WFHB FireHouse Broadcasting

A tanker truck carrying a load of liquid propane explodes on I-69 at I-465; vaccine for the H1N1 flu virus is reaching the Bloomington area very slowly and in small amounts, meanwhile the vaccine for regular seasonal flu is in short supply; a Republican caucus names Don VanDerMoere the next prosecutor for Owen County; parts of the Indiana Memorial Union are now open twenty-four hours a day; the Monroe County school board wants other school districts to join them in opposing a proposed reduction in teacher licensing requirements; the Monroe County Public Library is about to start a series of renovations, including a new drive-up window; the Bloomington Human Rights Commission is seeking nominations for its annual Human Rights Award; the Archives of African American Music and Culture at Indiana University will host a conference on black rock musicians.
FEATURE
It took the Bloomington city council less than twenty minutes last night to make our town one of only two Indiana cities to enact responsible bidder laws. After extensive discussion at last week’s session, the council voted unanimously to amend city code with new provisions to make sure taxpayer-funded projects are done by ethical contractors and not just the cheapest ones. Assistant city attorney Mike Rouker helps the council more clearly define what it means to be a responsible contractor and create transparency in the bidding process for both contractors and city officials. We’ll also hear public support from local labor leader Tom Szymanski, and city councilman Andy Ruff explains why he voted yes, after Rouker runs us through the details of Bloomington’s new Responsible Bidder Ordinance in a compilation of highlights from both last night’s vote and last week’s discussion.
VOICES IN THE STREET
Our weekly public opinion feature goes cruising on the B-Line to find out what local residents think about the trail, called the most significant economic development project on the city’s agenda by Bloomington mayor Mark Kruzan.