This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, July 7th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, you will hear Paul Quigley on using AI to pilot a race car. A team of Bloomington students is already doing it, and later this month they take their car to California to race against other prototypes. More later in the show in a feature report.

You’ll also hear Sharon Roualet, the fairy godmother of Crestmont Park. Sharon signed up for the City of Bloomington Adopt-a-Greenspace program – learn more later in the show on a new episode of Activate!

But first, your daily headlines:

Equipment on Backorder for Broken Handrail on 3rd Street

Last week, the Bloomington Board of Public Works discussed a structural failure of a hand railing on the sidewalk located near West 3rd Street and College Avenue. During public comment, local resident Greg Alexander said he’s disappointed in the perceived lack of pedestrian concern.

Public Works Director Adam Wason responded saying the materials needed by the contractor are on backorder.

The board approved repairs for the hand railing at its April 22nd meeting, contracting with Specialties Company, LLC for 17,500.00 dollars.

 Updates on New Covid-19 Variant, a Grant for Tornado Cleanup and a Contract for Meth Lab Decontamination at County Commissioners Meeting

The Monroe County Board of Commissioners met on July 3rd. Commissioners heard an update on a new Covid-19 variant, free testing and available vaccines from County Health Administrator Lori Kelley.

Then, Monroe County Stormwater Program Manager Erica Penna provided a rundown on their intention to apply for a grant for the emergency watershed protection program. Penna says the funds would be used for the cleanup effort following the May 16th tornado that swept through the Clear Creek area.

Commissioner Jody Madeira commented that the prevention aspect of the grant would be beneficial. Commissioners Lee Jones and Julie Thomas also expressed their support.

No public comment was given during the meeting. Next, the Commissioners heard a presentation of County Form Number 144, which is a statement of salaries and wages of county employees for 2026. County Auditor Brianne Gregory presented the agenda item.

Then, the commissioners heard an amendment to a contract with Mike Bolten Professional Services. That contract was for testing and decontamination of homes in the county where meth labs were seized by Indiana State Police. Health Administrator Kelley provided a rundown on the amendment, which would make the contract in line with new laws on government spending. Commissioner Thomas expressed frustration with the Statehouse rules but said the commissioners would comply.

The commissioners approved the amendment unanimously. The Monroe County Board of Commissioners will meet again at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 10th.

Feature Reports:

Later this month a team of Indiana University students will pilot a race car at an official IndyCar event – but nobody will be actually driving the car. These students aren’t drivers – they’re computer programmers, and they’ve built Indiana’s first autonomous race car. On July 24 the IU Vehicle Autonomy and Intelligence Lab heads to California for the Indy Autonomous Challenge, an opening event for the Grand Prix of Monterey. Correspondent Dylan Rome has the story in a feature report produced in partnership with The Media School at Indiana University.

It really bothered Sharon Roualet that her neighborhood park had fallen into disrepair, so she did something about it. Sharon signed up for the City of Bloomington Adopt-a-Greenspace program, becoming a sort of “foster parent” for Crestmont Park on Bloomington’s northwest side. She really didn’t know anything about the invasive plant species that had taken over, but Sharon knew she wanted to be proud of the little park where she walks her dog every day. Learn how you can take care of your neighborhood green space on a new episode of Activate!, coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.

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