WFHB Local News

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, August 12th, 2024. Later in the program, local journalist Dave Askins of the B Square Bulletin provides an editorial on a recent appropriation ordinance from the city council. More in the bottom half of tonight’s program. That’s Katie Hopkins from Thriving Connections, a program helping local people build bridges out of poverty. She's looking for some supportive allies for the latest crew of program participants. Find out how to sign up later in the show on a new episode of Activate! But first, your daily headlines: Bloomington City Council The Bloomington City Council met for its regular session on August 7th. During the meeting, Mayor Kerry Thomson touched on encampments and service provider recommendations for unhoused individuals. The mayor’s report comes after the city released a new housing action plan conducted by Heading Home of South Central Indiana. The action plan is a 20-page report providing a strategy for addressing street homelessness in the community.…

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, August 8th, 2024. Later in the program, we have Prescription for Healthcare, a podcast collaboration between the WFHB Local News and Medicare for All Indiana. More in the bottom half of our program. Also coming up in the next half hour, WFHB Correspondent Cindy Beaulé speaks with members of Off Night Productions – a women-led nonprofit producing contemporary theatre & music on off nights of the traditional performance week. But first, your local headlines: Bloomington Utilities Service Board Photo courtesy of Schmidt Associates. At the Bloomington Utility Service Board meeting on July 29th, a Bloomington Resident and Utility Customer asked the board to appeal a utility bill. The customer shared that their water bill was high due to a leak that occurred after they moved out of their apartment. Assistant City Attorney Chris Wheeler said that according to Indiana Law, they are only able to adjust the bill if the meter had been read incorrectly or if there was a meter…

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, August 6th, 2024. Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Cindy Beaulé speaks with folk trio Mad Agnes who is playing a show in Bloomington on Friday. More in today’s feature report. Also coming up in the next half hour, Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. But first, your local headlines: Monroe County Board of Commissioners Photo by Benedict Jones. The Monroe County Board of Commissioners met on July 31st. Health Administrator Lori Kelley gave an update on the health department, saying that Covid-19 related emergency visits have increased slightly. Then, the commissioners heard a resolution outlining remonstration for the expansion of the Monroe Fire Protection District. This resolution would add Bean Blossom Township to the county’s fire protection district. According to the agenda, the inclusion of the township into the county’s fire protection district requires a public meeting and a demonstration that Bean Blossom Township…

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, August 5th, 2024. Later in the program, the Bloomington City Council appointed deputy attorney Ash Kulak to serve as interim council administrator during the council’s most recent meeting. More in today’s headlines. That’s Chris Herring from Pals - that's People and Animal Learning Services. They use "equine therapy" to help people in our community overcome their challenges. Hear more later in the show on a new episode of Activate! But first, your daily headlines: Bloomington City Council The Bloomington City Council met on July 31st after a summer recess. During the council reports section of the meeting, the council deliberated on filling the vacancy of the council attorney position. The vote concerned whether to allow the deputy attorney Ash Kulak to serve as interim council attorney. Parliamentarian Hopi Stosberg walked through the proposal. Council Member Isak Asare asked about the process behind the job posting. Stosberg explained the rationale of the hiring…

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, August 1st, 2024. Later in the program, the Indiana University Board of Trustees voted 6-3 in support of a new expressive activity policy which goes into effect today. Today, WFHB brings you a news special looking into the impact of the new policy which opponents say limit free speech. That’s coming up in today’s edition of the WFHB Local News. Feature Report: BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – JULY 31: Pro-Palestine protesters gather outside the Indiana University Alumni Association to demonstrate after the Indiana University board of trustees passed a policy regulating free speech on campus on July 31, 2024 in Bloomington, Ind. The free speech policy labeled, “Expressive Activity Policy” activists say is aimed at Pro-Palestine protests and Grad Student Union strikes, was passed during a meeting at the same location Monday. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian) The Indiana University Board of Trustees voted 6-3 in support of a new expressive activity policy which goes into…

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, July 31st, 2024. Later in the program, Indiana University’s new expressive activity policy goes into effect on Thursday. WFHB News spoke with Dunn Meadow protesters earlier this afternoon. More in today’s headlines. Also coming up in the next half hour, “The Weed of Crime Bears Bitter Fruit” on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News. More following today’s feature. But first, your local headlines: EPA Identifies Ethylene Oxide Exposure at Beyond Safe Levels Inside Climate Change reports that for Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley,’ studies show an even graver risk from toxic gasses. Levels of ethylene oxide more than 1,000 times higher than what’s considered safe—and far greater than previous estimates—were identified by researchers at John Hopkins. According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, those chemicals are present in Cancer Alley at rates that are far higher than previously believed. Using state-of-the-art mobile air…

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, July 30th, 2024. Later in the program, WFHB News spoke with Michael McCarthy, member of the Coordinating Committee for the Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition, about what the new policy means for the upcoming school year. More in today’s feature report. IU to Implement New Expressive Activity Policy The Indiana University Board of Trustees voted 6-3 in support of a new expressive activity policy across all campuses. Correction: The new policy bans camping, limits hours of expressive activity from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The policy bans camping, limits hours of expressive activity from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and requires that structures be approved by the university at least 10 days in advance, among a variety of other new procedures. Violation of the policy could result in the removal of tents or even suspension from campus. The policy goes into effect on Thursday, August 1st. This comes after Indiana University recently released its findings of a third-party review of the…

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, July 29th, 2024. Later in the program, Indiana University recently released third-party findings from its review on the arrests made of Dunn Meadow protesters in April. More in today’s headlines. That’s Maria Douglas from Hoosier Asian American Power, encouraging civic engagement among Indiana’s Asian-American community. Learn more later in the show on a new episode of Activate! But first, your daily headlines: Extreme Hot Temperatures This Week, Monroe County Offering Cooling Stations Temperatures are expected to reach over 90 degrees Fahrenheit this week. Extreme hot temperatures pose a serious threat to health and safety. Monroe County is offering temporary cooling stations at 8 locations throughout the community. According to a press release put out by Justin Baker, Deputy Director of the Monroe County Emergency Management Agency, cooling stations are facilities where individuals who do not have air can cool down and continue on their way. Baker says that food,…

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, July 25th, 2024. In today’s feature report, WFHB News Correspondent Brookelyn Lambright looks into the impact of redistricting on Indiana’s 2024 election. More in the bottom half of our program. Also coming up in the next half hour, WFHB Sports Correspondent Sam Hall provides a report on Indiana’s athletes in the upcoming Olympics in Paris. But first, your local headlines: Bloomington Board of Park Commissioners Special Session On July 23rd, the City of Bloomington Board of Park Commissioners met for a special session. The special meeting included a review of an appeal from a resident who was suspended from the city’s farmers’ market for inappropriate behavior. Director of the Parks Department Tim Street said that staff recommends to uphold the suspension. City Attorney Chris Wheeler walked through the legal basis of the suspension and made a case to uphold the decision. Wheeler continued to outline the park commissioners’ authority to remove and suspend people from…

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, July 24th, 2024. Later in the program, Vice President Kamala Harris gave a speech in Indianapolis earlier this afternoon at the historically Black sorority Zeta Phi Beta. More in today’s headlines. Also coming up in the next half hour, “Winners and Losers” on Better Beware – your weekly consumer watchdog segment airing each Wednesday on the WFHB Local News. More following today’s feature. But first, your local headlines: Monroe County’s Food and Beverage Tax Advisory Commission Photo by Benedict Jones. On Monday, Monroe County’s Food and Beverage Tax Advisory Commission approved an additional 350,000 dollars to the budget for the Convention Center’s Capital Improvement Board. CIB Controller Jeff Underwood walked through the budget proposal. Capital Improvement Board Member John Whikehart asked about the legal fees in the budget proposal. Underwood responded. The commission approved the 2024 budget for the CIB in the amount of 600,702 dollars in total. Kamala Harris…

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, July 23rd, 2024. In today’s feature report, WFHB News Correspondent Madison Stratton speaks with non-profit organizations and local advocates about the importance of “shopping local” and addressing food insecurity issues in the community. More in today’s feature report. Also coming up in the next half hour, we have Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. But first, your local headlines: Vice President Kamala Harris to Speak in Indianapolis on Wednesday Vice President Kamala Harris is slated to speak in Indianapolis on Wednesday in one of the first stops for her presidential campaign. Vice President Harris will speak at an annual convention for the historically Black sorority Zeta Phi Beta. This follows President Joe Biden’s decision over the weekend ending his bid for a second term. Indiana Democratic Party Chair Mike Schmuhl said he’s looking forward to Harris’ speech in Indianapolis this week. Schmuhl gave his reaction to President…

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, July 22nd, 2024. Later in the program, local journalist Dave Askins of the B Square Bulletin provides his weekly editorial on the WFHB Local News. More in today’s feature report. That’s Lesley Davis from the Bloomington Council for Community Accessibility, on a mission to make our town user-friendly for all. Find out what they’re working on later in the show on a new episode of Activate! But first, your daily headlines: Monroe County Public Library Board of Trustees Upon entering the library, you can see the words, "read, learn, connect and create" (Young). At the Monroe County Public Library Board of Trustees meeting on July 17th, Director of Public Services Josh Wolf shared the Director’s Monthly Report on the state of the library and its programming. Next, the board discussed the conclusion of the Covid Leave Policy. Human Resources Director Becky Throckmorton spoke on the decision to end the policy. Board Member Chris Hull asked about the numbers of Covid-19 in the…

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, July 18th, 2024. Later in the program, WFHB Environmental Correspondent Zero Roze gets an update from the Indiana Forest Alliance on a set of ongoing issues and opportunities to get involved in documenting local endangered species. More in the bottom half of our program. Also coming up in the next half hour, we have Voices in the Street - public opinion polls in the streets of Bloomington produced by WFHB’s Youth Radio. But first, your local headlines: Ellettsville Town Council Photo courtesy of Ellettsville. On July 8th, the Ellettsville Town Council tabled a second reading of an ordinance that would establish a Redevelopment Commission. Council Members came to a consensus to table the agenda items due to the fact that only 3 out of the 5 council members were present at the meeting. Town Attorney Darla Brown asked for clarification on an amendment to the policy. Council Member William Ellis responded. President of the Council Scott Oldham inquired about an…

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, July 17th, 2024. Later in the program, WFHB News reports on Indiana’s power grid – how it works, how it’s outdated and how the state can shift to more renewable forms of energy for its power. More in today’s feature report. Also coming up in the next half hour, Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News. For more, we turn to host and producer Richard Fish. More following today’s feature. But first, your local headlines: Bloomington Board of Public Works During the July 16th meeting of the Bloomington Board of Public Works, board members heard a resolution that would give the board authority to make special purchases under emergency conditions. The public works board would need prior written approval of payments from the city’s controller before authorizing payments. City Attorney Alex Pratt and Public Works Director Adam Wason gave an overview of the resolution. The board approved the resolution unanimously. Next, the city approved…

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, July 16th, 2024. Later in the program, WFHB News hears from Brown County Pickleball Club Members Danny Key and Josie Grey a push for outdoor pickleball courts which are currently lacking in Brown County. More in today’s feature report. Also coming up in the next half hour, we have Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. But first, your local headlines: Monroe County Board of Commissioners Photo by Benedict Jones. On Wednesday, July 10th, 2024, the Monroe County Board of Commissioners set out to discuss a contract with Proactive M-D for Clinic Services. County Personnel Administrator Elizabeth Sensenstein presented information regarding the monthly and yearly cost. Sensenstein then proceeded to talk about what services will stay the same, what services will change, and new and improved services regarding this contract. Commissioners' Administrator Angelie Purdie and Commissioner President Julie Thomas then chimed in, asking for…

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, July 15th, 2024. Later in the program, WFHB News Correspondent Madison Stratton speaks with non-profit organizations and local advocates about the importance of “shopping local” and addressing food insecurity issues in the community. More in today’s feature report. That’s Vinal Lee, chair of the Monroe County Community Organizations Active in Disaster. Learn how to be prepared for weather emergencies like the summer storms that slammed Bloomington last month later in the show on a new episode of Activate! But first, your daily headlines: Bloomington Arts Commission Talks Hopewell Art, July Artist Party, WFHB Block Rocker Photo courtesy of CATS TV. The Bloomington Arts Commission met on July 10th. Assistant Director for the Arts Holly Warren gave a financial rundown on the city’s arts and culture projects. The city partnered with the Monroe County History Center and Downtown Bloomington, Inc. to host a free event titled the July Artist Party which takes place on July…

In today's feature report, WFHB News Correspondents Noelle Herhusky-Schneider, Kade Young and Madison Stratton take a look at Indiana's efforts to rollback protections for wetlands. This is Part Four for a four-part series that previously aired on Deep Dive: WFHB and Limestone Post Investigate. EcoWatch reports the Olympics in Paris this summer could be the hottest on record, according to a new report: Rings of Fire: Heat Risks at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Leading athletes warn the heat could result in athletes collapsing or even dying while participating in events. Mike Tipton, a human and applied physiology professor at the United Kingdom’s University of Portsmouth, and Dr. Jo Corbett, deputy associate dean for research and innovation in the university’s science and health department, worked with former Olympians and climate scientists to put together the report. “A warming planet will present an additional challenge to athletes, which can adversely impact on their performance and diminish the sporting…

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, July 11th, 2024. Later in the program, Mayor Kerry Thomson answered questions from community residents at a town hall on Tuesday at St. Thomas Lutheran Church. More in today’s headlines. Also coming up in the next half hour, we have Prescription for Healthcare, a podcast collaboration between the WFHB Local News and Medicare for All Indiana. But first, your local headlines: Mayor Thomson Hosted Traveling Town Hall on Tuesday On July 10th, Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson spoke with city residents at St. Thomas Lutheran Church as part of the mayor’s traveling town hall series. City Council Members Hopi Stosberg and Andy Ruff also joined the mayor for the town hall. The three city officials fielded questions from residents on housing affordability, transportation issues and storm recovery. One local resident brought up concerns regarding affordable housing and homelessness in the community. Thomson touched on how these two are related problems, and she described how the…

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, July 10th, 2024. Later in the program, WFHB News spoke with Richard Dixon, program director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness or NAMI Indiana, about an upcoming event in Bloomington. More in today’s feature report. Also coming up in the next half hour, “Password Games” on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News. More following today’s feature. But first, your local headlines. Ellettsville Town Council Photo courtesy of Ellettsville. On July 8th, the Ellettsville Town Council tabled a second reading of an ordinance that would establish a Redevelopment Commission. Council Members came to a consensus to table the agenda items due to the fact that only 3 out of the 5 council members were present at the meeting. Town Attorney Darla Brown asked for clarification on an amendment to the policy. Council Member William Ellis responded. President of the Council Scott Oldham inquired about an appointment to the redevelopment…

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, July 9th, 2024. Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Audrey Ouillette speaks with Peter Oren, a local musician who released an EP titled Cloud Song last month. More in today’s feature report. Also coming up in the next half hour, Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between the WFHB Local News and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. More following today’s feature. But first, your local headlines: Monroe County Government Reopens After “Intrusion” Into Computer Network Photo by Benedict Jones. Monroe County government offices reopened on Monday after being closed all last week. County officials put out a press release Monday disclosing the cause of the closure – an “intrusion” into its computer network from an outside source named BlackSuit. According to Reuters’ reporting, BlackSuit is a cybercriminal group responsible for data leaks across at least 95 organizations globally. The County Commissioners wrote in a news release, “While we are actively looking into this matter with…

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, July 8th, 2024. Later in the program, local journalist Dave Askins of the B Square Bulletin provides an editorial about paper procedures being resilient during times of a computer outage. More in today’s feature report. That's Amalia Shifriss from the local branch of Boy Scouts of America. BSA will soon be changing its name to Scouting America, so she's here to do a little "scoutreach" later in the show on a new episode of Activate! But first, your daily headlines: Bloomington Board of Public Works The Bloomington Board of Public Works met this Tuesday, June 2nd. During the new business section, a noise permit application for night-time construction work was requested from the Bloomington Board of Public Works director Adam Wason on behalf of James Hall with Bloomington City Utilities. The board passed the motion. During the staff report, Bloomington Board of Public Works Director Adam Wason talked about the supercell storm two weeks ago. Wason then went on to discuss…

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024. Later in the program, Monroe County Government offices will be closed until Monday, July 8th due to a server error. Also, the City of Bloomington has issued a precautionary Boil Water Advisory for 72 addresses. More in today’s headlines. Also coming up in the next half hour, we have Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News. More following today’s feature. But first, your local headlines: Police Arrested Three Teenagers on Tuesday, Care Not Cages Releases Statement Bloomington police arrested three Black teenagers on Tuesday near West 13th Street and North Illinois Street. According to an email from Bloomington Police Department Captain Ryan Pedigo, officers responded to the area after reports of a fight in progress. Police ended up arresting one 13-year-old and two 14-year-olds who were referred to juvenile probation. Pedigo said that a security guard patrolling the area pointed out two males claiming they had been…

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, July 2nd, 2024. Later in the program, bills passed from the Indiana Statehouse’s 2024 session went into effect on Monday. WFHB News takes a look at several of these laws, including new voter ID rules, a higher-education oversight policy and a rollback of protections for the state’s wetlands. More in today’s headlines. Also coming up in the next half hour, we have Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. But first, your local headlines: Dozens of Laws Go Into Effect in Indiana on Monday During this past legislative session, the Indiana Statehouse passed a total of 172 bills. Many of these laws went into effect on Monday. House Enrolled Act 1264 requires voters to include credentials provided by the BMV or from a credit agency when registering to vote. Anyone who is flagged will have 30 days to prove citizenship. If a resident fails to do this, their registration would be canceled. The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana denounced…

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, June 24th, 2024. Later in the program, we look back at an episode of Deep Dive covering the lack of protections for Indiana’s wetlands. More in today’s feature report. Laurie Sachtleben, a volunteer usher at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. Laurie's hoping to convince YOU to volunteer at the BCT later in the show on a new episode of Activate! Feature Reports: In today’s edition of the WFHB Local News – we look back at an episode of Deep Dive covering the lack of protections for Indiana’s wetlands. State Senator Shelli Yoder offers her perspective of the Statehouse’s efforts to rollback protections of wetlands. We turn now to that episode of Deep Dive on the WFHB Local News. If you've been to an event at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater in the last year, chances are you've been warmly greeted by Laurie Sachtleben. Laurie is one of about eighty volunteers who serve as ushers at this historic nonprofit venue. She thinks it's a great gig, and Laurie's hoping to convince YOU to sign…

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, July 1st, 2024. Later in the program, local journalist Dave Askins of the B-Square Bulletin provides his weekly column on the WFHB Local News. Today’s entry is titled Red-tail hawk rehab: "She's a fighter.” More in today’s feature report. That's Dani Ansaldo, chair of operations at Bloomington Community Orchard. She is here to share the orchard's summer bounty with you later in the show on a new episode of Activate! But first, your daily headlines: Dr. Markay Winston Begins As New Interim Superintendent for MCCSC Photo courtesy of MCCSC. The Monroe County Community School Corporation has announced that Dr. Markay Winston will serve as its new interim superintendent. This comes after the school corporation bought out the remainder of former Superintendent Jeff Hauswald’s contract. MCCSC did not leave an explanation for the move. However, several initiatives under Hauswald’s leadership drew controversy, such as proposed scheduling changes and a widely opposed merger of…

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, June 27th, 2024. Later in the program, thousands have seen their power restored in the past day after a supercell storm hit large portions of the state on Tuesday. More in today’s headlines. Also coming up in the next half hour, WFHB Correspondent Audrey Ouillette speaks with Peter Oren, a local musician who released an EP titled Cloud Song earlier this month. But first, your local headlines: Power Restored to Thousands of Residents After Supercell Caused Outages Photo courtesy of Josh Brewer. Thousands have seen their power restored in the past day, according to Duke Energy. This comes after a supercell storm hit large portions of Indiana on Tuesday leaving more than 100,000 people without power across the state. Monroe County was considered “ground zero” for the storm which led to downed power lines and trees, wind damage, public structure damage as well as life safety issues. Wind gusts were reported to range from 65 to 75 miles per hour, according to the National…

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, June 26th, 2024. Later in the program, a supercell storm hit Monroe County yesterday leaving thousands without power. More in today’s feature report. Also coming up in the next half hour, Better Beware – your weekly consumer watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News. More in the bottom half of the program. But first, your local headlines: Supercell Storm Leaves Thousands Without Power Photo courtesy of Josh Brewer. A supercell storm with winds ranging from 55 to 70 miles per hour hit South Central Indiana on Tuesday leaving over 100,000 residents without power across the state. Monroe County was among the most impacted. Monroe County Emergency Management issued a local disaster declaration saying the county was impacted by “wind damage, downed power lines and trees, public structure damage as well as life safety issues.” According to Duke Energy, rough terrain is making assessment and power restoration challenging. As of 2:20 p.m., the estimated time of restoration is…

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, June 25th, 2024. Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Zyro Roze speaks with Michelle Higgs, who is running as a Democrat for Indiana House District 60 in the upcoming election in November. More in today’s feature report. Also coming up in the next half hour, we have Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. But first, your local headlines: Bloomington Board of Public Works Photo courtesy of CATS. The Bloomington Board of Public Works met on June 18th. During the New Business section, Bloomington Engineering Field Specialist Kyle Baugh shared a request from Strauser Construction for a sidewalk, bike lane, and alley closure on Grant Street. The two board members present, Kyla Cox Deckard and James Roach unanimously approved the closure request. Baugh also shared a request for a planned closure on North Walnut Street near Miller Showers Park. He said it will be maintained by the Parks and Recreation Department. Cox-Deckard asked when…

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, June 18th, 2024. Later in the program, WFHB Environmental Correspondent Julianna Dailey speaks with Robyn Skuya-Boss, the Chapter Director with the Sierra Club in Indiana about the proposed Duke Energy electric rate increase. More in today’s feature report. Also coming up in the next half hour, Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between the WFHB Local News and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. But first, your local headlines: Monroe County Council Photo by Benedict Jones. The Monroe County Council met on June 11th. Council President Trent Deckard noted that the American Rescue Plan Act Fund deadline is approaching, and said that they have a year to decide what to spend the funds on. During staff reports, Planning Director Jacki Jelen gave an update on the proposed County Development Ordinance zoning districts. Council President Deckard asked how residents would know if their property would see a zoning change. Jelen responded. The next Department update came from the Sheriff’s…

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, June 17th, 2024. Later in the program, local journalist Dave Askins of the B Square Bulletin provides an editorial on the Bloomington City Council’s unanimous passage of a resolution declaring the city a safe haven for gender-affirming health care. More in today’s feature report. Shawn Miya, is the Assistant Director of Sustainability for the City of Bloomington. She wants to strap a heat sensor to your car and have you drive around town to identify Bloomington's hottest hot spots. Get the details later in the show on a new episode of Activate! But first, your daily headlines: Bloomington City Council Photo courtesy of Community Access Television Services. Bloomington City Council Members unanimously passed a resolution to protect people seeking gender affirming care during their meeting last Wednesday. This comes after the Indiana Statehouse passed a law last session which prohibits medical providers from providing gender-affirming care to transgender youth. City…

El día de hoy nos acompaña este talentosísimo músico, compositor y productor rockero de Puebla, México, para compartirnos un poco de su música. Los invitamos a escuchar algunas de sus canciones a lo largo de este episodio, como lo son "Por favor perdóname" y "Ojos color café". Asimismo, nos platica de sus proyectos y del material y giras que tiene en marcha. Su música se encuentra disponible en todas las plataformas digitales. También puedes encontrarlo en sus redes sociales: Canal Jei Pir VEVO: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR0pwlEm5e98_PkK4innClQ #Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/16WqaPC0klJL3cTzQhBK5p #iTunes: https://itun.es/mx/bBPZfb #GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Jei_Pir_Pyrock_2_4?id=B7r3s6eqcs47u63efzimordrxee #Deezer: http://www.deezer.com/album/14443850 #YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsZVhO3krgMX5NRxWQv2_VxW5D6xNa-Qt #Amazon:…

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, June 12th, 2024. Later in the program, WFHB News continues its fourth and final installment of its series on the deregulation of Indiana wetlands on the latest episode of Deep Dive: WFHB and Limestone Post Investigate. More in today’s feature report. Also coming up in the next half hour, “Spanish Prisoner Game” on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News. More following today’s feature. But first, the latest episode of Deep Dive. Feature Report: This is Deep Dive: WFHB and Limestone Post Investigate where we look into issues regarding Health, Housing, and the Environment that directly impact residents of Monroe County. We look into Indiana’s wetlands, and the wetlands we have right here in Monroe County. Our deep dive is prompted by the legislation Indiana has passed to decrease the protection of wetlands, and environmental concerns that have arisen as a result. In 2021, Hoosier lawmakers passed Senate Enrolled Act 389 – despite…

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, June 11th, 2024. Later in the program, WFHB News Correspondent Annika Harshbarger continues the third and final installment of her series of reports on the arrests made at the Dunn Meadow protests earlier this year. More in today’s feature report. Also coming up in the next half hour, Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. But first, your local headlines: Bloomington Board of Public Works On June 4th, the Bloomington Board of Public Works heard a resolution for a property at 105 East Driscoll Street. Neighborhood Compliance Officer for the City’s HAND Department Mike Arnold walked through the contract to uphold an order to seal. Board Secretary James Roach asked Arnold why the property owner wouldn’t do the sealing themselves. Arnold responded. The board approved the resolution by a unanimous vote. Then, the board heard an encroachment agreement for the Posh Hotel at 200 East Kirkwood Avenue. Public Improvements Manager for the…

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, June 10th, 2024. Later in the program, local journalist Dave Askins of the B-Square Bulletin provides an editorial on the Bloomington City Council’s latest initiative to make changes to city code when it comes to public comment. More in today’s feature report. That’s Ryan Jochim from Hoosier Hills Food Bank, distributing five million pounds of food to local pantries every year. Find out how you can help meet this critical need in our community later in the show on a new episode of Activate! But first, your daily headlines. Monroe County Commissioners Photo by Benedict Jones. At the Monroe County Commissioners meeting on June 5th, the commissioners read two proclamations, one proclaiming June 2024 as Pride Month in Monroe County, and the other proclaiming June 7th, 2024 as Gun Violence Awareness Day. During department updates, Election Supervisor Kylie Moreland informed the commissioners that the Election Board meeting was canceled and shared updates from County Clerk…

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, June 6th, 2024. Later in the program, the Bloomington City Council made changes to its policy on public comment – limiting the amount of time residents can speak at the public mic from 5-minutes to 3-minutes. More in today’s feature report. Also coming up in the next half hour, the Ellettsville Town Council continued its discussion on forming a redevelopment commission. But first, your local headlines: Monroe County Council Photo by Benedict Jones. The Monroe County Council met this Tuesday, May 28th. During department updates, County Assessor Judy Sharp spoke to the council about her concerns with the proposed changes to the county clinic’s healthcare provider. Sharp then went on to discuss how the facility takes care of the employees year-round, and that it’s incredibly important to the whole county to continue using the same healthcare. She shared information about a petition being signed to halt the change. County Treasurer Cathy Smith also spoke about the…

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, June 5th, 2024. Later in the program, WFHB News continues its series of Indiana’s wetlands on Deep Dive: WFHB and Limestone Post Investigate. More in today’s feature report. Also coming up in the next half hour, “Scammers Take A Toll” on Better Beware - your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB. More following today’s feature. But first, the latest episode of Deep Dive: This is Deep Dive: WFHB and Limestone Post Investigate where we look into issues regarding Health, Housing, and the Environment that directly impact residents of Monroe County. We look into Indiana’s wetlands, and the wetlands we have right here in Monroe County. Our deep dive is prompted by the legislation Indiana has passed to decrease the protection of wetlands, and environmental concerns that have arisen as a result. Up next, “Scammers Take A Toll” on Better Beware - your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB. We turn to host and producer Richard Fish for more. Credits: You’ve been…

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, June 4th, 2024. Later in the program, WFHB News Correspondent Annika Harshbarger continues Part II of her series, Banned from IU - the story of Cameron Gray who was arrested for protesting in Dunn Meadow and subsequently banned from campus. More in today’s feature report. Also coming up in the next half hour, Lil Bub’s Lil Show – co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. But first, your local headlines: Monroe County Commissioners Photo by Benedict Jones. On May 30th, members of city and county government met for a joint session to discuss the expansion of the Monroe Convention Center. Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson began the meeting saying she wanted to create an open and transparent space for county and city officials to work together and remove tensions within the project. County Councilor Cheryl Munson walked through the history of the Convention Center and cautioned against an overly ambitious vision for the Convention Center. Monroe County Commissioner…

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, June 3rd, 2024. Later in the program, local journalist Dave Askins of the B-Square Bulletin provides an editorial on the procedures of the Bloomington City Council during their work session last Wednesday. More in today’s feature report. That's Heather Stettler from the Bloomington Bicycle Club. The club was instrumental in getting drainage grates rotated on city streets so that bicycle tires wouldn't get caught in them. Hear about their new project later in the show on a new episode of Activate! But first, your daily headlines: Monroe County Prosecutor Drops Charges for Dunn Meadow Protesters The Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office decided not to file criminal charges against the 55 protesters who were arrested for “criminal trespass” at Dunn Meadow in late April. According to a revised statement released on Friday, the prosecutor’s office said, “based upon the facts and circumstances surrounding these arrests, including, among other things, the constitutionally dubious…

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, May 30th, 2024. Later in the program, WFHB Youth Radio Correspondent Jiin Hur reports on Industrial Labor Relations. Hurr explores the increasing trend of labor strikes happening all around the country. More coming up in today’s feature report. But first, your local headlines: Richland Bean Blossom School Board At the Richland Bean Blossom School Board meeting on May 20th, Assistant Superintendent Matt Irwin updated the board on the work they have been doing to look ahead at staff positions that are currently being paid with grant funding set to expire in the near future. Irwin also walked the board through H-vac work that will be ongoing during the summer months. Later in the meeting, the board discussed the approval of a joint resolution with the Town of Ellettsville, to donate and accept a tract of land. President of the Board, Dana Kerr, introduced the resolution. Kerr elaborated on some of the details of the resolution. Superintendent Dr. Jerry Sanders talked…

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, May 29th, 2024. Later in the program, WFHB News continues its coverage of the rollback of protections for Indiana wetlands on the latest episode of Deep Dive: WFHB and Limestone Post Investigate. More in today’s feature report. Also coming up in the next half hour, “Your Pal May Not Be Your Friend” on Better Beware - your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB. More following today’s feature. But first, your local headlines: Bloomington Board of Public Works At the Bloomington Board of Public Works meeting on May 21st, the board approved a resolution to purchase a right of way for the High Street Intersection Modernizations and Multi-use Path Project. Engineering Senior Project Engineer Neil Kopper presented on the right of way resolution. Kopper explained the public right of way acquisition that will be necessary to complete the project. Board Member James Roach asked how the project will affect the historic cemetery. Kopper responded. Kopper said that there are…

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, May 28th, 2024. In today’s feature report, WFHB Correspondent Annika Harshbarger filed a report on the arrests made during the Dunn Meadow protests. More in today’s feature report. Also coming up in the next half hour, local journalist Dave Askins of the B-Square Bulletin provides an editorial on procedural reforms in local city government. But first, your local headlines: Monroe County Board of Commissioners Photo by Benedict Jones. At the Monroe County Board of Commissioners meeting on May 22nd, Health Administrator Lori Kelley gave an update on Covid-19 in the county. Fleet and Building Manager for the County Richard Crider asked the commissioners to approve an agreement with Bounds Flooring, Inc. for improvements to the Monroe Convention Center. The commissioners approved the agreement by a 3-0 vote. Furthermore, the board approved other Convention Center improvements, including the replacement of light fixtures and wallpaper in the Hanson & Zebendon Room. Then,…

Hello and welcome to Eco Report. Later in the program, Environmental Correspondent Zyro Roze speaks with Michelle Higgs about how her time as a Community Organizer with Hoosier Action prepared her for her run for Indiana House District 60, which includes parts of Monroe County. The New York Times reports that global warming creates conditions more favorable to severe storms. As the planet warms, severe storms of all kinds are likely to deliver even bigger payloads of rain. The reason: Warmer air holds more moisture, which effectively increases a storm’s capacity to carry precipitation. Because the air can hold more moisture, that also means there is more water vapor in the sky that can condense into liquid, forming clouds. The heat energy released into the atmosphere by this condensation is what feeds thunderstorms. In short, more condensation, stronger storms. Scientists are still trying to understand how this is playing out. Just because the ingredients are in place for a powerful storm doesn’t mean a…

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, May 23rd, 2024. In today’s feature report, Civic Conversations welcomed Dr. Marjorie Hershey, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Indiana University, about the impact of disinformation on elections and how it influences election politics. More in the bottom half of our program. Also coming up in the next half hour, Paula Waterman, from Brown County Schools Food Services Department, discusses the school corporation’s first ever summer food program. That’s coming up next in your daily headlines: Brown County Schools are launching their first-ever summer food program, and the response has escalated quickly. That's Paula Waterman, from Brown County Schools Food Services Department. Funding from the US Department of Agriculture has allowed this small rural school system to put together summer meal kits intended to cover nutrition needs that would be met in school cafeterias during the school year. The weekly kits include five days of a full breakfast and five days…

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024. Later in the program, Deep Dive: WFHB and Limestone Post Investigate where we look into issues regarding Health, Housing, and the Environment that directly impact residents of Monroe County. More in today’s feature report. Also coming up in the next half hour, “A Couple of Nasty Ones” on Better Beware - your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB. More following today’s feature. But first, your local headlines: Monroe County Public Library Board of Trustees Upon entering the library, you can see the words, "read, learn, connect and create" (Young). At the Monroe County Public Library Board of Trustees meeting on May 15th, Library Director Grier Carson gave an update on the Southwest Branch closure and ongoing repairs. Director of Finance Gary Lettelleir spoke to the board and asked them to approve a transfer from the Library Improvement Reserve Fund, also called the LIRF fund. The board approved the transfer to the LIRF fund unanimously. Next, the…

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, May 20th, 2024. In today’s feature report, WFHB Correspondent Annika Harshbarger covers New Horizons, an adult beginner orchestra based here in Bloomington. More in today’s feature report. That's Maryann Iaria from Monroe County Civic Theater, our community's only all-volunteer nonprofit theater group. They're about to launch their annual Shakespeare in the Park and you'll get the details later in the show on a new episode of Activate!, featuring real people working for positive change in our community. But first, your daily headlines: Bloomington City Council On May 15th at the Bloomington City Council meeting, City Clerk Nicole Brown read the title and synopsis of an ordinance that would rezone nearly 140 acres of land off South Weimer Road. Development Services Manager for the City Jackie Scanlan walked through a basic overview of the property which would bring over 4,000 housing units to the southwest part of the city. Angela Parker, an attorney representing the…

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, May 16th, 2024. Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Zyro Roze speaks with Michelle Higgs, who is running as a Democrat for Indiana House District 60. More in the top half of our program. Also coming up in the next half hour, WFHB Correspondent Brookelyn Lambright brings to us another segment of History Unbound. That’s coming up in the second half of tonight’s newscast. Feature Reports: In today’s feature report, WFHB Correspondent Zyro Roze speaks with Michelle Higgs, who is running as a Democrat for Indiana House District 60. We turn now to Zyro Roze for Part Two of that interview on the WFHB Local News. Up next, WFHB Correspondent Brookelyn Lambright brings to us another segment of History Unbound. In today’s report, Lambright traces the origins of whiteness in America, beginning with Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676. She, along with scholar Micol Siegel, argue that whiteness, the ideology, has a starting place in time. Lambright tracks whiteness through time taking…

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, May 15th, 2024. In today’s feature report, the producers of Kite Line interviewed two professors at Indiana University who gave their reaction to the student Palestine solidarity protests in Dunn Meadow. More in today’s feature report. Also coming up in the next half hour, “The Young and the Old” on Better Beware — your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News But first, we hear an excerpt from Kite Line: In today’s feature report, the producers of Kite Line interviewed two professors at Indiana University who discussed the student Palestine solidarity protests in Dunn Meadow. Kite Line airs each Friday at 5:30 pm on WFHB. We turn now to that interview on the WFHB Local News. To hear the full episode of Kite Line, click here. Up next, “The Young and the Old” on Better Beware — your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News. For more, we turn to host and producer Richard Fish. Credits: You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News, Our…

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, May 14th, 2024. In today’s feature report, WFHB Correspondent Zyro Roze speaks with Michelle Higgs, who is running as a Democrat for Indiana House District 60. More in today’s feature report. Up next, Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between the WFHB Local News and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. We turn now to that segment. But first, your local headlines: Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission The Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission met on May 9th. They discussed multiple demolition delays. The petitioner, Sable Beyers, requested full demolition approval on five properties located on East 7th Street and North Jefferson Street. Historic Preservation Program Manager Noah Sandweiss gave background information on the historic nature of the properties. Sandweiss said he received phone calls from neighbors about the potential demolition. Commissioner Daniel Schlegel asked if the houses were in the Historic Green Acres district. Sandweiss responded. Schlegel…

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, May 13th, 2024. In today’s feature report, local journalist Dave Askins of the B Square Bulletin reads an item from his weekly newsletter for the WFHB Local News. More in today’s feature report. That's Sandra Freund, director of the Sing For Joy community choir. Sandra just won a Be More award from the Bloomington Volunteer Network for running Bloomington's most inclusive performance group. Hear more later in the show on a new episode of Activate! But first, your daily headlines: Bloomington City Council The City of Bloomington Common Council met this Wednesday, May 8th. During their meeting, the council members heard ordinance 2024-10 amending ordinance 23-25. City Clerk Nicole Browne elaborated on what the legislation entails. Human Resources Director Sharr Pechac broke down the details of the policy saying it would add a position in the department of public works and reclassify job titles within the office of the mayor and the department of public works in order to…

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, May 9th, 2024. Later in the program, Prescription for Healthcare, a podcast collaboration between the WFHB Local News and Medicare for All Indiana. This month we interviewed Dr. Matt Hoffman of Alina Health in Minnesota and Marisa Powell, lead organizer for Doctors Council, SEIU, the Service Employees International Union. But first, your local headlines: Ellettsville Plan Commission Photo courtesy of Elletsville. At the Ellettsville Plan Commission meeting on May 2nd, Planning Director Denise Line gave the Planning Department update. She shared that they have tentatively scheduled a Unified Development Ordinance Open House for the 30th of May. President of the commission David Drake asked if the Plan commission reviews the U-D-O during the open house. Line responded that it is a time for the public to give their input. Line said she plans to have the U-D-O draft ready by the commission meeting in July. The next Ellettsville Plan Commission meeting will be held on…