This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, February 25th, 2026.

That’s Shelly Strimaitis from Bloomington Transit, explaining why some local bus routes have been modified. Learn more about changes to the local bus system later in the show in a feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, “Taken For a Ride” on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News.

Proposed 21% Water Rate Increase Heads to Public Hearing Tonight

The Indiana Regulatory Commission is hosting a public hearing today on a proposed 21 percent water rate increase for Bloomington residents.

The hearing will take place at 5:45 p.m. tonight at City Hall. Customers will be able to make public comments during the hearing.

During Monday’s meeting of the city’s utilities service board, officials voted to approve the drinking water rate increase. The hike won’t be finalized until it receives approval from the city council and the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.

Correction: The Bloomington Utilities Service Board approved the water rate increase at a meeting in September 2025. The City Council also has approved the rate increase. It now awaits approval from the IURC.

Utilities Board President Kirk White said he appreciates the public will have the chance to make comments, but he asked how residents can receive answers to their questions. Assistant City Attorney Chris Wheeler said the hearing is not meant to be a dialogue – rather it’s meant to give the public an opportunity to express their concerns.

“It’s not a question and answer session, and that’s part of what they will explain at the very beginning of the field hearing. And it all goes to due process, an opportunity to be heard before the government takes action,” says Wheeler.

According to a report by the B Square Bulletin, “under the proposed rate increase, a typical residential customer will pay at least 50 dollars more a year.”

Pam Whitten’s Salary Reaches $1 Million After Trustee Vote

The IU Board of Trustees approved a 100,000 dollar salary increase for President Pam Whitten.

When her tenure began, Whitten made an annual salary of 650,000 dollars a year. With the trustees recent vote, Whitten now makes an annual salary of one million dollars.

The salary increase puts Whitten as the 10th highest paid university president in the Big 10 conference.

The raise comes in the wake of academic freedom concerns at IU under Whitten’s leadership. Last year, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression ranked IU the worst public college in the nation for free speech.

Bloomington Mayor Clashes With Council Over Hopewell Rezone Delay

Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson condemned the city council’s delay on a Hopewell rezone request during the council’s regular session last Wednesday.

“This was a procedural issue that we happen to disagree with, but we’re hoping that we are all on the same page with Hopewell now and that we can get it moving forward as quickly as possible,” said Thomson.

City Councilmember Hopi Stosberg said she received submissions for the Hopewell rezone ordinance late – and the council did not have time to review it.

“I’m voting no as a statement to the mayor and the larger community that it is council that sets the council agenda and that pressure from the administration for expediency will not overrule the need for due process and proper consideration,” said Stosberg.

The Hopewell project is a city-led redevelopment project that aims to transform the former IU Health Hospital into a mixed-use neighborhood. Proponents for the project say it will help drive more affordable housing to Bloomington.

The rezone request will likely be heard by the city council in early March.

Richland Township Ellettsville Reorganization Committee Plans Public Outreach

The Richland Township and Town of Ellettsville Reorganization Committee met on February 18th. To start, each subcommittee reported they should have their plans finalized by the March 4th deadline.

Next, Town Manager Mike Farmer talked about public outreach. He said the committee has yard signs for people and businesses to put out and asked about funding for a billboard.

Committee member William Ellis said the billboard should be put up closer to the vote.

Farmer said he met with the builder’s association about the logistics of the reorganization process.

Committee member Jerry Sanders said he could probably help with tabling.

Mason Greenberg, a realtor on the Government Affairs Committee for the Indiana Upland Realtor Association, said the association supports the reorganization.

Ellis said he has heard public opposition because there isn’t a finalized plan. He said the committee is working to address community concerns as they arise.

Committee member Andrew Henry then brought up subcommittees and reports.

The draft reports are due on February 27th, and the finalized versions on March 4th. Henry said the reorganization committee has until April 1st to use the reports to create a comprehensive proposal.

Ellis said the subcommittee members and the public should be involved in modifications to the reports. He then made a motion to post final subcommittee draft reports before they are combined into a final plan. It passed unanimously.

The reports will be posted to the reorganization website.

During public comment, Ellettsville resident Lisa Makarchuk asked how taxes will change in the town. She said, to her understanding, there are twice as many voters outside the city limits.

Ellis said the tax changes are still fluid and will depend on services outlined in the plan. Ellis said the website will have all the information about the reorganization, and people can contact him with questions.

The Richland Township and Town of Ellettsville Reorganization Committee will meet again on February 25th.

Featured Segments:

Residents of Tulip Tree Apartments were not happy when their Bloomington Transit bus stop was removed this past fall. Now their only option is a campus bus, on a route that takes way longer. BT officials say this change is the price of progress: the new electric buses have their battery packs on top of the buses, making them too tall to fit under the 10th Street railroad overpass. Correspondent Kaixin Chen learns about this and other changes to the local bus system in a feature report produced in partnership with The Media School at Indiana University.

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