This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, May 27th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, WFHB’s Youth Radio covered The Mini Midwest Print Fest which took place on May 17th.

Also coming up in the next half hour, an interview with Alex Valdez of the Goat Conspiracy on Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund.

But first, your local headlines:

Bloomington City Council Votes Down $10 Million Convention Center Allocation Amid Confusion Over Project Finances

The Bloomington City Council met on May 21st. The city council heard an ordinance to appropriate 10 million dollars worth of Food and Beverage Tax Funds to the Monroe County Capital Improvement Board. Controller Jessica McClellan asked that the council not pass the appropriation ordinance saying the money isn’t actually needed for now.

Council Member Isak Asare asked for clarification on the money the city owes to architect Schmidt Associates on a purchase order for work on the Convention Center. According to the city council packet, the money owed for the purchase order was 9.8 million dollars. McClellan said this was an error and that the amount was less than the 9.8 million presented.

During public comment on the appropriations ordinance, local resident Kevin Keough pointed out that the original purchase order was 4.1 million dollars. He said the city owes Schmidt Associates a little over 2 million dollars. Keough expressed concerns over this discrepancy.

Council Member Dave Rollo asked if Controller McClellan would respond to Mr. Keough’s comment clarifying the numbers of the open purchase order. McClellan said that she doesn’t have a comment and would need to check the numbers.

Council Member Asare responded to Mr. Keough’s comment saying that he wished the council and staff noticed the discrepancy earlier.

Council President Hopi Stosberg urged members of the public to attend the meetings of the Capital Improvement Board for more information on the Convention Center happenings in the future.

Council Member Piedmont Smith said she’s glad the controller asked to vote this initiative down.

The council voted 0-7 on the appropriations ordinance striking it down unanimously.

The next regular session of the Bloomington City Council will take place on June 5th.

Feature Reports:

On May 17th, 2025 a parking lot in downtown Bloomington was transformed into a printmaking festival. Organized by Badknees and Hideout Press, The Mini Midwest Print Fest invited printmakers from all over the Midwest to share their work. Youth Radio News Correspondent Shefar Rafiul attended the event to talk with the artists and organizers about different printmaking techniques.

Up next, an interview with Alex Valdez of the Goat Conspiracy on Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. We turn now to that segment on the WFHB Local News.

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