This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, July 6th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, WFHB Correspondent Max Schneider examines Senate Enrolled Act 76, which took effect on July 1st. This newly passed law requires state and local agencies to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. More in today’s feature report.

You’ll also hear from Heidi Brown from Healing Hands Outreach Center, with a true story of a family fleeing Afghanistan and finding refuge in Bloomington. Learn about the services offered at Healing Hands later in the show on a new episode of Activate!

Capital Improvement Board narrows host hotel proposals to two

By Claire Zeyen

The Monroe County Capital Improvement Board held a special meeting on Wednesday, July 1st, to review responses to its request for proposals for a host hotel at the convention center. Of the five proposals submitted, only two—Dora Hospitality and MHG—met the board’s requirements. Deb Kunce of JS Held explained why the remaining proposals were disqualified.

“Concord did not propose the required 200-room hotel or use the site identified in the request for proposals. Garfield failed to provide a site selection, development plan or financial plan, leaving nothing to evaluate against the requirements. Phoenix Downtown submitted a workforce housing proposal instead of a host hotel proposal,” Kunce said.

The board also discussed next steps for the project, including demolition bids and the conclusion of residential leases at the end of August.

Public interviews for the Dora Hospitality and MHG proposals will be held July 8th in the Rogers Room at the Monroe County Convention Center. Dora Hospitality’s interview is scheduled for 1 p.m., followed by MHG at 2:15 p.m.

The Capital Improvement Board is expected to make its final consideration at its next meeting on July 15th.

Utility board discusses new water rates and infrastructure upgrades

By Elyse Perry

The Bloomington Utilities Service Board met on June 29th.

The Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission passed a drinking water rate increase on June 24th. Board member Amanda Burnham said Bloomington Utilities had to pay the commission nearly $25,000 for a one-time processing fee.

“So this is in addition to legal fees, the state gets funds just for this whole process,” said Burnham.

Board president Jim Sherman added that these fees would not exist if the utility was not under the IURC.

The board moved on to discuss a service agreement with Ivy Tech for CDL training in 2025 and 2026. City attorney Audrey Brittingham explained the agreement.

“Essentially, this is just an agreement with Ivy Tech for them to train our potential CDL employees right now we have a system set up with Ivy Tech, where if we’re having trouble hiring a someone who are into someone into a position that requires a commercial driver’s license, what we can do is we can hire someone and pay for them to get their commercial driver’s license through Ivy Tech’s program, so they have a set price for city employees, that’s listed in there, and we have a set process for Ivy Tech,” said Burnham.

Brittingham said utilities have sent multiple people through the program. She said the agreement is behind.

“It took them a bit to get that approved on their end and signed, and then it’s just taken me a bit to get this onto the public works agenda, and then on this board’s agenda. But hopefully this is this will be it for the 2026 signature process,” said Brittingham.

The board approved the agreement and a similar one for 2026 through 2027.

Next, Capital Projects Manager Dan Hudson presented a contract with Wessler Engineering for upgrades to Utilities’ Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system.

“What they’re doing is replacing the PLCs, they’re reprogramming it, and for three sites they are removing the radio and putting on cellular systems,” said Hudson.

The contract was approved unanimously. Hudson said he would be back when approval is needed for the next phase.

Then, the board discussed a broken credit card reader at the utilities bulk water station. Until it is fixed, Utilities will pay the credit card fee and add it as a surcharge to the transaction.

The next Bloomington Utilities Service Board meeting will be on July 13th.

Featured Segments:

Senate Enrolled Act 76 took effect July 1st, requiring state and local agencies to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. WFHB Correspondent Max Schneider examines the new law speaking with State Representative Matt Pierce, immigration attorney Christie Popp and Resettlement Director Erin Aquino from Exodus Refugee Immigration. For more, we turn to Max Schneider.

Healing Hands Outreach Center started in a closet at City Church in 2009, helping maybe 50 fifty people that year. Today Healing Hands has its own storefront on the south side of Bloomington, and last year they helped nearly 50,000. Their focus is on basic needs assistance – things like food, clothing, and household items. Healing Hands is open to anyone, and director Heidi Brown says they mostly see people struggling with poverty and housing insecurity. Along the way Brown has witnessed some incredible stories of impact, including a family of refugees from Afghanistan. Brown shares that story on a new episode of Activate!, coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.

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