We all get hit on all the time now, don’t we? Here are some of the failed attempts con artists have recently made to steal my identity, and my money. Here’s how I knew they were scams, and how I protect myself from the relentless barrage of fraud that threatens us every day. Any time you get a message from someone you don’t know personally, you’d better beware.

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, August 18th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, Bloomington’s street closures are creating headaches for drivers just as IU students return for the start of the fall semester. WFHB News looks at how the closures are affecting traffic and daily routines around town and what residents can expect in the weeks ahead. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, find out ways you can get involved in your community on “Volunteer Connection” – in collaboration with the Bloomington Volunteer Network.

Featured Segments:

If you’re walking around Bloomington today, you can’t help but notice busy sidewalks, long traffic lines and several full road closures. Earlier today, WFHB News Correspondent Ben Sharpe spoke with Kendall Knoke of the City of Bloomington’s Engineering Department about what residents can expect and how the closures are impacting move-in week for IU students. More information on closed roads can be found at the city’s inRoads portal.

After hearing from the city, WFHB News took to the streets to hear from Bloomington residents and parents about how the road closures are affecting their daily lives and what they expect traffic to look like as IU students return. That’s coming up next on the WFHB Local News.

Up next, we have Volunteer Connection on the WFHB Local News in collaboration with the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, highlighting four ways you can get involved in Bloomington. We turn to hosts Aubrey Seader and Courtney Hallows from Bloomington Creative Glass Center.

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This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, August 17th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, actor Jesse Eisenberg donated $250,000 to Middle Way House, a local organization supporting survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence. More from Correspondent Andrew Miller in today’s featured interview.

You’ll also hear Debbie Fish, a volunteer with Court Appointed Special Advocates. Debbie says the waitlist is too long for kids caught up in our local justice system. Find out how you can help later in the show on a new episode of Activate!

Monroe County Election Board hears arguments over Joe Davis write-in candidacy

By Jaimmie Ford

A Monroe County Special Election Board Hearing was held on August 12th. The hearing was related to complaints against candidate Joe Davis. Davis, who lost this year’s Democratic primary election for the Monroe County Clerk position, is attempting to get on the November ballot as a write-in candidate. Five complaints were filed against Davis, citing what is commonly known as the Indiana “Sore Loser Law.”

County Attorney Jeff Cockerill explained the relevant section of Indiana Code and the complaints.

“The allegation is that Mr. Davis is one who was defeated in a primary convention or caucus, and therefore he is ineligible to be ineligible to be on the ballot for this fall,” said Cockerill.

Dee Owens, one of the complainants, stated that adding a write-in candidate who already lost a primary would be against the law.

“I think allowing a write-in candidate at this point who was a previous candidate is clearly in opposition to the law.”

Prior to Davis giving his presentation during the hearing, election board member Danny Shields remarked on what the election board can and cannot do.

“And the question is, can this election board rewrite Indiana state law? And the answer is no,” said Shields.

Joe Davis started his presentation by acknowledging the law, the results of the primary election, and that the election board could not change the law nor the election results. However, citing multiple court cases, Davis argues that he should be allowed to run for the clerk position as an independent write-in candidate.

“If the statute is applied to me, I cannot be a candidate for Monroe County Clerk in the November general election at all,” said Davis.

After Davis ended his presentation, a recess was declared to allow the complainants and the election board to review exhibits Davis submitted. Complainant Dee Owens offered her thoughts on how the board should proceed.

“This board has no authority over the United States Constitution, and therefore you can only rule, of course, on what’s in front of you – the law that’s in front of you and the evidence that’s in front of you,” said Owens.

Shields agreed that ultimately, this issue was not for the Monroe County Election Board to decide.

“If you wish to file suit somewhere to be put on the ballot, that is out,” said Shields.

Ultimately, the election board did unanimously vote to remove Joe Davis from the ballot, but acknowledged that Davis does have the right to petition the courts for injunctive relief that the board cannot provide.

The next meeting of the Monroe County Election Board is scheduled for September 3rd.

Monroe County Council considers tax rate, hiring requests and health funding

By Claire Zeyen

Monroe County Council met August 11th. During public comment, Bloomington resident Gerhard Glomm called attention to federal immigration detentions and invited officials and the public to a vigil.

“65,765. That is the number of people, as I googled it today, that are currently held in ICE detention. 65,765. Various independent agencies have verified that roughly 70% of those detainees have no criminal record,” said Glomm.

Vice-President of LifeDesigns DSI, Chris Hardesty, used the department update segment to thank the county for ongoing support and outline plans for a new day program to serve people with developmental disabilities who’ve been stuck on waitlists. He explained how county funding is especially critical as Indiana Medicaid changes create uncertainty.

“Things at a state level are definitely not getting any easier. Every day seems to bring a new challenge, and so having this support as it is is fantastic, and just hoping that it continues…” said Hardesty.

County Surveyor Trohn Enright-Randolph delivered a 20‑year retrospective on the surveyor’s office’s work, showcasing that the office has brought Monroe County’s public land survey up to modern standards.

“Made it a priority to have higher standards, do the perpetuation work per per state mandate, stay on top of technology, continue to create databases,” said Enright-Randolph.

He used the presentation to argue that the current structure underpays the office despite higher expectations and professional standards.

Next, multiple departments presented to request exemptions to the temporary hiring freeze. The council granted each request by roll‑call vote.

The council also approved a modest Health Department grant amendment to extend funding for sexually transmitted disease prevention and disease intervention specialists. Health Administrator Lori Kelley said the money bridges a gap until a larger award arrives.

“This is just a standard grant amendment, so this funding supports our disease intervention specialists. This funding will last us about into the fall, and we are expecting an additional $110,000 to be arriving soon,” said Kelley.

The council then spent time discussing how to handle the special‑purpose local income tax that funds youth and court programs. The rate was cut twice in recent years to spend down a large cash balance. County Auditor Brianne Gregory explains the current situation and recommendation.

“We’re definitely going to be in the red if we don’t take some sort of action, either budget reduction or rate increase,” said Gregory.

The next Monroe County Council meeting will be on August 25th at 5 pm.

Featured Segments:

After Actors Jesse Eisenberg and Paul Giamatti won $500,000 on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” last week, Eisenberg donated $250,000 to Middle Way House, a local organization supporting survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence. WFHB News Correspondent Andrew Miller spoke with Middle Way’s fiscal director for more on the donation’s impact.

If you call Debbie Fish a nag, she might take it as a compliment. Debbie is a persistent taskmaster with an eye for detail, skills that make her a perfect fit for CASA – that’s Court Appointed Special Advocates. Volunteers at Monroe County CASA advocate for children caught up in the local court system, often due to abuse or neglect. You don’t have to be a lawyer to help; you just have to listen and care…and maybe do a little nagging. Debbie says the waitlist is too long for kids who need a Court Appointed Special Advocate. Learn how you can help on a new episode of Activate!, coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.

Credits:

Coming up later, in Part 3, we will listen to Carrie Albright as she interviews Jolie Perry, the sustainability coordinator with the city of Bloomington where they talk about the SEEL program in town that provides grant funding and assistance tononprofits and businesses to install solar panels to improve building efficiency.

The ongoing severe weather in Indiana has brought historic rainfall, leading to significant flooding in eastern and southern counties. As of August 12, heavy thunderstorms have resulted in “waist high waters” in places like New Castle and Shelby County, prompting early morning flood warnings. High winds, potentially reaching 70 to 75 miles per hour, are also part of the storm threats, along with flash flooding, lightning, and hail. The impact includes home damage, road closures, and stranded vehicles requiring water rescues, alongside disruptions to events and school activities.

Data centers in the U.S. are experiencing significant growth, with over 4,011 centers reported as of March 2026. However, this expansion has led Indiana communities to impose moratoriums due to environmental concerns. Activists argue data centers degrade habitats, prompting lawsuits against the Trump administration for changes to the Endangered Species Act. This revision redefines “harm,” allowing habitat destruction if species aren’t directly injured, which experts like David Van Gilder from the Hoosier Environmental Council criticize as unscientific, stressing the irreversible loss of potential habitats. Amidst rising numbers—83 proposed and 23 operational data centers in Indiana—regulatory oversight remains minimal; the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has a limited role in permitting despite compliance mandates from the EPA. While companies like Google maintain that backup generators are rarely used, evidence suggests they may operate more frequently, producing significant pollution. An example includes an Amazon data center in Portage, which received a permit for diesel generators without national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants. IDEM reports that as of July 14, there are 20 permits related to data center generator emissions issued or in process.

Eco Report is looking for reporters, engineers, and segment producer to report facts on how we’re all affected by global climate disruption and the ongoing assaults on our air, land and water. We also celebrate ecologists, tree huggers, soil builders and other champions who actively protect and restore our natural world, particularly those who are active in south central Indiana. All levels of experience and all ages are welcome, and we provide the training you’ll need. WFHB also offers internships.

If you call Debbie Fish a nag, she might take it as a compliment. Debbie is a persistent taskmaster with an eye for detail, skills that make her a perfect fit for CASA – that’s Court Appointed Special Advocates. Volunteers at Monroe County CASA advocate for children caught up in the local court system, often due to abuse or neglect. You don’t have to be a lawyer to help; you just have to listen and care…and maybe do a little nagging. Debbie says the waitlist is too long for kids who need a Court Appointed Special Advocate. 

Activate! is a partnership between WFHB and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, working together to build a strong, healthy and engaged community. You can learn more about volunteer opportunities in the WFHB listening area at bloomingtonvolunteernetwork.org or by emailing [email protected].

This episode of Activate! was produced by Ben Walter

A complaint filed by Monroe County Assessor Judy Sharp against independent challenger Jeneé Trimble is now before the county Election Board.

Sharp’s complaint accuses Trimble of offering property or services in exchange for signatures to get on the November ballot. Trimble denies the allegation and says she never exchanged anything for a signature.

Trimble says the complaint stems from a social media post she made while trying to collect the minimum 798 signatures required to qualify for the ballot.

She says she had been helping county residents understand property tax appeals and jokingly posted that she would begin charging people a sheet of signatures for her help.

“I didn’t actually charge anyone a sheet of signatures, not one signature. I didn’t require anything from anybody,” said Trimble.

Sharp declined to discuss the complaint further with WFHB News because the Election Board has not yet heard the case.

Meanwhile, Sharp has strongly disputed Trimble’s broader allegations against the assessor’s office.

“These allegations have been looked at by the state with a fine tooth comb, and there is absolutely nothing to them. They’re allegations. They’re not substantiated by anybody,” said Sharp.

Trimble formerly worked in the assessor’s office. She has accused Sharp’s office of fraud and says she has collected documents to support those claims.

The Indiana Department of Local Government Finance investigated those allegations and found no evidence of wrongdoing. Sharp responded to these allegations.

“It was all wrong. It wasn’t true,” said Sharp.

Trimble filed a counter-complaint, accusing people in Sharp’s office of interfering with her efforts to collect signatures. She also disputes Sharp’s allegation that she acted as a tax representative.

“To be a tax representative, you have to represent the taxpayer in an appeal hearing. I’ve never done that,” said Trimble.

The election board is expected to revisit Sharp’s complaint during its September 3 meeting

WFHB News will continue following the story and the race for Monroe County assessor ahead of the November election.

Hear the full interviews below:

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, August 13th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, a complaint filed by Monroe County Assessor Judy Sharp against independent challenger Jeneé Trimble is now before the county Election Board. WFHB Correspondent Jaimmie Ford has more in your daily headlines.

Also coming up in the next half hour, “Medical Students triumph over United Health Group” on Prescription for Healthcare – a podcast collaboration between WFHB and Medicare for All Indiana.

Featured Segments:

A dispute between two candidates for Monroe County assessor is heading back to the county Election Board. WFHB News Correspondent Jaimmie Ford speaks with both candidates, reporting on the two complaints and allegations surrounding the race. We turn now to that story on the WFHB Local News.

Up next, we have Prescription for Healthcare – a monthly podcast collaboration between WFHB and Medicare for All Indiana. In today’s episode, hosts Dr. Rob Stone and Karen Green Stone speak with Caeden Windschitl – a second-year medical student at the University of Minneapolis. This episode is titled “Medical Students triumph over United Health Group.” That’s coming up next on the local news.

Credits:

They did it again – made the happy mistake of leaving a scam voicemail on my phone. Here’s the whole pitch, with a detailed analysis of how obviously fraudulent it is, and why. It’s actually a lot of fun to point out the many ways you can tell when a call from someone you don’t know is really a scam, and the person who called isn’t really a person. Now that’s entertainment!

 This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, August 12th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, WFHB Environmental Correspondent Carrie Albright speaks with Jolie Perry, the sustainability coordinator with the city of Bloomington, to discuss the SEEL program – which provides grant funding and assistance to nonprofits and businesses to install solar panels. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, “That’s Entertainment – the Voicemail Follies” on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News.

Candidate’s write-in bid blocked by Monroe County election board, court challenge planned

By Dave Askins

Joe Davis will be asking the Monroe County circuit court to review Wednesday morning’s unanimous decision by Monroe County election board to keep him from running as a write-in candidate for county clerk in November.

For the board, Davis’s situation was a straightforward application of a state law that bars candidates defeated in a primary from seeking the same office in the ensuing general election. The law is sometimes called the “sore loser” law. Several states have a similar prohibition. Five people filed challenges against Davis’s candidacy.

Davis, who finished the Democratic Party’s primary for clerk held this spring, did not dispute the wording of the law or the facts. Instead, he argued that applying it to his independent write-in candidacy would violate the U.S. and Indiana constitutions.

“I accept the result of the May Democratic primary,” Davis told the board. “I am not asking this board to overturn that result.” He said the question was whether the state could also prevent him from participating independently in the general election.

Davis’s constitutional challenge is based on the idea that Indiana’s “sore-loser” law infringes on his First Amendment right to political association and the right of voters to support him. There are also Fourteenth Amendment equal-protection concerns that could be raised based on the idea that the state law treats different categories of people differently—those who lost a primary and those who didn’t.

The board rejected the constitutional arguments as more appropriate for a court to decide instead of an election board.

Election board chair Danny Shields said the board’s job was to apply the statute, not decide whether the statute is constitutional. He told Davis that if he wanted to remain a candidate, he could seek an injunction in court.

Shields put it like this: “If you wish to file suit somewhere to be put on the ballot, that same constitution you’re talking about gives you that right.”

Davis told The B Square that he expects to make his filing in the Monroe County circuit court by the end of this week.

That was the latest edition of B Square Bites – a collaboration between B Square Bulletin and WFHB. To read the full article, you can visit B Square Bulletin and look for the headline: “Candidate’s write-in bid blocked by Monroe County election board, court challenge planned.”

Featured Segments:

In today’s feature report, WFHB Environmental Correspondent Carrie Albright interviews Jolie Perry, the sustainability coordinator with the city of Bloomington, where they talk about the SEEL program in town that provides grant funding and assistance to nonprofits and businesses to install solar panels to improve building efficiency. We turn to Part II of this interview on the WFHB Local News. This feature originally aired on our public affairs program, Eco Report.

Up next, “That’s Entertainment – The Voicemail Follies” on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB. We turn to host and producer Richard Fish for more.

Credits:

Each week Volunteer Connection brings you four ways to get involved in your community through volunteer service. The show is your weekly snapshot of how people of all ages can match their time and talents to local needs.

Volunteer Connection is a co-production of WFHB and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network

Links to Content Mentioned in the Episode:

The City of Bloomington Volunteer Network aims to build a strong, healthy and engaged community by inspiring, supporting, and celebrating volunteerism in our community. For more information, visit www.bloomingtonvolunteernetwork.org or call 812-349-3433.