Ask The Mayor

This week on WBAA’s Ask The Mayor: COVID-19 vaccinations are widely available in Indiana, and health departments are urging residents to sign up for their shot. As supply meets demand, what’s the outreach plan for Hoosiers who are hesitant to get vaccinated?

This week on WBAA’s Ask The Mayor: the construction of Frankfort’s new police station is on its way. What amenities are in this long-planned space, and what’s the benefit to residents? And what are the plans for the city’s current station after the police department makes the transition?

This week on WBAA’s Ask The Mayor: Indiana’s statewide mask mandate ended this week, leaving it up to local governments to decide on stricter measures. While West Lafayette’s mask ordinance remains, Lafayette is following the governor’s lead and lifting the mandate – except at city hall, where face coverings are required for a few more weeks. What’s the reasoning behind these decisions?

This week on WBAA’s Ask The Mayor: mask mandates are back up for debate in Indiana after Gov. Eric Holcomb announced an end to the statewide order starting next week. In West Lafayette, the local mandate will remain in place. How will area residents navigate different rules in different places in the coming months?

This week on WBAA’s Ask The Mayor: postponed plans for a long-awaited aquatics center were set back in motion this month in Frankfort. What will the new space bring to the city and surrounding areas, and what’s next on the to-do list?

This week in our talk with Frankfort Mayor Judy Sheets, we’ll discuss the city’s downtown development, with plans for new apartments and retail space and the demolition of an old hospital. What are the mayor’s project priorities as the COVID-19 pandemic begins to slow and the city can re-focus on what’s ahead?

This week on WBAA’s Ask The Mayor: one year ago today, the World Health Organization declared that COVID-19 was a global pandemic, and local governments were rapidly planning safety measures in an uncertain time. A year later, what lessons were learned about the best balance to strike for the health and well-being of Lafayette residents?

This week on WBAA’s Ask The Mayor: legislation making its way through this year’s session could impact the decision-making power of local government officials, on everything from handling future pandemics to enforcing current wind energy ordinances. What’s the best balance between broader state guidelines and keeping some control in the hands of mayors, county commissioners, and public health officers?

This week on WBAA’s Ask The Mayor: COVID-19 case counts are improving in Tippecanoe County, and more local health department restrictions could be lifted. What’s ahead for local businesses as they pivot to reopen more fully – and continue to maintain health and safety practices for the public?

This week on WBAA’s Ask The Mayor: COVID-19 numbers are trending downward across Indiana. And as vaccinations continue, so does the discussion about which Hoosier recipients take priority – including in Tippecanoe County, where area educators reached out this week to the governor with concerns about their place in the state’s vaccine plan.

This week on WBAA’s Ask The Mayor: as the new year continues, COVID-19 statewide cases and hospitalizations are declining, some restrictions are being relaxed, and Indiana’s COVID-19 vaccinations are expanding. How are vaccinations progressing in Montgomery County? Are there new vaccine sites on the horizon? And how could a city/county partnership help reach more people in need of the inoculation?

This week on WBAA’s Ask The Mayor: Clinton County re-entered the state’s orange COVID-19 category this week after spending some time in the red. How can residents maintain this progress in the weeks and months ahead?

This week on WBAA’s Ask The Mayor: COVID-19 vaccinations have expanded to new recipients in Indiana, with Hoosiers 70 and older now able to register for appointments.  What’s the best way to connect older residents with the assistance they might need to get signed up? And how can local officials help facilitate a smooth process as more and more people become eligible for their vaccination?

This week on WBAA’s Ask The Mayor: Indiana’s vaccination rollout continues, with first responders and Hoosiers aged 80 and older added to the state’s list of recipients. How and when can people register to receive their shots, and how can local officials and agencies help facilitate the process and keep residents informed about next steps?

This week on WBAA’s Ask The Mayor: Montgomery County was moved into the most serious red category on the state health department’s COVID-19 metrics map, just ahead of the Christmas holidays. What are the necessary next steps, and what adjustments do officials and residents need to make to respond to this change?

This week on WBAA’s Ask The Mayor: as 2020 comes to a close, COVID-19 continues its spread through Indiana, but vaccinations are on the way. How will communities hold off the virus as local officials make plans for vaccine distribution – and how will they convince residents it’s safe to receive those vaccines?