At 2 p.m. today Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson held a press conference addressing street homelessness in Bloomington. Thomson said that in her view the housing crisis and homelessness are solvable and outlined how the City of Bloomington is planning to continue to address the complex issue.

She walked the city’s current efforts, including hiring a homelessness response coordinator, using a Lilly Foundation grant to add case management staff, modernizing housing enforcement software and addressing housing affordability through lower costs and higher wages.

Thomson clarified the city’s approach to encampments, saying, “We cannot effectively arrest our way out of the homelessness problem,” while acknowledging recent arrests. She also voiced concerns about serving people outside the region, saying Bloomington is “treading water.”

Tune into today’s feature report to hear WFHB’s coverage of the press conference. To view the entire meeting, tap this link.

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, July 29th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, WFHB News volunteers attended a press conference put on by Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson earlier today on housing and homelessness. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, “Road Side Petting Zoos” on Lil Bub’s Lil Show, a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund.

Feature Reports:

In today’s feature report, WFHB News volunteers attended a press conference put on by Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson earlier today on housing and homelessness. We feature an excerpt from that press conference coming up next on the WFHB Local News.

Up next – “Road Side Petting Zoos” on Lil Bub’s Lil Show, a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. We turn now to that segment on the WFHB Local News.

Credits:

Tune in to learn about animal welfare concerns related to roadside petting zoos, along with actions that can be taken to address issues.

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Lil BUB’s Lil Show is a co-production of WFHB and Lil BUB’s Big Fund

In tonight’s episode of Bring It On!, hosts Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell spend the evening with Marcous Friday to discuss the history of the Black Rodeo in America.

Marcous Friday has been Arizona’s Black Rodeo announcer for more than 10 years. He says the rodeo experience is amazing: “We’re able to showcase African American cowboys and cowgirls, which is very rare.” It is a testament to the resilience of African Americans. “Back in the day when the cowboys couldn’t even compete in the white rodeos, and if they did, they had to go after the rodeo, so they started these all-black associations because they could not go to a lot of the white rodeos,” explained Friday, as he prepared to announce the rodeo in front of a sold-out crowd in Westworld Arena in Arizona.

Regarding the history of rodeos, Jason and Rae Miller share the following: “Rodeos have long been a tradition that often gets associated with Western culture. Despite this, what we have seen on the big screen and in many history books is not the complete story. Many of these pieces of media influence overlooked and marginalized the Black cowboys and cowgirls that were a part of the tradition. Nationwide information about black rodeo events can be found at Black Rodeo USA. For example, the Roy Leblanc Okmulgee Invitational Rodeo, with a 70-year history, will take place on August 8-9, 2025, in Okmulgee, OK. It is also one of Oklahoma’s longest-running rodeos and one of the largest African-American sporting events in the entire nation.

The black rodeo functions like a traditional rodeo. It’s full of events like bull riding, calf roping, barrel racing, and steer wrestling. It emphasizes the talents, skills, and heritage of Black cowboys and cowgirls. At the same time, the black rodeo celebrates the many cowboys and cowgirls who often got the short end of the stick. Few people have documented their stories like many others in rodeo. Some played significant roles in cattle ranching, cattle drives, and rodeo sports.

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This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, July 28th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, you’ll hear City Council President Hopi Stosberg speaking about the use of Camp Atterbury as an immigrant detention facility during the latest council meeting. More in today’s headlines.

You’ll also hear Sarah Cassavaugh from IN*SOURCE, on how her own child’s time in special education led her to want to help others. Find out how IN*SOURCE advocates for Hoosier families later in the show on a new episode of Activate!

But first, your daily headlines:

County Establishes New Nature Preserve, Addresses Tick-Borne Illnesses and Emergency Planning

The Monroe County Commissioners met on July 24th. Health Department Director Lori Kelley spoke about increases in tick-borne illnesses in Monroe County, and the existence of a web app that makes tick reporting much easier.

Kelley later went on to explain an agreement between the Health Department and Indiana University

Health Bloomington, also referred to as IUHB, as a precautionary agreement for aid during disasters. During a large-scale disaster or civil emergency, IUHB has been allocated three hours to provide the facilities and equipment deemed necessary.

One of the final items on the agenda was the establishment of the Monroe County Nature Preserve. County Attorney Justin Roddye shared that the Nancy Huntington Trust donated 409 acres of land on the east side of the county, allowing the Monroe County Historic Preservation Board of Review to establish a nature preserve in the area.

Commissioners Thomas and Madeira heaped praise on the new preserve, labelling it as a “gift” to the mcounty.

Parks and Recreation Director Kelli Whitmer shared the Parks Department’s plans for the property.

Witmer also shared that they will be planting thousands of trees on the property.

The Monroe County Commissioners meet next on July 31st.

City Council Condemns Camp Atterbury Detentions, Debates Future of Sidewalk Committee

The Bloomington City Council met for a deliberation session on Wednesday, July 23rd. During council member reports, Council President Hopi Stosberg expressed dismay surrounding the use of Camp Atterbury as an immigrant detention facility, urging citizens to express any concerns they have to their representatives.

The council then held a discussion surrounding the sidewalk committee. Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator Hank Duncan from the Planning and Transportation department described how the current needs of the committee are not being met by the amount of money being allocated for them.

Stosberg stated the main questions to be discussed during the meeting, those being if the sidewalk committee should exist, what its purpose should be, and what it should fund. Council Member Matt Flaherty shared that he believes the need for the committee could be eliminated over time, as a more holistic approach towards improving pedestrian traffic is implemented in coming years.

Upon more discussion, the council agreed that the committee should continue to exist for the time being. Council Member Sydney Zulich suggested that the committee should start meeting earlier in the year to approve funding of specific projects, so as to expedite the process of accomplishing them. Stosberg also favored this idea.

The council then held an extended discussion surrounding other types of infrastructure besides sidewalks which may be implemented by the committee, including rapid flashing beacons, crosswalks, and hawk signals. Stosberg suggested that the title of the committee might be a misnomer if it were to focus on more than sidewalks, to which Zulich suggested the name of “The Pedestrian Safety Committee.”

Council Member Dave Rollo expressed support for the name change, and added that speed limit enforcement is another important factor for the committee to consider.

During public comment, Bloomington Resident Paul Rousseau gave a personal anecdote illustrating the importance of effective pedestrian infrastructure.

The Bloomington City Council will meet again on Wednesday, July 30th.

Feature Report:

In today’s feature report, WFHB Environmental Correspondent Max Jancich speaks with Greg Olsen, Field Projects Director at the Sand County Foundation. Olsen discussed prairie strips, a conservation practice that integrates prairie ecosystems into 10-20 percent of farmland to improve water quality and soil health. For more, we turn to Max Jancich.

Sarah Cassavaugh knows firsthand how difficult it can be to navigate the education system when your child has special needs. Her own experiences advocating for her son led her to want to help others. IN*SOURCE helps Hoosier families navigate the special education process, bridging the gap between schools and parents. She’s looking for volunteers to promote IN*Source services on a new episode of Activate!, coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.

Credits:

En este episodio conversamos con Ana Cándida Carneiro, PhD, artista brasileña y fundadora de la compañía de teatro Babel, quien participó con una presentación artística en el Black y Brown Arts Festival 2024. Ana es jefa del Departamento de Dramaturgia en la Maestría en Bellas Artes de la Universidad de Indiana (IU) y está profundamente comprometida con acercar las artes escénicas a la comunidad de Bloomington, promoviendo la participación en proyectos teatrales más allá del campus universitario.

Sarah Cassavaugh knows firsthand how difficult it can be to navigate the education system when your child has special needs. Her own experiences advocating for her son led her to want to help others. IN*SOURCE helps Hoosier families navigate the special education process, bridging the gap between schools and parents.

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

This episode of Activate! was produced by Gracyn Mangelsen

Hello and welcome to Eco Report.

In today’s feature report, WFHB Environmental Correspondent Max Jancich speaks with Greg Olsen, Field Projects Director at the Sand County Foundation. Olsen discussed prairie strips, a conservation practice that integrates prairie ecosystems into 10-20 percent of farmland to improve water quality and soil health.

And now for your environmental reports:

Feature Report:

And now, we turn to Max Jancich as he talks with Greg Olsen, Field Projects Director at the Sand County Foundation about prairie strips.

And now for some upcoming events:

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In yesterday’s newscast, WFHB News Correspondent Max Schneider covers Governor Braun’s dismantling of DEI, funding cuts to NPR and PBS and a rundown of recent bills passed in the Indiana Statehouse. More in this feature report. To listen to the full audio, listen to the player below.

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, July 24th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, WFHB News speaks with two members of Care Not Cages who are partnering up with almost a dozen organizations to urge county leadership to not move forward with constructing a new jail. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, Chris Fox, the Land Stewardship Director for the Sycamore Land Trust, joins Civic Conversations – our podcast collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Bloomington and Monroe County.

Feature Reports:

According to Care Not Cages, the county is at a crossroads when it comes to funding the criminal legal system. Recent legislation passed by the Indiana Statehouse makes the current plan for financing a new jail obsolete. Care Not Cages, New Leaf-New Life, the Indiana Recovery Alliance and nine other organizations endorsed a letter urging county leadership to focus on renovating the current jail as opposed to constructing a new jail. In today’s feature report, WFHB News interviewed Seth Mutchler and Sam Holdeman, members of Care Not Cages, following extensive public comment at the Monroe County Council meeting on Tuesday. 

Up next, Civic Conversations – a podcast collaboration between WFHB and the League of Women Voters of Bloomington and Monroe County. This month, host Jim Allison welcomes Chris Fox, the Land Stewardship Director for the Sycamore Land Trust, to discuss reforestation and land renovation in Monroe County. We turn now to the July edition of Civic Conversations on the WFHB Local News.

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