This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, December 8th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, WFHB News speaks with Starbucks employee and union organizer Sophie Lee out at the picket today about employees’ demands. That’s coming up in a feature interview at the bottom half of tonight’s show.

You’ll also hear Jack Stirn, an IU student volunteering at the Shalom Center, a daytime resource center for the unhoused. As local officials clear out homeless encampments today and next Monday, Shalom is playing a critical support role. Learn more later in the show on a new episode of Activate!

Advocates Interrupt Commissioners Meeting Over Evictions of Unhoused

The Monroe County Board of Commissioners met on December 4th. Advocates for the unhoused spoke out during the public comment portion of the meeting expressing outrage over the county’s recent evictions of at least two encampments in the winter cold. Local resident Shelbie Porteroff condemned the county’s decision to close encampments and urged the commissioners to hold off evictions until the spring.

Resident Ed Doss made an emotional plea to the commissioners to pause evictions during the cold weather.

Another concerned resident Jesse Kogge expressed his frustration in the county’s efforts to evict people experiencing homelessness.

Commissioners’ Administrator Angela Purdie explained the process behind these types of evictions.

Resident Maria Bull warned the commissioners that evicting people experiencing homelessness in the cold weather exacerbates the issue.

Monroe County resident Amara Briscoe said when she moved to Bloomington, she experienced homelessness. She attested to the difficulties of getting into the shelters in town.

Commissioner Julie Thomas thanked the public commenters for attending but added this is a complex issue with public safety concerns in mind. She was interrupted by advocates singing the Beatles song, “Let It Be.”

Following the recess, Thomas closed the public comment portion of the meeting. The next Commissioners meeting will take place on December 11th.

Featured Segments:

Starbucks workers on Indiana Avenue joined a nationwide strike today, protesting what they call unfair labor practices amid contract negotiations. Union lead Sophie Lee says baristas make roughly fourteen to fifteen dollars an hour, far below the wage Starbucks advertises. Lee says that workers are asking the community to boycott Starbucks, support picket lines and donate to their strike fund. WFHB News spoke with Sophie Lee at today’s picket.

The plight of the unhoused is an ongoing issue in Bloomington, and the Shalom Center is a primary resource center for local people facing this issue. Today the city is clearing a homeless encampment on Basswood Drive near Twin Lakes Sports Park, and county officials will do the same one week from today at a separate encampment north of RCA Community Park on the south side of town. Jack Stirn is an Indiana University student who lives in Bloomington year-round and volunteers at the Shalom Center. As temperatures drop Jack is hoping donations of time, money, and supplies will help offset the rising demand on Shalom resources. Learn more on a new episode of Activate!, coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.

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