Melanie and Alyssa go through some news, and then we hear from Ella’s Pride interviews, after which I almost talked. about The Front Door, our nascent LGBTIQ+ Community Center

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BloomingOUT is one of the nation’s longest-running LGBTIQ-focused radio shows. We feature people, news, events, entertainment, and businesses relevant to the queer experience in central Indiana and the Midwest.

Interested in being on the show or want to recommend a person, business or topic for us to cover? Let us know at [email protected].

BloomingOUT is a production of WFHB Community Radio and produced by Melanie Davis and Kade Young. Our Engineer is Alyssa Gray. Your Hosts are Justin Robertson and Melanie Davis

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In today’s feature report, Max Jancich and Ashton Harper, in Part 2, talk with Dr. Thomas Butts from Purdue University about herbicides and how farms manage weeds.

And now for your environmental reports:

Feature Report:

And now, in Part 2, lets listen to Dr. Thomas Butts from Purdue University talk about managing weeds on a big farm.

And now for some upcoming events:

Credits:

This week’s headlines were written by Carrie Albright and Norm Holy.

Today’s news feature was produced by Max Jancich and Ashton Harper.

Julianna Dailey assembled the script which was edited by the EcoReport team and produced the upcoming events.

Rich Benak is our engineer.

This episode focuses on the ICE raids still accelerating across the country, and the resistance spreading in response. We speak with K, an organizer in Los Angeles, who reflects on the ICE invasion and the movement against it, which has become a beacon for struggles across the US. Since Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has grown into the largest police force in the country and it’s clear that future movements against policing will have to place organizing against ICE, borders, and citizenship at their core.

A hot August week 57 years ago. Thousands of protesters took to the street during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. They faced off against thousands of Chicago police officers and Illinois National Guardsmen. Blood was drawn as the whole world watched. Aaron Cohen, a 15-year-old from the comfortable suburb of Winnetka was there, along with two siblings, brought by their parents. It was his parents’ way of teaching the kids civics as well as the imperative to stand up for what is right. It wouldn’t be the last time Cohen took to the streets.

Host Michael Glab chats with Bloomington’s most fascinating people.

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, August 27th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, we share a segment from Bring It On! where hosts Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell talk with leaders of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center and the African American Arts Institute at IU Bloomington. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, “Badgers and Smackers” on Better Beware, your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News. More following today’s feature.

But first, your local headlines:

Board of Health Finalizes Public Comment Policy, Discusses Stricter Eligibility Rules

The Monroe County Board of Health met on Thursday, August 21st. The meeting began with board members finalizing legislation for the public comment policy. Chairperson Aurora DiOrio explained the new policy.

Then, Manager of Coordinated School Health, Lisa Greathouse, for I-U Health Bloomington Hospital, presented her departmental update. She explained the progress her department has made in order to meet their goals within the schools.

Health Administrator Lori Kelly went on to discuss how Monroe County’s funded Health First programs have implemented stricter eligibility requirements. The board members expressed their frustration with this new Indiana law that resulted in two individuals being turned away from county resources due to their documentation and citizenship status.

Chairperson DiOrio explained a new decision from I-U Health that will shift the responsibilities of communicable disease case investigation, TB followup, and vaccinations to the Monroe County Board of Health. She elaborated that IU Health has terminated this contract with Monroe County as of January first. The Board of Health will now retain the funds that were previously provided to IU Health and carry out these responsibilities.

The meeting wrapped up with a comment on the fluoride in the county’s water. Chairperson Stephen Pritchard, a Doctor of Dental Surgery, presented concern that the fluoride equipment has been malfunctioning for a number of years. He expressed how he believes this is a problem that could be related to an increase in tooth decay. The Board voted unanimously to invite individuals from the City of Bloomington Utilities to provide information on this topic and open discussion. The Board subsequently adjourned the meeting. The next Board of Health meeting will take place on Thursday, September 18th.

Justice Center Reopens After Mold Repair and Ongoing Testing

The Monroe County Commissioners met on August 21st. Health Department Director Lori Kelley issued an update for the Department, reporting more than 10 cases of infant deaths due to unsafe sleep across the state.

An agreement between the Monroe County Women’s Commission and the Indiana University Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering was accepted in order to provide middle-schoolers with a camp that would allow students to develop website design and STEM skills. County Attorney Molly Turner-King provided the details.

Finally, during announcements, Commissioners’ Administrator Angie Purdie described the current conditions at the Justice Center, which she said resulted in the accumulation of mold and fungal spores.

The Justice Center closed on Tuesday and re-opened on Thursday after the conclusion of disruptive mold

The Monroe County Commissioners next meet on August 28th.

Feature Report:

In today’s feature report, we share a segment from Bring It On! where hosts Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell talk with leaders of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center and the African American Arts Institute at IU Bloomington. The discussion focuses on the history of these institutions and the upcoming performances and events that showcase African American music, dance and culture. We turn to that segment from Bring It On on the WFHB Local News.

Here are two more “classic” scams that have been practiced since time immemorial, and are still very much in use today — because they still work, in one variation or another. Both are “team” scams, and need at least two crooks to make them work. The victim must not know that the two are connected — and these scams are especially dangerous because they use both greed and fear to snare the sucker. Know the pattern, and you’ll know when to beware.

In today’s feature report, Max Jancich and Ashton Harper talk with Dr. Thomas Butts from Purdue University about nozzles and herbicides and how farms manage weeds.

And now for your environmental reports:

Feature Report:

And now, lets listen to Dr. Thomas Butts from Purdue University talk about managing weeds on a big farm.

And now for some upcoming events:

Credits:

On tonight’s edition of Bring It On!, hosts Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell showcase the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center and the African American Arts Institute on the Indiana University Bloomington Campus. Our guests today are:

Dr. Gloria Howell and Professors Strong and Wise are here tonight to provide an overview of the upcoming cultural events offered by the NMCC and AAAI.

In January 2002, the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center at Indiana University was officially dedicated in honor of the first African American man and woman to graduate from Indiana University: Marcellus Neal earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1895, and Frances Marshall received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1919.

The African American Arts Institute preserves and promotes excellence in African American music, dance, and culture. Its history began in the early 1970s. First, in 1971, the IU Soul Revue was established, and then, in 1974, the African American Dance Company was founded. One year later, in 1975, the African American Choral Ensemble was established to provide students with the opportunity to study and perform various forms of choral music that evolved out of the Black experience. These three ensembles have become integral components of the African American Arts Institute, while they are also offered as courses through the Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies.

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On Saturday, Kirkwood Avenue was blocked off in downtown  Bloomington for the 11th annual Pridefest. This festival brought out thousands of people celebrating LGBTQ+ lives and the fight for liberation. WFHB News Correspondent Ella Cummings speaks with various groups and attendees about what pride means to them. 

Photos by Jessie Grubb and Kade Young.

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, August 25th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, Kirkwood Avenue was blocked off in downtown Bloomington for the 11th annual Pridefest. WFHB Correspondent Ella Cummings speaks with attendees and various organizations about what pride means to them. More in today’s feature report.

You’ll also hear Suzanne Allen with a success story from IU Corps, the bridge between local organizations needing volunteers and students who want to help. Learn more later in the show on a new episode of Activate!

Featured Segments:

Up next, WFHB Correspondent Zoe Moczek reports on an Indiana prison that will hold 1,000 undocumented immigrants under state partnership with ICE. For more, we turn to Zoe Moczek.

On Saturday, Kirkwood Avenue was blocked off in downtown Bloomington for the 11th annual Pridefest. This festival brought out thousands of people celebrating LGBTQ+ lives and the fight for liberation. WFHB News Correspondent Ella Cummings speaks with various groups and attendees about what pride means to them. We turn now to that series of interviews on WFHB.

Now it’s time for your Sports News Briefing with WFHB Sports Correspondent Nate Rushemeza. This segment was written and recorded on Thursday, August 21st. We turn to Rushemeza for more.

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