This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026.

In today’s newscast, you’ll hear from several protesters from the Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition as they demand Indiana University declare itself a sanctuary campus. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, the Monroe County Council committed to constructing a new jail facility after the council rejected the North Park property as a potential site in October of 2025. More coverage coming your way right now in your daily headlines:

Monroe County Council Renews Commitment for New Jail Facility 

The Monroe County Council met on February 24th. The council heard a resolution that renews the council’s commitment to a new county jail facility. Councilmembers went through the resolution line-by-line during the course of the meeting.

Councilmember Trent Deckard said while the council wants to commit itself to a new jail that fits constitutional standards, he does not want to move forward with the North Park property as the location.

Councilmember David Henry agreed, saying he does not see the North Park property as a viable option despite the county commissioners’ preference for that location.

Deckard said he ultimately wants the best document to finally make headway on the new jail project – saying the initiative has gone on too long. However, he labeled the North Park property, “a corpse of a concept.”

During public comment, Bloomington resident April Wilson urged the council to build a constitutional jail saying the current jail does not meet adequate standards.

The council approved the resolution by a 6-0 vote. The next Monroe County Council meeting will happen on March 10th.

Ellettsville, Richland Township Advance Plans for Joint Fire Protection Territory

The Richland Township and Town of Ellettsville Reorganization Committee met on February 25th and held the second of four required meetings to create a joint fire protection territory. Fire Chief Kevin Patton said the Ellettsville Fire Department currently has 17 full-time staff and 21 part-time firefights.

Patton said structure fires, such as house fires, require 15 to 20 firefighters on scene. He said forming a fire protection territory would help address growing call volume and staffing challenges.

Paige Sansone with Baker Tilly presented the financial impact of the proposal. She said the territory would spread the cost of fire services across the entire tax base.

According to Sansone, the average residential property in Richland Township would see a tax increase of approximately 193 dollars per year. Many properties in Ellettsville would not see an increase due to tax caps.

Committee member David Wilby asked what happens if Richland Township and the Town of Ellettsville Reorganization goes through. Patton responded that the public won’t see a difference in services.

Committee member William Ellis clarified further that there will either be a reorganization or a new fire protection territory.

The next meeting of the Richland Township and Town of Ellettsville Reorganization Committee will be on March 4th.

Feature Report:

In today’s feature report, WFHB News spoke with protesters inside Franklin Hall, right outside the Bloomington Faculty Council meeting at Indiana University, where students and community members gathered to demand that the university declare itself a sanctuary campus. The Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition, which organized the action and distributed flyers during the council’s session, demands that IU take a public stand in support of its workers and students by committing to non-cooperation with ICE and removing surveillance tools they believe enable immigration enforcement. These interviews explore growing concerns about campus safety and immigrant protections, and argue that without clear action from university leadership, vulnerable students and staff remain at risk. We now turn to three interviews from organizers of the rally on the WFHB Local News.

Up next, we have Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. That segment is coming up next on the WFHB Local News.

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