This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, July 28th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, you’ll hear City Council President Hopi Stosberg speaking about the use of Camp Atterbury as an immigrant detention facility during the latest council meeting. More in today’s headlines.

You’ll also hear Sarah Cassavaugh from IN*SOURCE, on how her own child’s time in special education led her to want to help others. Find out how IN*SOURCE advocates for Hoosier families later in the show on a new episode of Activate!

But first, your daily headlines:

County Establishes New Nature Preserve, Addresses Tick-Borne Illnesses and Emergency Planning

The Monroe County Commissioners met on July 24th. Health Department Director Lori Kelley spoke about increases in tick-borne illnesses in Monroe County, and the existence of a web app that makes tick reporting much easier.

Kelley later went on to explain an agreement between the Health Department and Indiana University

Health Bloomington, also referred to as IUHB, as a precautionary agreement for aid during disasters. During a large-scale disaster or civil emergency, IUHB has been allocated three hours to provide the facilities and equipment deemed necessary.

One of the final items on the agenda was the establishment of the Monroe County Nature Preserve. County Attorney Justin Roddye shared that the Nancy Huntington Trust donated 409 acres of land on the east side of the county, allowing the Monroe County Historic Preservation Board of Review to establish a nature preserve in the area.

Commissioners Thomas and Madeira heaped praise on the new preserve, labelling it as a “gift” to the mcounty.

Parks and Recreation Director Kelli Whitmer shared the Parks Department’s plans for the property.

Witmer also shared that they will be planting thousands of trees on the property.

The Monroe County Commissioners meet next on July 31st.

City Council Condemns Camp Atterbury Detentions, Debates Future of Sidewalk Committee

The Bloomington City Council met for a deliberation session on Wednesday, July 23rd. During council member reports, Council President Hopi Stosberg expressed dismay surrounding the use of Camp Atterbury as an immigrant detention facility, urging citizens to express any concerns they have to their representatives.

The council then held a discussion surrounding the sidewalk committee. Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator Hank Duncan from the Planning and Transportation department described how the current needs of the committee are not being met by the amount of money being allocated for them.

Stosberg stated the main questions to be discussed during the meeting, those being if the sidewalk committee should exist, what its purpose should be, and what it should fund. Council Member Matt Flaherty shared that he believes the need for the committee could be eliminated over time, as a more holistic approach towards improving pedestrian traffic is implemented in coming years.

Upon more discussion, the council agreed that the committee should continue to exist for the time being. Council Member Sydney Zulich suggested that the committee should start meeting earlier in the year to approve funding of specific projects, so as to expedite the process of accomplishing them. Stosberg also favored this idea.

The council then held an extended discussion surrounding other types of infrastructure besides sidewalks which may be implemented by the committee, including rapid flashing beacons, crosswalks, and hawk signals. Stosberg suggested that the title of the committee might be a misnomer if it were to focus on more than sidewalks, to which Zulich suggested the name of “The Pedestrian Safety Committee.”

Council Member Dave Rollo expressed support for the name change, and added that speed limit enforcement is another important factor for the committee to consider.

During public comment, Bloomington Resident Paul Rousseau gave a personal anecdote illustrating the importance of effective pedestrian infrastructure.

The Bloomington City Council will meet again on Wednesday, July 30th.

Feature Report:

In today’s feature report, WFHB Environmental Correspondent Max Jancich speaks with Greg Olsen, Field Projects Director at the Sand County Foundation. Olsen discussed prairie strips, a conservation practice that integrates prairie ecosystems into 10-20 percent of farmland to improve water quality and soil health. For more, we turn to Max Jancich.

Sarah Cassavaugh knows firsthand how difficult it can be to navigate the education system when your child has special needs. Her own experiences advocating for her son led her to want to help others. IN*SOURCE helps Hoosier families navigate the special education process, bridging the gap between schools and parents. She’s looking for volunteers to promote IN*Source services on a new episode of Activate!, coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.

Credits: