the concern for the impending climate crisis has greatly increased in many areas of the world. Seventy-two percent of the people surveyed from countries around the world expressed concerns that climate change could impact their lives at some point in the near future. Only two countries did not have an increase in concerns, Japan and the United States. However, worldwide, the concern among younger people has risen, which lends hope to the need to address the crisis. Public concern about climate change is the biggest motivator for organizations such as the United Nations to take steps to implement aggressive policies to address global fossil fuel emissions.

Monroe County Council Discusses Indigenous Peoples' Day, Remonstration Against Annexation and A Sidewalk on Rodgers

On October 12th the Monroe County Council Council member Cheryl Munson gave an update on the holiday the solid waste district took this week and recognized Indigenous Peoples' Day.

Next on the agenda, County Auditor Catherine Smith explained the remonstration process currently going on against annexation. She said that county residents should not be afraid to ask for help, and that they are attempting to be as non-partisan as possible.

During public comment on General Obligation Bonds, resident Jackie Porter expressed her concern for the safety of students walking to school on Rogers Street without sidewalks. She said she hopes to see a sidewalk there before she retires.

Council member Trent Deckard responded to Porter’s comment, and said he supported investments like these, proposed on behalf of the community.

Munson added that the need for the sidewalk has been a problem since the mid-1980’s, saying, "it is time to get this fixed."

The General Obligation Bond appropriations noted not to exceed three million one hundred thousand dollars, were approved unanimously.

The next meeting will be held on November 9th.

Monroe County Residents Against Annexation Begin Remonstration Process

Three weeks ago,

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, October 12th, 2021.

Later in the program, we will broadcast an excerpt from our public affairs program Bring It On, Indiana's only weekly radio program committed to exploring the people, issues and events impacting the African-American community.

Hosts Clarence Boone and William Hosea speak with State Representative Ragen Hatcher, a Democrat from Gary, Indiana about her father. She is one of the three daughters of Richard Gordon Hatcher, the five-term mayor of Gary. More coming up in today’s feature report.

Local Officials Discuss Public Health Response to Covid-19 at Press Conference

Photo courtesy of University of Michigan.

At the Covid-19 Press Conference on October 8th, Health Director Penny Caudill shared the Board of Health’s goals moving forward now that Monroe County has reached a 60% vaccination rate of eligible individuals.

President of IU Health Brian Shockney reported that although there is a decline in cases, they are still seeing patients die from Covid-19. However, Shockney also gave an uplifting reminder that lives are also being saved.

President of the Monroe County Commissioners Julie Thomas said that the Township Assistance Fund will be available at least until the end of October when the governor's emergency order is set to expire. She also urged residents to remain vigilant against Covid-19 even though they might be getting tired of taking all of the precautions.

The next press conference will be held on October 15th.

Feature Report:

Today, we will broadcast an excerpt from our public affairs program Bring It On, Indiana's only weekly radio program committed to exploring the people, issues and events impacting the African-American community.

Hosts Clarence Boone and William Hosea speak with State Representative Ragen Hatcher, a Democrat from Gary, Indiana about her father. She is one of the three daughters of Richard Gordon Hatcher, the five-term mayor of Gary.

On February 16, 2021, the Common Council of Gary voted 8-1 to replace Columbus Day with Richard Gordon Hatcher Day. Clarence Boone and William Hosea discuss with Representative Ragen Hatcher the importance of Richard Gordon Hatcher Day. They also discuss how more and more of the country disavows the murderous legacy of Christopher Columbus.

In 2017 at The Day to Remember Celebration when in November 1967 he and Cleveland’s Carl Stokes became the first mayors elected to head major American cities.

Bring It On airs each Monday at 6 p.m. on WFHB Community Radio. To listen to the full program, click here or tune in wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Credits:

You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,

Today’s headlines were written by Noelle Herhusky Schneider, in partnership with Cats - Community Access Television Services.

Bring It On is produced by Clarence Boone.

Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.

Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.

Anchors are Tod Wicks and Benedict Jones.

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, October 11th.

Later in the program, WFHB News speaks with Margaret Clements, Vice President of Monroe County Residents Against Annexation, about the remonstration process. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, we have an update on the 7 Oaks School and their compliance with the local mask mandate. More in the top half of tonight’s show.

Monroe County Board of Health Discusses 7 Oaks' Compliance with Local Mask Mandate

Photo courtesy of University of Michigan.

On October 7th at the Monroe County Board of Health meeting Health Director Penny Caudill updated the board that Monroe County is now 60 percent vaccinated, and is back in the yellow advisory category.

Board member Ashley Cranor followed up on 7 Oaks School compliance with the mask mandate. Caudill said that they might not be compliant at this time. The school sent home a face covering exemption form that gives parents the option to decide if their child wears a mask when participating in an indoor activity that is inconsistent with wearing a mask.

County Attorney Margie Rice outlined that they are communicating with 7 Oaks to make sure they understand that the exemption for activities that are not conducive to mask wearing are intended to be cardiovascular activities, not educational ones.

The board also unanimously approved their contract with Indiana Recovery Alliance to extend the Indiana Syringe Service Program for another two years.

The next meeting will be held on October 21st.

Bloomington City Council Approves Ordinance to Limit Meetings to 5.5 Hours or After Midnight

At the October 6th meeting the Bloomington City Council approved an ordinance which would give council members the ability to limit the duration of city council sessions to five and a half hours or after midnight.

The ordinance was proposed by Council Member Steve Volan, who expressed concern over the council's inability to adjourn at a reasonable hour.

According to Volan’s explanation of the ordinance, it would take one council member to make the motion to adjourn, and only one other council member to second the motion.

Council member Isabelle Piedmont-Smith said she supported the ordinance.

President Jim Sims did not support the ordinance, and commented that he believed the council was already equipped to adjourn without this new amendment.

The proposal to put limitations on the length of city council meetings passed 7-2-0. The next meeting will be on October 13th.

Ellettsville Plan Commission Talks Voluntary Annexation of 5010 North Lakeview Drive

Photo courtesy of Elletsville.

On October 7th the Ellettsville Plan Commission discussed the voluntary annexation of 5010 North Lakeview Drive.

The petitioner Kevin Farris would like to expand his existing business, Farris Storage, Inc. He is hoping to have the land zoned as a C-3 commercial classification.

Director of Planning and Development Kevin Tolloty explained the voluntary annexation on behalf of the petitioner who was not in attendance at the meeting.

Commissioner Terry Baker asked if there was a condition in the zoning laws to ensure there is a buffer zone between residential and commercial zoned areas.

Tolloty explained that any structure would have to be at least 20 feet from the property line.

Baker also expressed concern about allowing outdoor storage, and remarked it could dissuade individuals from moving to Ellettsville.

The commission members unanimously decided to table the decision until the next meeting so that Farris could answer questions himself.

The next meeting will be held on November 4th.

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, October 5th, 2021.

Later in the program, we have Part I of an interview with Judah Schept, an organizer for Decarcerate Monroe County, regarding the expansion of the Monroe County Jail. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, we have Better Beware - your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News. Today’s episode deals with a nursing license scam and flood-damaged used cars.

But first, your environmental news brief:

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has recently awarded eight organizations their highly valued Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence which celebrates the achievements of businesses and organizations who have taken significant steps to protect the environment. One of the organizations, the Environmental Resilience Institute at Indiana University Bloomington was awarded for their program called “Local Government Implementation Portfolio” which provides expert assistance to Indiana communities who desire to become more environmentally friendly but do not know how to start. This award was presented during the 24th annual Pollution Prevention Conference and Tradeshow which was held last month in Indianapolis.

Since the beginning of September, Bloomington residents have been reporting issues with their tap water, that ranges from it tasting bad to having a foul odor. These complaints are in higher numbers than usual, but Bloomington Utilities has insisted that the water is safe to drink and with the uptick in reports, the water has been tested multiple times every day. A possible cause of the issue has been linked to algal blooms in Lake Monroe which can be filtered out but can leave an unpleasant taste in the water. It is important to emphasize that the water is deemed safe, and treatment for the water has been adjusted according to the complaints.

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb has recently teamed up with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to create the Regional Electric Vehicle for the Midwest Memorandum of Understanding which is an organization that works to improve the electric vehicle infrastructure in the Midwest. This infrastructure will create jobs, reduce carbon emissions, and improve public health. This will also allow the Midwest to compete with the innovations on the west and east coasts.

That’s all for your environmental news brief, however WFHB needs your help. We are funded by the community and need your support. During our Fall Fund Drive, we ask our listeners to visit our website and donate to help keep us community powered. Visit this link or call 812-323-1200 to make a donation today. Thank you for your time and support.

Bloomington Redevelopment Commission Approves Nearly $80K to Rename IU Health Hospital Site

On October 4th at the Bloomington Redevelopment Commission meeting project funding for professional communications and marketing assistance was approved for the IU Health Bloomington Hospital Redevelopment Site.

Economic and Sustainable Development Director Alex Crowley explained the need for professional help on the project, saying that the scale is too large to do a good job without relying on external assistance and experience.

Commissioner Nick Kappas questioned why the communications contract was necessary, and why the public wasn’t being involved in the naming process instead.

Crowley responded saying that the contract would be able to help with the development of the site, which could include getting the public’s input.

Feature Reports:

Now, we turn to former correspondent for the local news, Katrine Bruner, as she recounts her experience as a volunteer in light of our fa...