This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, August 31st, 2026.
In today’s newscast, WFHB speaks with Joshua Stockton, who recently announced his candidacy for Bloomington City Council. Stockton speaks to affordable housing, keeping city contracts local and infrastructure improvements. More in today’s featured interview.
You’ll also hear from Megan Betz from Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard. Eating healthy can be expensive – find out how “The Hub” helps families on a tight budget later in the show on a new episode of Activate!
County council approves housing-first funding after eviction of Thomson encampment
Photo by Benedict Jones.
Monroe County Council met on August 25th. The council discussed homelessness, with Heading Home’s Mary Morgan returning to discuss a county appropriation that would help expand a housing-first pilot program for people living outside.
The funding debate came just hours after the county cleared a large encampment at the Thomson Powerline property. Councilmember Peter Iverson criticized how the eviction unfolded.
“We cannot steal people’s stuff, put it at the highway garage, and not have a way for them to get out there to get it. That is unethical. It’s unmoral,” said Iversen. “I’m at loss of words. We need to do better.”
Addressing questions from the council, Morgan explained some of the limitations of the community’s current housing and shelter options.
“Our sheltering system is not sufficient for the needs of our community,” said Morgan. “There are extreme barriers to housing that people cannot overcome by themselves, and all of that really was evident in a in a very visible way at the Powerline Thomson encampment… it’s a really challenging situation that this new initiative is trying to prevent from happening in the future. ”
Despite concerns about long-term funding, a slim majority of councilors backed the Heading Home appropriation.
For more coverage of the county council meeting, tune into CATSWeek tonight at 5:30 p.m. on WFHB or visit this link to hear a rundown of all your local government meetings.
MCCSC Board begins process to consider school redistricting
Photo courtesy of the Indiana Daily Student.
The Monroe County Community School Corporation Board of Trustees met on August 25th. During its meeting, the school board agreed to hold a working session to formalize the school system’s redistricting process.
School board president Erin Cooperman said declining enrollment and underused school buildings mean some kind of change to the district’s boundaries is likely.
“My position is that some kind of redistricting, reorganization, or restructuring is inevitable,” said Cooperman.
She proposed bringing the full board together to determine what criteria should guide the redistricting process.
“In the past, we have sometimes made small task forces to bring something back to the board, whether that’s a resolution, or it could be a working resolution that we take friendly amendments to,” said Cooperman.
Board member April Hennessey argued the school district has not undertaken major redistricting steps in a long time – and she urged the board to consider socioeconomic balance along with building capacity and declining enrollment.
“There’s this thought that like redistricting is like a is a controversial decision, but I would argue that maintaining the kind of status quo or the the districts as they sit is also potentially controversial,” said Hennessey.
Assistant Secretary Dr. Tiana Iruoje says the district still needs to determine exactly what it’s trying to accomplish before evaluating potential redistricting maps.
“As a board we have to know what are our like financial targets,” said Iruoje.
The board asked Superintendent Dr. Markay Winston to organize a work session on redistricting, reorganization or restructuring. It’s not clear when that work session will take place or what specific attendance zones or schools could ultimately be affected.
The MCCSC School Board will meet again on September 22nd.
On Friday, local resident Joshua Stockton entered the 2027 race for Bloomington City Council District 6. The seat is currently held by Sydney Zulich, who recently launched her campaign for mayor. Earlier today, WFHB News spoke with Stockton about why he’s running, what he hopes to change in Bloomington, and his top priorities if elected. That interview is coming up on the WFHB Local News.
Eating healthy can be expensive. Families on a tight budget might buy cheaper food that isn’t really good for them. Food policy expert Megan Betz has spent years researching food studies and working with local food programs like Community Kitchen and the Bloomington Community Orchard. She also helped start the People’s Cooperative Market, an alternative farmers’ market in Bloomington focused on food justice. Megan is the president and CEO of Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, working to increase access to healthy food in ways that cultivate dignity, agency and community. Locals call it “The Hub,” and Megan wants you to get involved on a new episode of Activate!, coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.
Fans pack the student section for the IU men’s soccer season opener against Notre Dame (Photo by Chase Dodson).
The Indiana offense scurries down the field. The student section roars as the marching band bangs out a triumphant version of “Heartbreaker” by Pat Benetar. Fans pack the bleachers for the IU men’s soccer season opener at home against Notre Dame. WFHB News attended the game and interviewed fans and students about the season to come. Sports Correspondent Chase Dodson has more.
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Kade Young and Claire Zeyen, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Chase Dodson produced today’s sports feature on IU soccer.
Our featured interview was produced by Kade Young.
This episode of Activate! was produced by Elakai Anela through WFHB’s partnership with The Media School at Indiana University.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
Anchors are Aubrey Seader and Kade Young.