Noon Edition

It’s been almost a week since Secret Service ushered Donald Trump off stage after a man shot at him during a rally in Pennsylvania.   

The gunfire killed one attendee and injured two more.  

Secret Service killed the suspected shooter, a 20-year-old man, who was set up on a rooftop outside the rally when he opened fire.  

The shooting is under investigation. Also, the Department of Homeland Security opened an investigation of the Secret Service’s handling of security there this week. 

Trump was nominated to lead the Republican Party ticket at the Republican National Convention this week. 

Political experts such as Douglas Brinkley have said the shooting is likely to increase public sympathy for Trump and further an image of martyrdom.   

President Joe Biden condemned the shooting and said there is “no place in America for this kind of violence.” 

Over the years, multiple attempts have been made on presidents and presidential candidates’ lives, as recently as George W. Bush. A Georgian national was arrested in that incident. 

A 2009 paper, “Hit or Miss? The Effect of Assassinations on Institutions and War” looks at the effect of political assassinations on war and institutional change.  

The study found that the assassination of autocrats, like a monarch or dictator, increased a county’s chances to transition to a democracy. But the assassination of leaders in a democracy was not correlated with institutional change. 

The paper analyzed nearly 300 assassination attempts of world leaders spanning 1875 to 2004.  

This week, we’ll talk with security and political experts about the shooting at the Trump rally and its implications. 

You can follow us on X @WFIUWTIUNews or join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to [email protected].

You can also record your questions and send them in through email.

Guests

Paul Helmke, IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Civic Leaders Center Director, Professor of Practice 

Kenneth Gray, M.P.S. University of New Haven Criminal Justice Department Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences, retired FBI Special Agent 

Aaron Dusso, Indiana university Indianapolis, Associate Professor of Political Science 

The Supreme Court issued several major decisions, including Trump v. The United States, which ruled the former president is partly immune for his involvement in efforts on Jan. 6 to overthrow the 2020 election results. 

In another case, it overturned the precedent set by the 1984 Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, which had given deference to governmental agencies in interpreting laws it administers. 

Then toward end of June, the court's 5-4 decision said the Sackler family could not be shielded from civil lawsuits for its role in the opioid crisis. But it stalls a $6 billion settlement that would go to states and and victims of the epidemic in compensation.  

The court also made key decisions on cases addressing racial gerrymandering, abortion access and care, gun rights, and restrictions on people experiencing homelessness.

We'll talk with guests Friday about these decisions and their implications for the US legal system.

You can follow us on X @WFIUWTIUNews or join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to [email protected].

You can also record your questions and send them in through email.

Guests

Beth Cate, Clinical Associate Professor O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs

Laura Wilson, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Indianapolis and Research Associate for the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics 

Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, editor and publisher of Indy Politics

Steve Schwinn, Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development University of Illinois Chicago

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission approved a new plan for a Major League Soccer stadium in June. 

It's the second Professional Sports Development Area created for a soccer team in Indianapolis. The first was planned for Indy Eleven.

But the plan approved for an MLA stadium ends any potential financial support from the city for the Eleven Park project.

Our guests spoke during a pre-recorded show about the potential for a soccer stadium added to the city. 

Jill Sheridan's reporting contributed to this brief.

Storms with winds reaching 70 mph tore through Monroe County and surrounding areas Tuesday evening, leaving approximately 42,000 homes without power. 

Monroe County Commissioners declared a local disaster emergency that night. 

By Wednesday, Indiana 211 received 36 damage reports for Monroe County.

Crews have been working to repair power lines and remove trees from roads. According to Duke Energy’s map Thursday morning, the number of homes without power in Monroe County is closer to 16,000.

The Salvation Army set up a temporary shelter at its 111 N. Rogers St. Bloomington facility where people can come for shelter, meals, and restroom facilities.

Eight stations in Monroe County have set up cooling stations, open from 8 am to 10 pm through June 29.

Read more: While crews fix electrical outages, residents are left to pick up the pieces

This week on Noon Edition, we’ll talk with guests about the storm, community response, and resources available to those affected.

You can follow us on X @WFIUWTIUNews or join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to [email protected].

You can also record your questions and send them in through email.

Guests

Mary Moran, Indiana Department of Homeland Security Director of Emergency Management and Preparedness 

Captain Vinal Lee, Salvation Army Bloomington Pastor and Director

Matthew Eckhoff, The National Weather Service Indianapolis Meteorologist

Doug Childs, The Utilities District of Western Indiana CEO

Aubrey Seader, City of Bloomington Office Manager and Program Assistant for Community and Family Resources

Show notes: 

The City of Bloomington has a storm resources web page linked here.

You can search for free and reduced cost resources at HelpingBloomingtonMonroe.

Indiana lawmakers passed a near total abortion ban after the US Supreme Court overturned its landmark ruling in Roe v. Wade in June 2022.  

Indiana’s ban went into effect in August 2023.  

The ban only allows an abortion if the pregnant person’s serious health or life is at risk; if there’s a lethal fetal anomaly up to 20 weeks post-fertilization; and in cases of rape or incest, but only up to 10 weeks. 

Since then, various groups have challenged the rule. 

The Indiana Court of Appeals heard closing testimony earlier this month that challenged the scope of the ban. 

It upheld a preliminary injunction in April that the ban violates the religious beliefs of some Hoosiers. 

Since the ban went into effect abortion clinics, like one in South Bend, have closed their doors.  

The New York Times reported an estimated 171,000 people traveled out of state for an abortion or to obtain an abortion pill in 2023. 

Medication abortions are on the rise, accounting for more than 60 percent of abortions in 2023.   

In Indiana, the pill is illegal 10 weeks after a person’s last period and must be administered by a doctor. 

Despite Indiana’s ban, births decreased slightly in Indiana in 2023.  

This week, we’ll talk with guests about the landscape of reproductive care in Indiana. 

You can follow us on X @WFIUWTIUNews or join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to [email protected].

You can also record your questions and send them in through email.

Guests  

Haddie Katz, Tandem Community Birth Center and Postpartum House 

Forest Beeley, All Options State Programs Manager 

Jody Madeira, Richard S. Melvin Professor of Law, Co-Director, Center for Law, Society & Culture

Kristen Jozkowski, William L. Yarber Endowed Professor in Sexual Health Department of Applied Health Science

A development is coming to Bloomington’s southwest side, and it is expected to add more than 4,000 homes to the city. 

Construction could start as early as next summer, since the city council approved a rezone of the 140-acre site for Sullivan Development and Ridge Group in May.   

Rezoning is the first phase, according to Sullivan Developer Travis Vencel. Permits still need to be granted from the state, city, and county.  

The project is expected to take about 10 years.  

Read more: Questions remain as developers move forward on Summit District project

The development will be near existing neighborhoods around the RCA Park and Summit Elementary School. 

Residents in the area have expressed concerns related to strain on city infrastructure, increased density, and the environment.  

The project comes as a regional study projects Bloomington will need 4,155 new homes by 2035. 

And The National League of Cities says housing for low to moderate income people is in short supply, since most of the nation’s was developed in the 1930s, and has aged out of the market. 

This week on Noon Edition, we’ll talk about housing needs in Bloomington and plans for the Sudbury Development. 

You can follow us on X @WFIUWTIUNews or join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to [email protected].

You can also record your questions and send them in through email.

Guests: 

Isabel Piedmont-Smith, Bloomington City Council District I representative and president 

Dave Rollo, City Council District IV representative 

Brad Wisler, City of Bloomington Plan Commission President 

Bloomington kicked off its fifth annual Granfalloon Festival last month, more than sixty years since Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s novel Cat's Cradle was released.

An Indiana native, Vonnegut defines a granfalloon as a proud and meaningless association of human beings; part of the made-up religion in his book.

The Granfalloon Festival in Bloomington celebrates art, music, and Vonnegut’s work. This year features a line-up of local and touring performers like Amy O, The Linda Lindas, Sleater-Kinney, and Young@Heart Chorus.

It also includes art exhibitions and discussions related to Vonnegut.

His writing is known for its satire, social commentary, and dark humor. Researcher Christina Jarvis says his work’s honest tone and sense of humor continue to resonate with people.

This week on Noon Edition, we’ll talk with guests about the Granfalloon Festival and the life and work of Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

You can follow us on X @WFIUWTIUNews or join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to [email protected].

You can also record your questions and send them in through email.

Guests

Bob Cilman, Young@Heart Chorus co-director

Anita Shumway, Young@Heart Chorus member

Christina Jarvis, Fredonia State University of New York, author of Lucky Mud & Other Foma 

Indiana is a predominantly rural state, according to an Indiana State population overview.

Living in a rural area typically is correlated with worse health outcomes and lower pay for women. 

A University of Chicago working paper indicates that the social attitudes where a woman grows up continue to affect health and earning potential, even after a woman moves from the area. And while sexist attitudes have overall declined, Indiana has one of the highest rates of sexist attitudes in the Midwest.

The 2023 Indiana Girl Report, released in November, says that Hoosier girls are admitted for inpatient care at three-times the rate of boys, and that there’s little explanation for the disparity.

Additionally, girls in Indiana report exercising less than boys in the state.

But in 2022, Hoosier girls graduated at a higher rate and boys. And 45 percent of girls in Indiana graduated high school with honors, compared to 32 percent of boys.

This week on Noon Edition, we'll talk about outcomes for girls in rural Indiana.

You can follow us on X @WFIUWTIUNews or join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to [email protected].

You can also record your questions and send them in through email.

Guests

Deb Getz, Associate Clinical Professor, Applied Health Science, IU School of Public Health

Elizabeth Beiersdorfer, Dearborn County 4-H Youth Development Coordinator 

Tamisha Sales, Girl Coalition of Indiana Executive Director of Evaluation and Learning

Jonna Breitwieser, Girls On The Run Southwest Executive Director

How quickly should you RSVP to an event? What do you do if you show up underdressed? Do you call someone or send a text? Everyone at dinner is on their phones, is that ok?

Social expectations are always changing and have become more relaxed in the last 50 years.

This week on Noon Edition, we’ll talk with guests about common courtesies and social expectations, and the ways these have changed in recent years with influences like social media, technology, and COVID.

A Pew Research Survey reports 31 percent of American adults are almost constantly online and more than half are online several times a day.

And since 2019, virtual meetings have increased by 50 percent. The move to remote work and virtual interaction means many workplaces now have more relaxed dress codes.

Social events are changing too, and demand for live events is on the rise. The Wall Street Journal reported a 45 percent increase in concert ticket sales from 2019 to 2023, despite a 14 percent jump in ticket sale prices.

But for that price, people have varying expectations of the experience. Some want to document the experience by taking videos and pictures on their phones. And some attendees object to heavy cell phone use during live entertainment. 

People are spending more on personal events like weddings. According to The Knot, the average wedding cost in 2024 is $33,000. Americans will spend a record $68.7 billion in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic prices by more than $16 billion.

But the rise in spending trends puts pressure on hosts and their family. Guests and wedding party members turn online to vent frustrations about the cost of attending. And some bridal party members report going into debt to participate in an event. 

You can follow us on X @WFIUWTIUNews or join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to [email protected].

You can also record your questions and send them in through email.

Guests

Rahul Shrivastav, Executive Director IU Dining and Hospitality

Cebronica Luft, Founder of 317 Events and cofounder/partner of The Pavilion at The Pan Am Plaza

Beverly Randolph, Etiquette and International Protocol Coach, The Protocol School of Indianapolis

The IndyStar investigative team’s dive into violence and other issues at Indianapolis bars started in fall 2022.  

Journalists Ryan Martin and Tony Cook uncovered more than 600 reports of violent acts tied to Indianapolis bars since 2016, including homicides and gun violence. Their investigation revealed lax oversight and a decline in enforcement of underage alcohol rules. 

The reporting led to bars being shut down, calls from the community for more oversight, and an increase in funding for an understaffed Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission.  

And Governor Eric Holcomb signed a new law this legislative session that blocks schools from temporarily removing a student from instruction except as a last resort.  

The Commission on Seclusion and Restraint also has to meet twice a year now, rather than once.  

These changes, among others came after reporting done by WFYI’s Lee Gaines. Her work, based on public records, school logs, audio records of state meetings, and parent interviews– found that some schools do not accurately report incidents of restraint and seclusion to the state. 

The DOE is also required to conduct an annual audit of seclusion and restraint data reported to the agency by school districts, according to a rule that took effect in 2018. 

But the department has no record of an audit ever being done for the year before 2023, according to a spokesperson for the agency. The IDOE began conducting audits following inquiries from WFYI. 

This week on Noon Edition, our hosts will talk about local news reporting focused on these two stories, which had policy impacts in Indiana.  

You can follow us on X @WFIUWTIUNews or join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to [email protected].

Lee Gaines, WFYI Investigative reporter, 2023 SPJ journalist of the year 

Tony Cook, IndyStar Investigative Reporter, SPJ story of the year 

Gerry Lanosga, The IU Media School Director of Journalism and Associate Professor