This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, February 11th, 2025.

Later in the program, Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. More in the bottom half of tonight’s program.

That’s Freedom Eiden, a promoter in the Bloomington music scene. The city served a cease and desist order to The Pink Poodle house show venue yesterday, and several other house show venues recently shut down after noise complaints from neighbors. Hear that story right now in a feature report.

But first, your local headlines:

Breaking news – the city of Bloomington has served a cease and desist order to the local house show venue The Pink Poodle. Owner Daniel Weddle posted on social media yesterday that the city planning department regards the venue at 917 North Fairview as an illegal bar and dance club. Weddle said quote “We don’t see ourselves this way and are working with the city to get a set of parameters that allows us to continue hosting intimate shows in our home.” Weddle also said he is actively working with the Maple Heights Neighborhood Association to address neighbor concerns. This news follows the shutdown of three popular house show venues in 2024 after noise complaints from neighbors. Is the house show scene OK? We turn now to correspondent Ben Burns for more.

Monroe County Election Board

On February 6th the Monroe County Election Board, the new Republican Chair Board Member John Arnold, shared a statement where he explained why he will not be voting in support of having vote centers in Monroe County.

Arnold thanked the commission for their time, but said he will vote no on the decision when the time comes.

During public comment, Previous Election Board Member and County Councilor David Henry responded to Arnold’s statement.

County Clerk Nicole Browne responded to Arnold’s claim that you can’t have vote centers if you have paper ballots. Browne said that is not true.

The Democratic Chair Board Member John Fernandez also shared his disappointment with Arnold’s statement, saying it doesn’t feel informed, and expressed concern Arnold would say he would vote no before even hearing the commission present their report.

County Attorney Molly-Turner King asked if the committee should still present the report, or if it should be suspended. Board Member Fernandez responded that they should finish the report and there should be an official vote on it.

The Election Board will meet again on March 6th, 2025.

Feature Reports:

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