Noon Edition

Federal and state support for higher education and university policies has come under attack during the second Trump Administration. 

And for Indiana University students who are participating in the Civic Leaders program, the political landscape is much different now from when they entered college. 

Watch: How Trump’s college crackdown is raising concerns about academic freedom | PBS News Hour

Universities and research institutions have had their funding cut or threatened and what is being taught and who is being enrolled have come under scrutiny.

At IU, the state barred the university from providing any state funds to support the prestigious Kinsey Institute, which researches sexual behavior.

Even how members of IU’s Board of Trustees are selected has changed during their time in college. Previously, three of the nine trustees were selected by alumni voting and six were chosen by the governor.

Now, because of an amendment to the state budget, the governor has been given control of all nine seats. The ACLU of Indiana has sued to block the takeover of the board, but IU has already canceled an election next month to fill a vacated seat. 

It’s among a number of lawsuits that have been brought against the state and federal governments this year. Most have been against the Trump executive orders or actions by DOGE, which have affected long-standing departments and agencies. 

Read more: New lawsuit argues Trump and DOGE's government overhaul is unconstitutional 

On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll discuss how the political and economic landscape has shifted and how college students are planning to tackle an uncertain future. 

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.  

Joshua Brinkman, a senior from Carmel studying Law and Public Policy through O'Neill SPEA 

Paola Vega Yudico, a third-year student in the Kelley School of Business 

Sophia Grace Hottois, a former White House Intern and Career Services Peer Educator at the O’Neill School  

The CANDLES museum in Terre Haute celebrates its 30th anniversary this week.

Founded by Holocaust survivor Eva Mozes Kor, CANDLES, or Children of Auschwitz Nazi Deadly Lab Experiments Survivors, “strives to be a premier institution seeking progress in the creation of a world free from prejudice, hatred, and genocide.” 

Kor and her twin sister, Miriam Zeiger, endured medical experiments by Dr. Joseph Mengele, the infamous “Angel of Death, as children at the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1944. Their parents and older sister died there.

"Within 30 minutes, my whole family was ripped apart and all died, except for Miriam and me, who were used as human guinea pigs by Dr. Mengele," Kor said in 2017.

Read more: Eva Kor’s story

Kor went on to champion forgiveness for those who carried out the Holocaust atrocities. And beginning in the 1970s, she began dedicating her life to educating people about the Holocaust and sharing survivor stories. And in 1995, she founded the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center.

For more than two decades, she lectured about her experiences and guided tours at the museum. She returned to Auschwitz on numerous occasions, leading groups that could share what they had learned with their students and future generations. CANDLES continues these trips to Auschwitz each year in honor of Kor, who died in July 2019 during atrip to Poland for the museum.

Read more: Holocaust Survivor, CANDLES Founder Eva Kor Dies At 85

Kor’s husband, Rachmiel “Mickey” Kor, was also a Holocaust survivor, spending four years in Nazi labor camps, including Buchenwald. He died in 2021.

Their son, Dr. Alex Kor, is carrying on their legacy as a member of the board of directors at CANDLES. He recently authored the book, “A Blessing, Not a Burden,” which details the experiences of his parents.

Read more: Anti-Jewish harassment and vandalism on the rise, say community leaders

Learn about her powerful story of survival, resilience, and forgiveness during a live broadcast of WFIU's Noon Edition with CANDLES executive director Troy Fears and Dr. Alex Kor, son of Eva Kor.

On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll host a discussion from the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Terre Haute. 

This event is free and open to the public. Guests should arrive by 11:30 a.m. for the live hour-long radio broadcast beginning at noon.

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

Dr. Alex Kor, son of Eva and Mickey Kor, and author of author of the book “A Blessing, Not a Burden” which documents his parents’ story.

Troy Fears, Executive Director, CANDLES Museum

The CANDLES museum in Terre Haute celebrates its 30th anniversary this week.

Founded by Holocaust survivor Eva Kor, CANDLES, or Children of Auschwitz Nazi Deadly Lab Experiments Survivors, “strives to be a premier institution seeking progress in the creation of a world free from prejudice, hatred, and genocide.” 

Kor and her twin sister, Miriam Zeiger, endured medical experiments by Dr. Joseph Mengele, the infamous “Angel of Death, as children at the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1944, where their parents and older sister died. 

"Within 30 minutes my whole family was ripped apart and all died, except for Miriam and me, who were used as human guinea pigs by Dr. Mengele," Kor said in 2017.

Read more: Eva Kor’s story

Kor went on to champion forgiveness for those who carried out the Holocaust atrocities. And beginning in the 1970s, she began dedicating her life to education people about the Holocaust and sharing survivors’ stories. And in 1995, she founded the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center.

For more than two decades, she lectured about her experiences and guided tours at the museum. She returned to Auschwitz on numerous occasions, leading groups that could share what they had learned with their students and future generations. CANDLES still continues these trips to Auschwitz each year in honor of Kor, who died in July 2019 during an overseas trip to Poland for the museum.

Read more: Holocaust Survivor, CANDLES Founder Eva Kor Dies At 85

Kor’s husband, Rachmiel “Mickey” Kor, was also a Holocaust survivor, spending four years in Nazi labor camps, including Buchenwald. He died in 2021.

Their son, Dr. Alex Kor, is carrying on their legacy as a member of the board of directors at CANDLES. He recently authored the book, “A Blessing, Not a Burdan,” which details the experiences of his parents. 

On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll discuss Eva Kor’s role in sharing the stories of Holocaust survivors and founding the CANDLES museum, the importance of remembering the Holocaust, the rise of anti-semitism and more.

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

Dr. Alex Kor, son of Eva and Mickey Kor, and author of author of the book “A Blessing, Not a Burden” which documents his parents’ story.

Troy Fears, Executive Director, CANDLES Museum

Property tax reform has been a priority of Governor Mike Braun's administration from Day 1 of this year's General Assembly session.  

Senate Bill 1 limits the property tax revenue Indiana counties receive by providing relief on property tax assessments. And while homeowners and businesses will see some relief, local governments are preparing for potential staff and service cuts due to the loss of revenue from the state.  

Monroe County alone is projected to earn about $37 million less in revenue over the next three years, according to the state’s latest fiscal analysis. 

Read more: County says it cannot do more with less 

City and county officials said the bill puts the onus on local municipalities to make up the deficit. 

“Because the state legislators who supported SB1 were too cowardly — and yes, I choose that word purposefully — to do their jobs, local governments are going to have to raise local income taxes to make up deficits. We’re not going to have a choice,” said Monroe County Commissioner Jody Madeira. 

The uncertainty with the loss of funding loss is already having an effect. Monroe County Council Member Peter Iversen said the council does not want to make a financial promise that it cannot fulfill in five or 10 months. And that could mean hiring freezes and stagnant salaries. 

Read more: Salary request discussion leads to tense exchange at county council meeting 

The property tax bill will also affect the amount of money going to public schools. 

On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll discuss the property tax law and the impact it will have on local communities. 

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 

Jody Madeira, Monroe County Commissioner, District 3

Hopi Stosberg, Bloomington City Council Member, District 3 

Anton Neff, Owen County Council Member, District 2 

During President Donald Trump’s first months in office, he signed more than 120 executive orders. The Financial Times reports that more than 100 legal challenges have been filed against these, including by federal judges.

Former president Joe Biden signed 162 orders during his 4-year term. During Trump’s term from 2017 to 2021, he signed 220 orders.

In eight years, Barack Obama signed 277 and George W. Bush signed 291.

Tensions between the executive and judicial branches have come as the executive orders extend presidential power, including in cases involving deportation without due process, freedom of speech, state’s rights, elections, federal aid, governmental operations, and federal governmental regulation.

Some of Trump’s orders– like firing of federal workers based on recommendations of the Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency– have been upheld by the US Supreme Court.

Others, like altering birthright citizenship and banning transgender people in the military, have been blocked by multiple federal judges.

It’s not unusual for the judicial branch to prevent oversteps in executive power. A Supreme Court vote blocked former President Barack Obama’s executive orders to grant legal status to four million immigrants who had lived in the US for more than five years in 2016.

But legal experts say the number of orders issued, their scope, and the number that have been challenged are unusual.

Different political analysts and court experts have issued opinions about whether the United States is in a constitutional crisis. Google Trends indicates public interest in the issue has increased since January.

This week, we’ll ask legal experts for their analysis on the balance of governmental powers and the impact of recent executive actions on constitutional rights.

On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll host a discussion about the perceived threats to the Constitution and civil liberties by the Trump administration and the state of Indiana.

This Noon Edition will be held at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law. 

This event is free and open to the public. Guests should arrive to Room 121 by 11:30am for the live hour-long radio broadcast beginning at noon.

Call-in questions will not be available during this episode, but we'll take questions from the audience in attendance as well as through email at [email protected].

Steve Sanders, Professor of Law at Indiana University and constitutional scholar

Christopher Daley, executive director of the ACLU of Indiana

Daniel O. Conkle, Robert H. McKinney Professor of Law Emeritus at Indiana University

Trees have been cut down, parking barriers installed, and plans are underway for construction to begin in June on the expansion of the convention center in downtown Bloomington.

Even the name has changed, from the Monroe Convention Center to the Bloomington Convention Center.

It’s taken almost a decade to get the expansion project to this point. The plan includes a 61,000-square foot building across College Avenue from the current convention center, along with renovations to the current building.

That includes a full-service kitchen that could serve close to 2,000 people, a bus pull-off with Third Street corridor alignment, a loading dock ramp, relocation of utilities, and a climate-friendly green roof.

The two buildings will be connected by a skybridge over College Avenue.

One sticking point in the project is with the planned hotel on site. Dora Hospitality has been approved to build the new hotel, but it’s still in discussions with the city and county on exactly where the hotel will be built. That could delay the opening of the hotel until after the convention center is operational.

Some are concerned about having enough parking in the immediate area, but CIB president John Whikehart doesn’t think that will be a problem with the lots already owned and the nearby Fourth Street Garage.

On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll discuss where the Bloomington Convention Center expansion project stands, the economic impact for the county and more.

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

John Whikehart, President, Capital Improvement Board

Jim Silberstein, Board member, Capital Improvement Board

Christopher Emge, Senior Director of Government and Community Relations, Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce

It’s been three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. And what was expected to be a quick Russian victory has turned into a bloody stalemate on Ukraine’s eastern border.

A coalition of the United States and European countries have poured millions of dollars of equipment and financial support into Ukraine over the past three years.

But with the election of Donald Trump as president, the U.S.’s position has shifted from full-throated support of Ukraine to a brief suspension of aid and a demand that Ukraine accept conditions of a cease-fire.

That’s led to tensions between the U.S. and European Union on an end game to the war.

And while the war is taking place on the other side of the world from Indiana, the state isn’t immune from its consequences. More than 9,000 Ukrainians live in Indiana, and Indiana University has alliances with faculty in Ukraine through the IU-Ukraine Nonresidential Scholar Program.

On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll talk about the U.S.’s changing policy and how Ukrainian communities in Indiana are affected.

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

Svitlana Ramer, President, Ukrainian Society of Indiana, honorary consul

Sarah Drue Phillips, Coordinator, IU-Ukraine Nonresidential Scholars Program

Aaron Kennet, Senior International Developmental Specialist, Scholar at IU’s Tobias Center for Innovation in International Development

Climate change can impact the weather in a number of ways, from more severe storms to extreme temperatures and drought.

And, as we see in the Midwest every spring and fall, temperatures can vary wildly in the span of just a day. That’s because Indiana is in the middle of a weather front, a transition zone between two contrasting air masses: warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and cold air from the north.

Related: How is climate change impacting Indiana? 

Like many communities, Bloomington has made combatting climate change a priority. Two commissions, each composed of 12 residents, are working on climate and environmental issues.

Five years ago, the Bloomington City Council created a Climate Action and Resilience Committee. But earlier this month, and at the recommendation of committee chair Matt Flaherty, it was disbanded, after he said it largely had accomplished its original mission of developing an action plan and accountability trackers, such as the city’s climate dashboard.

Read more: City council plans to disband climate committee

But he also said the four-member committee has occasionally stretched council resources thin. Flaherty said those resources would be better spent developing climate policy within those existing city bodies, such as the new Transportation Commission.

Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson said combatting climate change is a priority but acknowledges a climate action plan can also tax city resources.

Read more: Thompson on the city’s climate priorities

But how do we combat climate change?

Gabriel Filipelli, professor of earth sciences and the executive director of the IU Environmental Resilience Institute, said climate change effects can be curbed by reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the point where they can be absorbed by nature. This is called achieving net zero.  

On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll discuss how city policies can combat climate change – and what you can do individually.

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

Matt Flaherty, Bloomington City Council Member At-Large, former chair of the Climate Action and Resilience Committee

Jane Kupersmith, Director of Economic & Sustainable Development, City of Bloomington

Gabe Filippelli, Professor of Earth Sciences and Executive Director of the Environmental Resilience Institute, IU Indianapolis School of Science

By almost every economic indicator, President Trump inherited a robust economy when he took office in January. The stock market was at record levels, inflation was at 4% and the adjusted GDP for 2024 a solid 2.8%.

And nearly every major economic forecast had those numbers continuing in 2025.

But President Trump’s policies — the on-again, off-again tariffs and the promise of the Department of Government Efficiency to cut a trillion dollars from federal agencies — have caused much uncertainty for consumers and volatility in the markets. There’s also the concern across multiple industries if Trump goes through with the promise of mass deportations of undocumented workers.

Because of those policies, some economic forecasters have said the U.S. could already be entering a recession. Trump acknowledged last week the tariffs will cause “a little disturbance” in the economy and declined to rule out a recession.

The Federal Reserve’s forecast of gross domestic product predicts the U.S. economy may actually contract this quarter. That hasn’t happened since 2022.

At the state level, the Indiana legislature is working on its two-year budget with property tax reform a major priority. While that may provide some relief for individual home owners, local governments and public schools are raising red flags about what the lost revenue will mean to them.

The state also has to make up for a billion-dollar shortfall last year in Medicaid.

Indiana lawmakers returned to the statehouse this week for the second half of the 2025 legislative session. They still have to finish crafting a two-year budget and address a number of bills that advanced out of committees.

Read more: Indiana’s legislative session hits halfway point

Property tax reform has been a major priority of Governor Mike Braun – and the assembly. Senate Bill 1 would provide some relief to homeowners while seeking to be “responsible” with local governments and schools, which could lose millions of dollars in revenue from the state.

Language in the budget would also create a universal school voucher system. That would mean any Indiana family, regardless of income, could use state funds through the Choice Scholarship Program to attend private, parochial or non-religious schools.

Other education-related bills – there’s more than 30 – would require school districts that have at least 100 students attending a charter school to share their operating funds with that school; require schools to report when students miss more than 10 days of school; revamp the A-to-F grading system; add chaplains to schools; and require school board candidates to declare a political party.

Read more: Senate bill bans DEI in state government, schools

There’s also legislation pertaining to social issues.

Senate Bill 289 would ban any agency or educational institution that receives money from the state from requiring employees to take part in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, training and hiring.

Read more: Advocates say Braun EOs tell transgender Hoosiers: 'You don't belong here'

And House Bill 1041 would ban transgender women from playing in collegiate athletics. Braun signed an executive order this week that lines up with moves at the federal level to ban transgender women and girls from playing sports.

The session must wrap up by April 29.

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

Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, Political analyst

Niki Kelly, Editor, Indiana Capital Chronicle

Larry DeBoer, Emeritus Professor, Agricultural Economics, Purdue University

Kaitlin Lange, Government and Politics Editor, Indianapolis Star 

Kirsten Adair, Education Reporter, Indiana Public Broadcasting