This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, June 10th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, WFHB Correspondent Max Schneider reports on IU dismantling its DEI program, Indiana Governor Braun removing three members of the IU Board of Trustees and a lawsuit over the university’s expressive activity policy. All that and more in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, we feature two animals available for adoption and summer safety tips for pets on Lil Bub’s Lil Show.

But first, your local headlines:

City Council Passes Affordable Housing Agreements, Highlights Pride Month, Juneteenth and Gun Violence Awareness

The Bloomington City Council met on June 4th.

During Council Reports, Council Members drew attention to National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Pride Month, Juneteenth, and National Cancer Survivor Day.

Council Member Isabel Piedmont-Smith spoke on National Gun Violence Awareness Day, also called Wear Orange Day.

She also shared how residents can now recycle their wax bottles.

Council Member Sydney Zulich spoke on Pride Month and the history of why it came to be. She touched on the Stonewall uprising and the intersection between feminism, antiracism and Pride.

Later in the meeting during City Staff Reports, Planning and Transportation Director David Hittle gave an update on UDOs. He discussed the housing crisis and explained that since the council has control over the UDO, they can attempt to make changes to incentivise housing stock growth.

Hittle said he would try to get new U-D-O language to the Plan Commission by January.

The council heard Ordinance 2025-22 and Ordinance 2025-21, which would authorize and approve a payment in lieu of taxes agreement, also referred to as Pilot, with Henderson Court Housing and Cambridge Square Apartments. According to the council packet, “Both ordinances are intended to facilitate the rehabilitation of and ensure the long-term affordability of their respective housing developments.”

Director of Economic Sustainable Development Jane Coopersmith spoke to the council giving an overview of the ordinance. Payment in lieu of taxes allows the city to set a fixed rate for a property instead of collecting property taxes, often saving the property owner money that, in this case, will be set aside to renovate and improve the units. This approach is being used to incentivize developers to maintain their affordable housing units.

Coopersmith said the developers cannot increase the rent to pay for the renovations. The renovations have to be paid using the money saved from the taxes.

Coopersmith continued to describe the annual subsidy as $98,206 and the term of the proposed pilot as lasting 17 years.

Director of Tax Credit Operations for the Gene B. Glick company, which owns the Henderson Apartment Complex, Janine Betsy spoke to the council, and shared how they plan to use the money saved on improvements.

Council Member Isak Asare spoke in support of the Pilot agreement.

Council Member Hopi Stosberg spoke in support as well.

The council voted unanimously to approve the Payment in Lieu of Taxes at Henderson Court.

The council voted to approve the PILOT with a vote of eight yeses and one abstention.

The Bloomington City Council will meet again on July 16th after a summer recess.

Feature Reports:

In today’s feature report, WFHB News Correspondent Max Schneider provides a rundown on campus and local news over the summer. Indiana Governor Mike Braun used his new authority to remove three elected trustees from Indiana University and appoint replacements. IU has dismantled its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office. The university also faced a lawsuit over its expressive activity policy, with a court temporarily blocking certain restrictions. For all that and more, we turn to Correspondent Max Schneider.

Up next, learn more about a cat named Dolly Pawton and a dog named Ace, both available for adoption through the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter on Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. Also, stay tuned to today’s featured topic: Summer Safety for Pets. More coming up next on Lil Bub’s Lil Show.

Credits: