This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, August 17th, 2020.

Later in the program, Diane Walker – contributor for the Limestone Post, talks to Jacob Sipe – executive director of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority about the end of the statewide eviction moratorium..

Also coming up in the next half hour, A Few Minutes with the Mayor – where WFHB Assistant News Director talks to Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton about local issues.

COVID Press Conference

Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton speaks via Zoom at the latest Covid-19 press conference (Photo courtesy of Community Access Television Services).

During the August 14th COVID-19 press conference, Monroe County Health administrator Penny Caudill said the positivity rate for Monroe county is steady at 4.3 percent. She said the 7-day average rate is at 3.2 percent, which has come down from the previous 4 percent.

Caudill said two deaths were recently added to the county numbers. She said all Monroe County deaths have been people over the age of 50. She said the majority of tests are being done in people 20 to 39 years old. Caudill said order exemptions will not be automatically granted.

Caudill said anyone who has a COVID test taken should quarantine until the test results are received. She said it is important to respond to contact tracer messages.

President of Indiana University Health Brian Shockney said Monroe County was held up as the best practice county in Indiana for COVID care. He said Monroe County has lost 32 people due to the pandemic. Shockney said IU Health is participating gin the Learn Fund for child education.

Assistant Vice President of Strategic Partnerships Kirk White said Indiana University test results will be posted on a weekly basis. Caudill said positive tests form IU would be counted towards Monroe County data.

Indiana Black Legislative Caucus Revealed Justice Reform Agenda for Upcoming 2020 Session

The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus announced an agenda for sweeping justice reform in a news conference on Thursday (Photo courtesy of Indy Star).

The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus held a press conference on Thursday to reveal its justice reform agenda for the 2020 legislative session.

State Representative Robin Shackleford laid out five categories for the IBLC’s agenda. Those categories included saving lives, holding those in power accountable, changing culture, empowering community and improving transparency.

“All of these categories are ways that we will ensure we answer the call of action by the recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and many more,” said Shackleford.

She talked about the category of saving lives. It included banning no-knock warrants, passing an inclusive hate-crimes law, removing police officers from schools and decriminalizing marijuana.

“We have a lot of work to do, and we must begin by decriminalizing Jim Crow era laws,” she said.

Senator Greg Taylor discussed holding law enforcement accountable. The caucus calls for a public database for citizen complaints against law enforcement officers.

“Law enforcement should have annual evaluations,” said Taylor.

Governor Eric Holcomb’s office sent an email on Thursday saying the agenda is being reviewed.

3 People Dead After Car Sinks in Lake Monroe

August 16, 2020 – Bloomington, Indiana: A sign warns of water before the site where two adults, and a juvenile drowned Saturday night when the vehicle they were in was driven into Monroe Lake at the Paynetown boat ramp and the vehicle sank about 100 feet from the shore in 8 feet of water. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)

Three people died after a car went down a boat ramp at Lake Monroe on Saturday night.

In a statement from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources a man, woman, and male child were in the vehicle.

A WTHR report stated, “According to DNR, witnesses say they saw a vehicle drive down the Paynetown State Recreation Area boat ramp and go into the water around 10:30 p.m.”

According to witness reports the man called out for help but was unable to help before the car sank. The Monroe County Dive Team was able to retrieve the passengers, where the man and woman were pronounced dead at the scene. The boy was pronounced dead on arrival at the IU Health Bloomington Hospital.

Feature Reports:

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb’s moratorium on residential evictions expired on August 14. Evictions for many renters are expected to resume the next day, writes Diane Walker. While rental assistance is available, demand will likely exceed supply. Walker talked to housing experts who fear a disaster could result if more help isn’t made available. | Limestone Post

1. Diane Walker, contributor for the Limestone Post, begins an ongoing series for WFHB about the end of the moratorium on evictions in Indiana. Today, she speaks with Jacob Sipe, executive director of Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. This is Part I. of the series. Click the following link to read a story she wrote for the Limestone Post titled, “Some Renter Help Available As End of Eviction Moratorium Looms.”
2. Now it’s time for A Few Minutes with the Mayor. In today’s installment, I talk to Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton about the state’s lack of no-excuse mail-in voting, Covid-19 data collection in the county and wastewater testing for Covid-19 hotspots.

Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News.,
Today’s headlines were written by Kade Young and Sydney Foreman, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Diane Walker with help from Melanie Davis.
A Few Minutes with the Mayor was produced by Sydney Foreman.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.