Was it just luck that his given name is a mash-up of two Bloomington streets? Woodlawn is becoming this town’s Matt Groening, taking real people — politicians, sports stars, entertainers, and more — and fictionalizing their foibles. He’s the editor-in -chief of the local satiric website, Limestone Ledger, and has been lovingly skewering people, places, and events around these parts since 2023.

Hosts Michael Glab and Tristra Newyear chat with Bloomington’s most fascinating people.

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, March 12th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, Dr. Peter Hotez speaks about the U.S. measles epidemic and scientific disinformation in today’s political landscape on the latest edition of Prescription for Healthcare – a podcast collaboration between WFHB and Medicare for All Indiana. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, WFHB Sports Correspondent Chase Dodson brings you today’s Sports News Briefing.

Ellettsville–Richland Township Reorganization Committee Discusses Fire Protection, Road Services and Budget Impacts

The Richland Township and Town of Ellettsville Reorganization Committee met on March 4th. During public comment, resident Phil Schonhoff shared concerns about the fire protection arrangement between Ellettsville and Richland Township.

Shanoff suggested Monroe County and Ellettsville governments try to reach an agreement. Committee member William Ellis said the fire protection issue came about after the reorganization plans began, and the county indicated it wanted to move to a new fire district.

Schonhoff also expressed concern about how the reorganization might affect other county-provided services such as road maintenance, snow removal and stormwater management. Ellis said the town would take control of services like roads and fire protection, and the town could use funding already in place from the county.

Ellis said the town would take responsibility for an extra 80 to 90 miles of road. It would coordinate with Monroe County for maintenance and plowing, and police protection will remain the same. He emphasized that reorganization would give Richland Township residents a voice for development, land use and services.

The committee moved on to discuss finalized subcommittee reports. Sandy Hash with the finance subcommittee talked about funding sources for the reorganized area.

Hash said the town and township budgets will increase.

Hash said reorganization will provide long-term financial advantages, such as structured service expansion, a broader tax base and coordinated planning for land use and economic growth. It would also create a single, simplified budget process.

Ellettsville resident and Parks, Recreation and Cemeteries subcommittee member Jim Perry asked about the impact of 2025 Senate Enrolled Act 1 on local income tax and taxation structure.

Hash said the financial subcommittee report accounts for cigarette tax and excise tax, as well as property and local income tax. However, she said the income tax rates for 2028 and onward are not yet known.

Ellis said the committee doesn’t yet have all the answers, but it appreciates community input as it consolidates subcommittee reports into a final reorganization plan.

The next meeting of the Richland Township and Town of Ellettsville Reorganization Committee will be held on March 18th.

Featured Segments:

Up next – we have Prescription for Healthcare – a monthly podcast collaboration between WFHB and Medicare for All Indiana. This month, March 2026, due to spring break, we are going to re-broadcast our Prescription for Healthcare show originally aired in July 2025 with Dr. Peter Hotez. As the US measles epidemic worsens and the voices of scientific misinformation become louder, we turn again to Dr. Hotez to help set the record straight. According to our producers, he is a hero and a voice of truth. That’s coming up next on the WFHB Local News.

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On February 28, Harmony School hosted an Anti-ICE event where student musicians took the stage to perform and share their perspectives on immigration policy.

It would be difficult not to acknowledge the intense political climate the country finds itself in today. There is no shortage of passionate opinions being expressed across the United States. One issue that has become especially prominent in recent months is the role of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

ICE has sparked protests and debate nationwide, particularly on college campuses where students have played a strong role in political activism.

Indiana University has not been immune to this wave of student engagement. Recently, students and community members gathered at Harmony School for the event. The concert brought together multiple bands and singer-songwriters, all performing in support of the same cause.

Organizers described the gathering as both a political statement and a space for creative expression, using music to draw attention to immigration concerns while also supporting immigrant communities in Bloomington.

WFHB News spoke with organizer Freedom Meidon about the event’s purpose. Meidon explained that the festival aimed to raise money for immigrants in Bloomington in response to ongoing discussions surrounding immigration policy.

“Essentially, the whole idea was that the Bloomington music community and arts community, broadly speaking, is this very large, thriving, but fragmented entity,” Meidon said. “So we wanted to collaborate with venues around town, as well as student organizations, and create a collective effort for a good cause to raise money. For this show, all proceeds will go to a charity supporting immigrants here in Bloomington. It’s really a nice showing of the community coming together to help out our neighbors.”

Throughout the evening, performers took the stage with a mix of original songs and covers, while students listened and discussed the issue among themselves. For many attendees, the festival represented more than just a concert; instead, serving as a reminder of the long tradition of music being used as a form of protest. 

Medion commented on the event’s not‑so‑subtle title.

“Ooh. I mean, y’all know what the show is titled. I think that’s all I really need to say on that,” he said.

These forms of protest have long played a role in American culture. From the folk movements of the 1960s to modern music scenes, musicians have often used their platforms to challenge political authority and inspire change. 

Medion then touched on what the night meant to the community.

“I think community organizing and coming together in the name of standing for something is the most powerful thing any community or collection of individuals can do.” “It’s incredibly inspiring to see people from all different backgrounds and tastes joining together around one idea,” he said.

WFHB also spoke with Sammy Katz about the work that organizers have to do behind the scenes to bring the event to life. From setting up equipment to coordinating performers and making sure everything runs smoothly, Katz described the effort required to transform a simple space into a functioning stage.

“You know, we’re doing a whole lot of things,” Katz said. “Whether it’s booking bands, buying equipment, setting up the shows, running doors, or running audio, it’s like always wearing different hats. Luckily for this show, we had great audio engineers helping us out, which was really helpful because this was a little bit of a larger event for us.”

Katz explained that the walls outside the music hall were lined with tables and posters from a variety of student organizations. The groups represented different causes and interests across campus, each hoping to connect with students attending the event. According to Katz, having these organizations present helped turn the festival into more than just a concert, creating a space where students could learn about different ways to get involved in the community.

“We’re trying to do something to raise awareness, that’s why we have IU, IDSA and DSA tabling, as well as some other student organizations, just to raise awareness about either the Flock systems that are present or ICE presence in Bloomington,” he said.

Events like the Anti-ICE music festival reflect the way younger generations continue to merge art with activism. At a time when criticism around immigration policy remains prominent, gatherings like these demonstrate how college communities are finding their own ways to participate in the debate, sometimes through speeches and demonstrations, and other times through the shared experience of live music.

The importance of fighting for change can be heard throughout the world, and when people gather together around one cause, sometimes all it takes is one song to remind them of the strength they have and the change they can create. The crowd remained attentive as the echoes of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” rang out through the building, signaling something bigger than just another night of music.

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday March 11th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, we report on a candidate forum hosted last week by the Bloomington Democratic Socialists of America – specifically featuring candidates from the U.S. House District 9 race. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, “Hammering Your Tax” on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News.

Storms Impacting Bloomington and Surrounding Areas

Major storms and flooding have impacted Bloomington and surrounding areas today.

As of this reporting, a wind advisory is currently in effect until 5 p.m. According to the National Weather service, there’s a slight risk for severe weather this afternoon with hazards of damaging winds, heavy rainfall and possible isolated tornadoes.

Temperatures are expected to drop tonight into the lower 30s. Tomorrow’s high is expected to be around 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Earlier today, Monroe County was under a tornado watch until about noon, according to Monroe County Emergency Management.

Recent fatalities and search operations are underway in Lawrence, Jackson and Martin Counties.

The storm also caused damage in town. A live power line burning through a fallen tree at an apartment complex on Longview Avenue required intervention from the Bloomington Fire Department, according to the Bloomingtonian.

Monroe County Council Approves Continuing Bus Route 13

The Monroe County Council unanimously approved an appropriation of 184,000 dollars for the continuation of Bus Route 13.

Bus Route 13 connects downtown to the city’s west side, specifically serving Ivy Tech Community College, the Northwest YMCA and the Park 48 employment corridor.

Councilmember Trent Deckard says the route is essential for residents on the city’s west side.

“Our constituents are looking for ways to get to work,” said Deckard. “This is something that they rely on, and ridership increases over time when something becomes reliable.”

Councilmember Jennifer Crossley says she’s glad her daughter who attends Ivy Tech Bloomington will continue to have the option to take the bus to school.

“Thankful as a mom of a child who goes to Ivy Tech,” said Crossley, “if she doesn’t have her parents car, that she could go to one of these stops in and go on over to the west side.”

According to reporting by the B Square Bulletin, the county commissioners are expected to approve an interlocal agreement with Bloomington Transit at their March 12th meeting.

Featured Segments:

On March 5th, the Democratic Socialists of America hosted a candidate forum for the US House of Representatives’ 9th District. Four out of the five candidates were in attendance. Speaking at the forum were Floyd Taylor, Keil Roark, Dr. Tim Peck, and Brad Meyer. Jim Graham, the fifth candidate, was not in attendance.

These candidates addressed their stance on socialism, single-payer universal healthcare, the war in Gaza, public health, education and STEM programs, payment options for higher education, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, gender-affirming care for members of the LGBTQ+ community, and abortion policies. The primary election will be on May 5th. You can hear the full forum here.

Up next, “Hammering Your Tax” on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB. We turn to host and producer Richard Fish for more.

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Tax Time is upon us. The deadline to file your Income Tax is April 15, and as always, scammers are jumping on the opportunity to fool you into paying them instead of the IRS. Nowadays, artificial intelligence is more of factor than ever. Let’s take a look at the most common tax scams and pitfalls — here’s good advice for you and those you love about staying out of trouble with the government, with your bank, or with your significant other.

Under a new Indiana bill, unhoused people may soon be forced to leave their encampments or face criminal charges.

Indiana Governor Mike Braun signed Senate Bill 285 into law on March 5th. This bill prohibits a person from sleeping, camping, or taking long-term shelter on public land. Those who do so could also be charged with a Class C misdemeanor if they are still in the area 48 hours after receiving a warning.

Senate Bill 285, authored by State Senator Cyndi Carrasco, was introduced on January 12th. On February 26th, the Indiana Senate agreed to House amendments, passing this bill with a 28-22 vote. Carrasco and other proponents of the bill say it aims to address homelessness in an effective way, while opponents argue that it essentially criminalizes being unhoused.

State Representative Matt Pierce opposed the bill. Pierce said a more effective way to address street homelessness would be to expand treatment capacity for substance use disorders and mental health challenges, which are underlying causes of homelessness.

“Instead of passing this bill and creating another opportunity to warehouse people in jails who should be in facilities where they can get treatment, we should be putting our resources and our efforts into building up this mental health and drug treatment capacity so we can actually serve the underlying causes of the problems that unhoused people face,” said Pierce.

Pierce added that the bill is likely to place additional strain on already overcrowded jail systems.

“One of the things they say is, ‘Well, the officer doesn’t necessarily have to arrest the person, they can just issue them a summons, since it’s a misdemeanor.’ But what is likely to happen is if you have an unhoused person who is battling substance use disorder or a mental health challenge, chances are they’re gonna miss their summons to appear,” said Pierce. “So then a bench warrant’s gonna go out for failing to appear at their hearing, and then that’s gonna get them arrested and incarcerated.”

Senate Bill 285 also states that when a police officer encounters someone using public land in violation of the bill, they are required to determine if that person qualifies for an emergency detention order due to mental illness. If so, that person will be placed on an involuntary hold at a medical facility, typically for up to 72 hours.

“The Republicans in the House were trying to address all the criticisms that we were leveling at the bill, and so they created all these different off-ramps which are not likely to work, but they were trying to combat the allegation that they were criminalizing homelessness,” said Pierce. “And so they put things in the bill where if the police officer wants to, instead of just arresting the person, the police officer could seek to have an emergency detention order, which essentially puts someone in a civil commitment. That then means that they’re going to be in a hospital using up space there that may not very well exist because we don’t have these regional treatment facilities to offer residential treatment programs.”

WFHB also spoke with Andrew Bradley, the Senior Director of Policy and Strategy for Prosperity Indiana, an organization that aims to strengthen Hoosier communities through social and economic opportunity. Bradley said he’s concerned that requiring law enforcement to decide if a person sleeping in public qualifies for emergency detention will create more complications.

“That’s gonna require some really specific new training and public information – not just for law enforcement so they know how to correctly diagnose somebody in a park or another public space, but also for homeless service providers so that they can be able to provide information to the people that they work with, to the court system so that they know how to deal with another provision that was added saying that if there’s no housing or services available, that can be used as a defense once you get to court,” said Bradley. “So suddenly we’ve added these new what were thought of as mitigating factors but really are complicating and confusing factors to this already problematic law.”

Bradley added that Senate Bill 285 will have economic drawbacks. Prosperity Indiana published a fact sheet outlining the potential monetary cost of the bill, estimating an additional one to two million dollars per year due to the costs of holding a greater number of people in local jails. This prediction was based on data from the effects of a similar bill that passed in Kentucky in 2024.

“I think something that was not fully understood by the legislature is that under this law, whenever there are no housing and services available, the direct path into the criminal justice system will require that 14,000 bed nights per year will be used to house homeless Hoosiers rather than true threats to public safety,” said Bradley.

Bradley went on to say the possibility of criminal charges will likely have a negative effect on relationships between unhoused people and law enforcement.

“Unfortunately now that we know that there’s a Class C misdemeanor that could be charged at any of these interactions, that’s gonna mean that homeless people are going to try to avoid any interaction with law enforcement, and that could escalate what could previously have been positive interactions, and now adding a new heightened sense of danger to those,” said Bradley.

Brian Giffen, the Homelessness Response Coordinator for the City of Bloomington, said Senate Bill 285 will require the city to make significant changes to its current approach to addressing street homelessness.

“For us in Bloomington, when we encounter larger scale encampments that are on public property, we try to do our best to work with those folks to make sure they can get access to resources and services. And if we ultimately need to make the determination to close those encampments, we give a 30 day notice,“ said Giffen. “So, shortening that to 48 hours and then requiring that we comply with that policy just is kind of an overstep, and it’s also just a radical change to how we’re trying to handle homelessness issues with compassion and understanding and really trying to help these people rather than penalize them for having to be in these situations.”

Giffen also noted that the most effective approach to helping people experiencing homelessness in Indiana varies from one community to the next.

“They’re forcing a policy on every community. Some other communities, they don’t have policies, this maybe gives them an outline for how they could enforce,” said Giffen. “But it doesn’t fit Bloomington, it doesn’t fit our plan, and it just doesn’t really provide anything other than effectively criminalizing sleeping outside.”

Senate Bill 285 is scheduled to go into effect on July 1st. Representative Pierce encouraged Hoosiers who feel strongly about this issue to make their voices heard.

“I just think it’s important for all of us not only to pull together in helping our nonprofits on a local level who are dealing directly with these issues, but also just make sure our voices are heard to the legislature, and particularly asking candidates for office what they think is the best approach,” said Pierce. “Do they think this idea of criminalizing homelessness is the way to go, or are they willing to support actually providing resources to solve the underlying problems that contribute to what we see happening on our streets?”

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, March 10th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, WFHB Correspondents Emma Maher and Shane Gebhard report on an anti-ICE benefit concert that took place at Harmony School late last month. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, the candidates for Monroe County prosecutor clashed over local criminal justice reforms. That’s coming up next in your daily headlines:

Monroe County Prosecutor Candidates Clash Over Local Criminal Justice Reforms

Candidates running for Monroe County prosecutor shared their ideas on criminal justice reform in a forum hosted by the Bloomington Democratic Socialists of America on February 26th.

Incumbent Prosecutor Erika Oliphant and challenger Benjamin Arrington described their platforms on issues such as cannabis legalization, homelessness, immigration and the prosecutor’s role in social services.

In his opening statement, Arrington said he’s a non-traditional candidate, and he walked through how his personal background informs his views on criminal justice.

“I am the product of a single mother of five children who understands poverty, because I have lived in poverty, and I have been unhoused more than once in my life,” said Arrington. “Which is why I sit in a unique position to have a unique lens when making prosecutorial decisions.”

Arrington says he would change how the county prosecutes low-level cannabis offenses.

“If elected, on day one, I will stop the discriminatory prosecution on wasteful prosecution of simple possession of marijuana one ounce or less,” said Arrington.

Oliphant pointed to reforms that are already in place. She says her experience as county prosecutor reflects the values of the community.

“I am confident the Monroe County voters will recognize my experience and temperament and retain me in office in this year’s election,” said Oliphant.

She emphasized transparency in the county as a key part of her platform, saying she’s about to make prosecution data public.

“We do anticipate launching a dashboard very soon. It’s been developed. We’re testing the code, but what this will do is we will collect and display our data publicly so that we can be improve our transparency, our accountability, and test our policy updates against the data,” said Oliphant.

Moderator Bryce Greene asked the candidates a question from the audience.

“What role do you believe the prosecutor’s office should play in supporting successful reentry and diversion programs, particularly for people experiencing homelessness or mental health challenges?” asked Greene.

Oliphant again pointed to her experience, saying she’s proven that she’s equipped to do the job.

“I’ve really demonstrated that I can think outside the box, and I am open always to hearing new ideas about how we can support people in not coming into contact in the first instance with law enforcement, but then also having a chance to avoid it after they’ve come into contact with us,” said Oliphant.

Arrington responded to the same question, maintaining that the county needs major reforms in criminal justice.

“One way is telling law enforcement, hands off our people. Your new chief law enforcement officer is a person that represents the people, and it’s going to work to help all of you, and that’s by telling law enforcement we’re not going to be charging bull crap,” he said.

Oliphant responded to Arrington’s comment, pushing back against the idea that the county’s prosecution office is overly punitive.

“The last time I looked at the D, O, C numbers, we are seventh in the state, lowest at sending people to the Department of Corrections, but we are not the seventh lowest in population.

The moderator then asked the candidates about how they would enforce recent statewide legislation that would mandate local governments to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The candidates also answered questions on the state’s new homelessness bill, Flock cameras, the opioid crisis and more. The full candidate forum will be available on our website at wfhb dot org following this broadcast.

Featured Segments:

Last year, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement experienced unprecedented expansion, with detention numbers rising over 75 percent in one year. In today’s feature report, WFHB Correspondents Emma Maher and Shane Gebhard report on an anti-ICE benefit concert that took place at Harmony School late last month. We now turn to that report on the WFHB Local News.

Up next, we have “What the Health?!”, a series on WFHB’s Youth Radio where we chat with healthcare professionals to explore the future of health, global healthcare policies, and offer unfiltered insight into the realities of working in healthcare. In today’s episode, host Winnie Dong interviews Savannah Powell, a Registered Nurse (RN) in family medicine. We turn to that segment on the WFHB Local News.

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This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, March 9th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, Governor Mike Braun signed a bill last Thursday that opponents say effectively criminalizes street homelessness. Correspondent Zoe Moczek has more in today’s feature report.

You’ll also hear Olivia Throckmartin from Harmony School, inviting you to teach an art class at Harmony this month for a student art show in April. Get the details later in the show on a new episode of Activate!

Monroe County Election Board Prepares For Upcoming Primary Election

The Monroe County Election Board met on March 5th to discuss logistics for the upcoming primary election. Board members tackled candidate filing procedures, early voting and progress on the county’s new election operations location.

Democratic Chair Penny Githens shared concerns about a candidate filing form that had allegedly been altered prior to submission with a name change.

The board discussed whether the alteration constituted fraud. County Clerk Nicole Browne said she doesn’t believe it would. Election Supervisor Kylie Farris maintained the previous policy allowed editing forms for accuracy, including name changes. She encouraged the election board to develop a new policy.

Then, the board moved on to early voting plans. Election officials say they are planning for high turnout during early voting. Farris said they will set up early voting for full capacity.

Farris shared updated voter registration numbers for the county.

Next, Monroe County Building and Fleet Director Richard Crider updated the board on construction at the county’s new election facility. The new election headquarters and early vote site will be on the first level of the Showers Building at 501 North Morton Street.

Clerk Browne said there may be technical difficulties, particularly with the phone lines. Farris responded that county election officials are working on the issue.

The board also approved the list of polling locations for the upcoming election. All 28 former polling locations have agreed to serve again this year. The next county election board meeting will take place on April 2nd.

Candidates for House District 61 Clash Over the Future of Democratic Party

Bloomington voters got the chance to hear candidates running for state office in a candidate forum held on Thursday by the Bloomington Democratic Socialists of America.

For the House District 61 race, which covers portions of Bloomington and Perry Township, incumbent Matt Pierce clashed with challenger Lilliana Young on a number of issues – including how to handle Indiana Republicans, the status quo of the Democratic party and whether experience could amount to a positive attribute for a candidate.

In his opening statement, State Representative Pierce says he wants to continue reflecting the values of Bloomington in the Statehouse.

“Being able to afford reasonably priced housing, accessible and affordable health care, supporting our public schools and not diverting tax dollars away to private schools, academic freedom and free speech on our campuses,” said Pierce. “And also, we want to make sure we continue to protect our environment and natural resources.”

Challenger Lilliana Young says Democrats need to become more aggressive instead of focusing on compromising with state Republicans.

“Politics has changed over the last 20 years, and it’s changed dramatically in the last decade, the older ways of doing things, of attempting to compromise with Republicans. It doesn’t work anymore,” said Young.

Pierce said in order for Democrats to retain any sort of political power in the Statehouse, they need to break the Republican supermajority.

“That gives us leverage to try to make something different happen,” said Pierce, “that’s the first key thing, which I think is within reach.”

Young agreed but she says she has other ideas on how to “combat” the GOP.

“I’ve been to Indianapolis and have chewed out Republicans in committees, told them to their faces the kinds of people that they are and the damage they’re doing with their legislation, and I’ve seen on their faces that it rattles them,” said Young.

One of the DSA moderators asked each of the candidates for their view on capitalism. Young emphasized her opposition to the foundation of capitalism.

“Capitalism will kill us all. I don’t want to be restrained to capitalism, but for the near future, we’re going to have to work to make reforms to it before we can finally get to the socialist paradise Star Trek promised us,” said Young.

Pierce says income inequality has increased since the deregulation of the 1980s. He said he wants to see a stronger middle class moving forward.

“We live in this weird situation where the richest, wealthiest people just keep getting wealthier, and we ask less and less of them to contribute to society as they get wealthier and wealthier,” said Pierce. “This society cannot be sustained with that kind of ongoing trend.”

WFHB News will continue covering these candidate forums conducted by Bloomington DSA throughout the week. You can find the full forum here.

Featured Segments:

Last Thursday, Indiana Governor Mike Braun signed a bill that opponents say effectively criminalizes street homelessness. In today’s feature report, WFHB Correspondent Zoe Moczek speaks with a state legislator, a local government official and an advocate to explore how this legislation will impact Indiana. For more, we turn to Zoe Moczek.

Sometimes traditional education doesn’t work for everyone and that’s where Harmony School steps in. This Bloomington nonprofit is focused on democratic principles and individualized learning, helping students get a unique education through small class sizes and direct, hands-on experience. Olivia Throckmartin is Harmony School’s development coordinator. Olivia is looking for community volunteers to teach art classes this month for an upcoming student art showcase, on a new episode of Activate!, coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.

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