Noon Edition

A blue wave swept across the country on Tuesday night, as Democrats took control of the U.S. House and Senate in the 2026 midterm elections.

Democrats even made gains in a usually deeply-red Indiana.

J.D. Ford flipped the U.S. House District 5 seat, knocking off incumbent Republican Victoria Spartz, and Beau Bayh won the race for Secretary of State, giving Democrats their first state-wide election win since 2014.

Read more: Bayh puts Indiana Democrats back in winning column

And while Republicans still maintain control of both chambers at the statehouse, Democrats flipped enough seats in the House to end a nearly two-decade super majority by Republicans.

Read more: Indiana Democrats gain congressional seat

In Monroe County, Democrats swept the few contested races, and voters in the northwest part of the county narrowly passed a measure to merge the town of Ellettsville with surrounding Richland Township.

On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll talk with political observers to unpack Tuesday’s results and what they mean for the state – and nation – going forward.

Guests
Paul Helmke, Director, Civic Leaders Center, IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Rep. Matt Pierce, (D) Bloomington
Steven Webster, Associate Professor, IU Department of Political Science

Indiana’s school voucher system was born out of legislation passed in 2011.

Its intent was to provide low-income families with opportunities to send their children to private, often religious-affiliated schools.

In the program’s first year, almost four thousand of the state’s more than one million students received a total of just over $16 million in vouchers.

Last school year, more than 80,000 students claimed $548 million in vouchers to attend 385 private schools, nearly all of them religious schools. And for the first time ever, more than half the families that received vouchers made over $100,000 a year.

Critics of the program say the state is subsidizing education for the wealthiest families, all while re-allocating money that originally went to the public school system.

Read more: Public School Supporters Sound Alarm as Voucher Program Grows

“I think the biggest thing is, it’s siphoning off money that’s desperately needed to run the public schools,” Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, told journalist Steve Hinnefeld for a story on vouchers published in the Limestone Post and on WFHB. “The fact is, the legislature has to fund three school systems: the public schools, charter schools, and private schools with vouchers.”

But the system has been a boon for some schools.

Covenant Christian School on Bloomington’s south side had about a dozen students in 2014. But thanks to more than $5 million in vouchers over the past eight years, it now has 135 students and moved into a new facility this year.
Head of School Rob Akers said the money has been “transformational.”

On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll be talking about the history of school vouchers, the ongoing impacts of the voucher system on the Indiana school system, and what expansion of the program means for a public school system already struggling from funding cut.

Guests
Rev. Rob Akers, Head of School, Covenant Christian School.
Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer, President, Indiana Coalition for Public Education
Steve Hinnefeld, Education journalist, author of the “School Matters” blog
Chris Lubienski, Director, IU Center for Evaluation and Education Policy

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, when organizations and individuals across the country unite to support and raise awareness for victims of domestic violence.

The month of awareness began in 1987, with Congress officially designating October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month two years later.

In 1995, several organizations providing domestic violence support formed the Domestic Violence Awareness Project. Its goal is “to support and promote national, tribal, territorial, state, and local advocacy networks in their ongoing public education efforts through public awareness, strategies, materials, resources, capacity-building, and technical assistance.”

This year, the DMVP is focused on action. It says domestic violence has been minimized and cuts to the family services “have increased barriers to safety for survivors and their children.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three women experience domestic violence or domestic abuse in their lifetime.

The non-profit Middle Way House was founded in Bloomington in 1970 as a walk-in center that operated a 24-hour crisis hotline. In 2010, it opened New Wings, which houses Middle Way’s services and has six permanent one-bedroom apartments for survivors.

Middle Way says it “continues to support domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking affected individuals in every community.”

Raising awareness on campus, “And So I Stayed,” an award-winning documentary by Natalie Pattillo and Daniel A. Nelson, will be screened Saturday at 7 p.m. at the IU Cinema.

Watch: Official trailer for “And So I Stayed”

The film is about three female survivors of domestic abuse who spent years behind bars for fighting back against their attackers – and how the justice system fails in domestic violence cases.

Following the viewing, a panel featuring Pattillo, Kerry Hyatt Bennett, the Chief Legal Counsel for the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and Carrie Stillions, the Executive Director of Middle Way House, will take part in Q&A session.

On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll discuss the documentary, “And So I Stayed,” narratives about domestic abuse, impacts of funding cuts to domestic violence services, and how to support survivors.

Guests
Natalie Pattillo, Filmmaker, “And So I Stayed”
Cindy Houston, former board member, Middle Way House
Andrea Mariani, PhD Candidate in Counseling Psychology, IU Kinsey Institute

Next month, Indiana plans to execute Jeffrey Weisheit for the 2010 murders of 8-year-old Alyssa Lynch and her 5-year-old brother, Caleb Lynch, who died in a fire at their Evansville home.

His attorneys want to delay the date so doctors can perform and examine brain scans for evidence of brain injuries they say were not adequately developed or presented during his trial and appeals.

Read more: Indiana death row inmate seeks execution delay

If Governor Mike Braun ultimately denies clemency in the case, Weisheit will die from a lethal injection of the drug pentobarbital.

It’s the same drug used in a failed execution in Tennessee last month of Christa Pike that left her unconscious in a hospital for days. She has since been returned to the prison and will likely face another execution attempt next year.

It again raised questions of using pentobarbital as a lethal injection drug and calls for using other methods for executions have increased. Indiana state representative Jim Lucas (R-Seymour) said he plans to introduce legislation making a firing squad Indiana’s primary method of execution.

At the federal level, Pentagon officials announced last month that it planned to live stream the execution by firing squad of Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 U.S. soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009, on Dec. 3. Whether the execution is televised or not remains to be seen, as the government has faced pushback.

It would be the first military execution in 65 years, but the 14th federal execution since President Trump’s first term. Those all took place in a six-month stretch at the Federal penitentiary in Terre Haute just before the end of Trump’s first term in January of 2021.

Listen to our podcast: Rush to Kill

On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll talk about the efficacy of lethal injection, alternative execution methods, impending executions at the state and federal levels, and Americans’ attitudes about the death penalty.

Guests
Stefanie Anderson, Executive Director, Indiana Abolition Coalition
Zachary Cormier, Associate Professor of Law, IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law
Marla Sandys, Associate Professor, IU Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Early voting for this fall’s general election began this week, and with it comes fears about election integrity and security on both sides of the aisle.

There also appears to be high levels of voter engagement. A new NPR/PBS/Marist poll shows nearly 9 in 10 voters say they care quite a bit about which party will win control of Congress in November.

President Trump and the Republicans have been trying to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act for the past two legislative sessions. It would require enhanced identification to register to vote and increased voter identification at the polls.

They say the intention is to safeguard election integrity, prevent non-citizens from voting and increase confidence in election results.

Read more: The SAVE Act: What every American Voter Needs to Know

Democrats and voting rights organizations say the legislation amounts to voter suppression. They say that requiring proof of citizenship at the polls would disenfranchise voters and having to obtain proof would amount to an illegal poll tax.

They also point laws that already make it illegal for non-citizens to vote.

And while the president claims most elections his party have lost have been rigged, studies have found it occurring between 0.0025 percent and 0.0003percent of the time.

Read more: Debunking the Voter Fraud Myth, Again
Locally, there are no municipal races on the ballot, but there are a handful of county races and numerous state-wide races that will impact the daily lives of Hoosiers. Several school boards in the state are proposing referendums to raise money, and in northwest Monroe County, voters will decide whether or not the town of Ellettsville and Richland Township are merged into one governmental body.

On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll talk with election officials and political representatives about midterm election security measures, details on local races, and what issues are on the ballot.

Guests
Kylie Farris, Election Supervisor, Monroe County Election Board
Marjorie Hershey, Professor Emeritus , IU Department of Political Science
Debora “Ralf” Shaw, spokesperson, League of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County

Since the launch of artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT nearly four years ago, the field of artificial intelligence has rapidly grown – changing the world along with it.

About half of all U.S. adults report using chatbots, and massive tech companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have poured hundreds of billions of dollars into research and infrastructure to support and further develop the AI boom.

How fast artificial intelligence is developing has many people worried about dangers it might pose to humanity.

Read more: A guide to the different factions in the AI safety debate

President Trump this week gathered the leaders of the top technology firms in the U.S. for a summit at the White House. But instead of government regulation of AI, Trump and the industry leaders signed an accord saying they would self-police the development of AI.

Read more: Trump says top tech firms have sign accord to 'self-police' AI development

Another big concern with AI is the massive amount of computing power it takes to run it. And that means a rush to build data centers in communities across the country. In Indiana, almost 60 data centers are already operating, another 12 are under construction and more than two dozen are in the planning stage.

The construction of data centers has led to growing pushback from communities, who don’t want the massive facilities - and the water and energy needs that come with them – in their backyards.

Read more: Indiana counties turn to local restrictions against data centers

On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll explore the growing pushback to data centers, how artificial intelligence impacts our daily lives, the landscape of AI regulation and what Hoosiers see as the future of artificial intelligence.

Guests
Anna Kavanaugh, Protect Decatur Township
Angie Raymond, Professor of Business Law and Ethics, IU Kelley School of Business
Scott Shackelford, Director, IU Ostrom Workshop Program on Cybersecurity & Internet Governance

Is my food safe to eat? Are vaccines and boosters safe to get? Who should I trust for medical advice? Should I be worried about measles?

Recent outbreaks of cyclosporiasis and recalls and warnings of fruits, vegetables, meat and even potato chips and pasta have people wondering what’s going on with our food supply.

A national survey by Navigator found 64% of women and 52% of men have changed what they eat due to food recalls.

Read more: Food for thought: Americans are concerned about what’s on their plate

And with flu season fast approaching, medical professionals continue to recommend flu vaccines for everyone over the age of six month, but especially for those over 65, pregnant or who have chronic health issues.

COVID vaccines are recommended for those over 65, with one shot in the fall and a booster six months later. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the COVID vaccine for children ages six months to 23 months.

But there’s been a lot of confusion and distrust of vaccines, driven by changing recommendations from the CDC and the FDA under the Trump administration.

Plus, as of this week, 17 cases of one of the most contagious illnesses in the world have been confirmed in Indiana after years of eradication. Measles primarily affects unvaccinated individuals, but according to the Indiana Department of Health, almost 10% of Indiana kindergarteners are not up to date on their measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines.

Read more: CDC's response to measles deaths stirs fears about agency's reliability

Medical groups are posting all their recommendations on websites, so "the public has clear, consistent, science-based guidance even while the federal process is in flux," Dr. Sandra Fryhofer of the American Medical Association told PBS.

On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll talk with the medical experts about the recent outbreaks, impacts of changes at the CDC and FDA and where to find accurate health information this vaccine season.

Guests
Dr. Tom Hrisomalos, Infectious Disease Specialist, IU Health
Bill Sullivan, Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology, IU School of Medicine
Eduardo Ximenes, Associate Professor, IU School of Public Health

Friday marks 25 years since the deadliest terrorist attacks in history.

Almost three thousand people were killed when hijacked planes slammed into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon, forever changing the world view for many.

Read more: How the Sept. 11 attacks remade life in America

Shortly after the attacks, President George W. Bush declared a “Global War on Terror,” leading to more than two decades of war in the Middle East, including in Afghanistan and Iraq, re-shaping U.S foreign policy and increased security on the home front.

Now, a generation has grown up in the post-9/11 world, born after the tragic event but impacted by all that followed.

Read more: Why 9/11 and its many griefs land differently 25 years later

On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll look back at the events of 9/11, how they changed U.S. foreign policy, reshaped world politics and have played into the rise of Islamophobia at home.

Guests
Hussein Banai, Associate Professor, Hamilton Lugar School of International Studies
Jim Buher, who was in the Pentagon on 9/11 with a group of Crane Naval Base employees
Brian Frantz, Professor of Practice, Hamilton Lugar School of International Studies
Shelby Hiltunen, Producing Partner at Naptown Media

Indiana football is back this weekend, and with it comes high expectations from a fanbase still riding the high of a National Championship.

The Hoosiers open the season is Saturday at home against the University of North Texas. It’s one of eight home games this season – all of which are sold out.

This season comes with some big changes for longtime IU football fans. Sky-high demand for seats led to student season tickets being limited to five games. Memorial Stadium will also reflect the program’s massive spike in popularity, including expanded concessions and merch areas, new parking options, new tailgating rules, and a limited number of fans running onto the field with the team.

Read more: Students begin new reality of limits on IU football tickets

IU’s national championship inspired books, including the upcoming “Unthinkable to Unstoppable: How Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers Stunned College Football” by two local sports journalists.

This season, the Hoosiers will have a new quarterback, Josh Hoover, replacing Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, who led the team to a 16-0 record.

Read more: Wyatt, Daley practicing with IU but status uncertain for games

On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll discuss the cultural impacts of last season’s dominance, how changes to the gameday experience will affect fans, and predictions for the upcoming season.

Guests
Zach Osterman, IU football beat writer for the Indianapolis Star and co-author of “Unthinkable to Unstoppable”
Mike Niziolek, IU athletics beat writer for The Herald-Times and co-author of “Unthinkable to Unstoppable”
Nathan Shriberg, IU football beat writer for the Indiana Daily Student

For more than half a century, Don Fischer has narrated the triumphs, heartbreaks, and defining moments of Indiana University athletics.

From national championships and iconic buzzer-beaters to unforgettable football Saturdays, his voice has become inseparable from the Hoosier experience.

This Friday, WTIU will debut a documentary on the legendary voice of IU sports called “Timeless: Don Fischer’s Half-Century Broadcasting IU Sports.”

Read more: “Timeless” premieres August 28 on WTIU

“Timeless” tells the story of the legendary broadcaster whose career spans generations of IU fans and athletes. Through archival footage, historic radio calls, interviews, and personal reflections, the documentary explores Fischer’s unlikely rise from a small-town Illinois upbringing to becoming one of the most recognizable voices in college sports.

On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll talk with the reporters behind the documentary about the process, what they’ve learned about Fischer and why it is important to document the career of an IU living legend.

Guests
Mark Alesia, WTIU Senior News Editor and producer of “Timeless”
Tyler Lake, WTIU video producer and editor of "Timeless"
Elyse Perry, WTIU journalist and assistant producer of "Timeless"