This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, March 2nd, 2026.
In today’s newscast, Candidates for Monroe County Commissioner Trent Deckard and David Henry answered questions on housing affordability and the new jail project during a forum last week hosted by the local chapter of the Bloomington Democratic Socialists of America. More in today’s feature report.
Also, you’ll hear from Isabel Westin from the IU support chapter of the Indiana Canine Assistant Network. She’s looking for volunteers to train service dogs for people with disabilities. Learn how you can help later in the show on a new episode of Activate!
Indiana Senate Advances Bill to Criminalize Sleeping on Public Land
Under a new Indiana bill, unhoused people may soon be forced to leave their encampments or face criminal charges.
On February 26th, the Indiana Senate agreed to House amendments to Senate Bill 285, passing this legislation with a 28-22 vote. Senate Bill 285 prohibits a person from sleeping, camping, or taking long-term shelter on public land. Those who do so could also be charged with a Class C misdemeanor if they are still in the area 48 hours after receiving a warning.
Senator Cyndi Carrasco, who authored the bill, said it is meant to address chronic homelessness in an effective way. She stated that a goal of the bill is to “have a better understanding of what is happening on the ground and have honest conversations about whether the dollars we are investing are producing real change in people’s lives.”
Others have criticized the bill, arguing that it will create more problems through criminalizing homelessness. The ACLU of Indiana opposed this bill, stating, “state legislators should focus on addressing the root causes of homelessness. And local governments need the flexibility to respond to homelessness in a way that makes sense for their communities.”
Senate Bill 285 is now on its way to the Governor’s desk for signature.
Monroe County Commissioners Hear Updates on COVID Trends, Rural Transit and Curry Pike Reconstruction
Photo by Jessie Grubb.
The Monroe County Board of Commissioners met on February 26th. County Health Administrator Lori Kelley said Covid-19 numbers are trending down at the moment.
Executive Director of Area 10 Agency on Aging Chris Myers provided an update on Rural Transit, saying last year’s ridership was on par with 2024.
She reported that last week, someone stole a catalytic converter from one of Rural Transit’s buses.
Myers also stated that she plans on retiring from Area 10 in the near future – but she hopes for a smooth transition with the next hire.
Christopher Emgee of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce expressed appreciation of Myers’ work over the years.
Commissioners Administrator Angie Purdie gave an update on how the Showers building will be used for early voting.
Later in the meeting, Highway Director Lisa Ridge presented bids on the Curry Pike reconstruction project. She said DC Construction received approval from the highway department to do the job.
Ridge went on to describe the plan for the project.
The commissioners approved the motion 3-0. The next meeting of the Monroe County Commissioners will take place on March 5th.
MCCSC Considers Sale of Former Herald Times Building
Photo courtesy of the Indiana Daily Student.
The Monroe County Community School Corporation met on February 24th to discuss the school system’s financial outlook and next steps for a possible sale of the former Herald Times building.
First, Executive Director of the MCCSC Foundation outlined the school corporation’s financial position – saying Senate Enrolled Act One passed last year has put financial strain on schools across the state. However, she says that MCCSC will push through the funding shortfall.
Next, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Operations Dr. Jeffrey Henderson said the school corporation purchased the former H-T building in 2022. Henderson said MCCSC received 408 public responses on the future of the building and 40 percent of respondents were in favor of selling it. He said MCCSC could hold a public hearing in late March to discuss the potential sale of the building.
One board asked what the school corporation would do with the money it made from the sale – especially if they are not allowed to use the funds for teacher wages. Henderson said the money would be put in the operations fund for the school system.
The board is expected to revisit the issue and could host a public hearing on the future of the former HT property during their next meeting on March 24th.
Candidates for Commissioner Tackle Questions on Housing, New Jail in DSA Candidate Forum
David Henry (left) and Trent Deckard (right) participate in a candidate forum hosted by the Bloomington Democratic Socialists of America. (Dave Askins, Feb. 26, 2026)
Two Democratic candidates vying for the County Commissioner seat participated in a candidate forum on Thursday hosted by the local chapter of the Bloomington Democratic Socialists of America.
Candidates Trent Deckard and David Henry, who both currently sit on the Monroe County Council, answered questions on housing costs, transparency in the county and the new jail project.
According to U.S. Census data, roughly one in five Monroe County residents are living below the poverty line. During his opening statement, Henry addressed the housing affordability crisis in the community.
“The vast majority of our community,” said Henry, “They can’t make the rent without a roommate, let alone save up to buy a home in this community… We need a county government that’s saying yes more than no on those issues as we look to our community’s development over the next few years.”
Deckard then gave his opening statement. He also touched on the issue of affordability in Monroe County.
“If you’re looking to make a start, like so many of the students I teach at IU, it’s like a crap shoot,” said Deckard. “It shouldn’t be that way. This was once a welcoming place. It should be a welcoming place again.”
Moderator Bryce Greene asked the candidates how they intend to address homelessness in the county.
“How will you prioritize caring for our unhoused neighbors, and what specific critiques do you have of existing county council policy or county commission policy?” asked Greene.
Henry responded that he believes the county needs a culture change when it comes to the unhoused community.
“I would like to see us work with our service providers more closely, to listen to what frontline staff are telling us, and to make sure that we are doing no harm as a county,” he said.
Deckard maintained the county needs to see the dignity in all people. He called the planned eviction at the county-owned Thompson property “inhumane.”
“One of the big things I would just point out is if the county doesn’t have a housing policy that lets them do rental inspection, why would we think that we would be experts on relocating people?” said Deckard.
Henry offered a rebuttal saying we already have a “community of care.” He urged the county to have better leadership to foster that community of care.
“County government’s job isn’t to be another nonprofit. It’s to set the standard in our community and meet it every day,” said Henry. “And it’s one thing to join the chorus. It’s another thing to get in the front line of leadership and get involved in these issues up front.”
Shifting gears, moderator Greene asked the two candidates about the new jail. The proposed jail project has drawn criticism over its projected cost and long-term financing. The project could cost more than $220 million, depending on final design and financing.
Greene asked the candidates if they would oppose the project as county commissioner. Neither candidate said they would reject a new jail altogether. However, Deckard responded that regardless of what happens, the county must maintain constitutional standards at the jail facility.
“I’ll continue to listen to the public as we navigate our way through the difficulties on that. It is a hard subject – where it goes, how it goes, what that looks like – but ultimately, someone in there tonight needs to have constitutional care,” said Deckard.
Henry said despite how the county moves forward with a jail project – he cautions against overcrowding the facility.
“I do not believe we should max out the county’s credit card for the next 20 years and taxing everyone in this room $5,000 a head just to build that facility in the years to come,” said Henry.
The candidate forum also included candidates for the Monroe County prosecutor’s race. Stay tuned for more coverage on the WFHB Local News. The full forum is available online here.
The Indiana Canine Assistant Network trains service dogs for people with disabilities. ICAN was one of the first organizations to begin training service dogs in prisons, providing a means of rehabilitation and purpose to its incarcerated dog handlers. On the Bloomington campus of Indiana University you might see a dog wearing a snazzy ICAN bandanna, because IU students are helping train those dogs. Isabel Westin leads ICAN Service Dogs at IU, and she needs more volunteers not just to train dogs but also to help with fundraising and education. Isabel says you’ll change lives at both ends of the leash, on a new episode of Activate!, coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Kade Young and Jessie Grubb, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Kade Young.
This episode of Activate! was produced by Chase Dodson 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 Zoe Moczek and Elyse Perry.
