This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, December 25th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, we look back at our reporting on IU professors who were reprimanded for allegedly violating Indiana’s intellectual diversity law.

You will hear the testimonies of Political Science Professor Benjamin Robinson and IU Lecturer in Social Work Jessica Adams. That’s coming up in today’s edition of the local news: year in review.

Featured Segments:

In August, Indiana University placed sanctions on Professor Benjamin Robinson for allegedly violating Indiana’s recently passed intellectual diversity law. This came after Robinson received a complaint filed in November accusing him of using class time to criticize the university’s free speech policies and Israel, according to Indiana Public Media. WFHB News Correspondent Max Schneider interviewed Robinson on September 15th live in the studio in light of our Fall Fund Drive. We turn now to an excerpt of that conversation on WFHB Local News. On October 6th, Jessica Adams, a lecturer at the IU School of Social Work, was removed from teaching her “Diversity, Human Rights, and Social Justice” course after a student complained of alleged bias in her classroom. In today’s feature report, WFHB News Director Kade Young spoke with Adams about what’s happened since her removal – and what this new law could mean for educators across Indiana. That interview is coming up next on the WFHB Local News.

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This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, December 24th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, we hear excerpts from an interview with filmmakers Robert Arnove and Jack Comforty about their documentary, Freedoms Under Assault, which came out earlier this year. WFHB Correspondent Katrine Bruner speaks with the filmmakers who highlight freedom of speech concerns at IU over the past few years. That’s coming up in today’s edition of the local news: year in review.

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Freedoms Under Assault is a documentary that chronicles the systematic destruction of a world-class university and the politically motivated culture war against its faculty over a two-year period. In October of this year, WFHB News Correspondent Katrine Bruner interviewed Directors and Producers Robert Arnove and Jack Comforty about their process in making the film and free speech issues at Indiana University in recent years. Freedoms Under Assault will screen at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 12th at the Buskirk Chumley Theater. We turn now to Katrine Bruner for a snippet of that interview. We look back at that interview on today’s edition of the local news: year in review.

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This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025.

In today’s newscast, we look back at our reporting on free speech issues at Indiana University. We revisit an interview with FIRE, the free speech organization that ranked IU the worst public college in the nation for the First Amendment.

We also take a look at the suspension of the Palestine Solidarity Committee at IU. That’s all coming up in today’s edition of the local news: year in review.

Featured Segments:

At the corner of Kinser Pike and the State Road 45/46 bypass, you will see a billboard that says, “Indiana University Covered Up the Truth: What Are They Hiding?” The billboard campaign was launched by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, or FIRE. Since they launched over two decades ago, FIRE has become one of the nation’s leading advocates for free speech on college campuses. In their latest report ranking free speech on college campuses across the country, Indiana University ranked the worst public college. In today’s feature report, WFHB News speaks with Dominic Coletti, student press program officer at FIRE, about their recent billboard campaign and concerns they have about freedom of speech at IU.

Earlier this year, during our Fall Fund Drive, Political Science Professor Jeff Isaac condemned the actions of the university and discussed why independent local journalism matters. We look back at that brief interview.

In August, Indiana University ordered the Palestine Solidarity Committee to cease and desist all activities while under investigation for allegedly violating student code. In today’s feature report, WFHB News Correspondent Ella Cummings speaks with Bryce Greene, co-founder of the Palestine Solidarity Committee and organizer with the IU Divestment Coalition. Greene argued that the suspension aims to discredit and intimidate protesters, but he believes it may instead invigorate activism. Correspondent Ella Cummings has more.

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You’re listening to the WFHB Local News for Monday, December 22nd, 2025.

In today’s newscast, we look back at our reporting this year on press censorship of the Indiana Daily Student. We revisit several interviews with IDS leadership, students at the media school and an interview with FIRE – the group that ranked IU the worst public college in the nation for free speech.

You’ll also hear Kristen Lucas from the Crimson Cupboard campus food pantries. She’s looking for pantry volunteers and food donations, especially fresh produce. Find out how you can feed students in need later in the show on a new episode of Activate!

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In early October, Indiana University terminated Student Media Director Jim Rodenbush after he refused to censor the Indiana Daily Student. Hours later, the university ordered the IDS to cease printing of the paper indefinitely. In today’s feature report, we look back at our conversation with Mia Hilkowitz, co-editor-in-chief for the IDS, about what this means for freedom of the press at the university.

One freedom of speech organization in particular, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, condemned the actions of the university and wrote a letter to IU President Pamela Whitten urging her to reverse course. Up next – we listen back to an interview WFHB Correspondent Catherine Terwilliger conducted with Dominic Coletti, student press program officer for FIRE, about what this decision means for freedom of speech at IU.

Later that month, Indiana University reversed course on the decision to cancel the print edition of the Indiana Daily Student. This followed backlash from faculty members, students, free speech groups and the national media. The print edition since the cancellation hit newsstands on November 20th. In today’s feature report, WFHB News Correspondents Camdyn Glover and Zoe Moczek speak with Mia Hilkowitz, co-editor-in-chief of the IDS, about the future of press freedom at IU.

Food insecurity can be a problem for anyone, including college students. On the Indiana University Bloomington campus there are two food pantries known as Crimson Cupboard – one at Campus View Apartments and another in the basement of the Indiana Memorial Union. Both are part of the Student Care and Resource Center, where Kristen Lucas is Associate Director of Basic Needs. Kristen grew up in a blue-collar family where access to food was never taken for granted, and she actually ran a food pantry before coming to IU. Kristen needs volunteers to run Crimson Cupboard, and she’s always looking for food donations, especially fresh produce. Find out how you can feed students in need on a new episode of Activate!, coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.

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Today’s feature was produced by Kade Young, Camdyn Glover, Zoe Moczek and Catherine Terwilliger.

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, December 18th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, Chair of Healthcare for All Minnesota Rose Roach joins us on Prescription for Healthcare – a podcast collaboration between WFHB and Medicare for All Indiana. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, the Bloomington Redevelopment Commission discussed Hopewell and Convention Center projects during their latest meeting.

Bloomington Redevelopment Commission Tackles Hopewell and Convention Center Projects

The Bloomington Redevelopment heard a resolution to approve a contract with the workforce housing company, Adaptive Commons, for the design of Hopewell West Block 4. The agreement is for 125,000 dollars. Commission Member Deborah Myserson said she needs more information before moving forward with the Hopewell agreement.

Redevelopment Commissioner John Whitehart agreed with Myerson and warned against being a test case for a newer firm, preferring a company with a more proven track record.

The redevelopment commission ultimately voted to table the resolution by a unanimous vote. Commissioners are expected to take another look at the proposal in 2026.

Then, the commission heard a resolution on the host hotel for the Bloomington Convention Center expansion. Director of Economic and Sustainable Development Jane Kupersmith said this resolution concerns the city’s preferred hotelier, Dora Hospitality. She explained that there’s a gap in funding right now preventing the city from making any progress on the hotel.

Corporation Counsel Margie Rice said the resolution doesn’t coordinate any negotiations with the hotel developer. The resolution before the commission would be more of a verbal agreement, indicating that the redevelopment commission supports a hotel at the convention center.

Myerson added an amendment that removed language that can be interpreted as committing the city to sell land at a reduced or “nominal” cost for the host hotel.

The commission passed the resolution as amended with John West voting ‘no.” The next Development Commission meeting will happen on January 5th.

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This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, December 17th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, WFHB Correspondents Luke Janke and Katrine Bruner investigate the phenomenon of shoes hanging from power lines. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, “Holiday Reminders” on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News.

Public Works Board Approves Closures for Skybridge Installation for Convention Center

The Bloomington Board of Public Works met on December 16th. The board heard a proposal to close portions of South College Avenue to allow construction of a skybridge for the Bloomington Convention Center expansion. Public Works Director Adam Wason walked through the request by Weddle Brothers Construction.

Engineering Field Specialist Kyle Baugh expanded on the effort to install a skybridge for the convention center.

Board Secretary James Roach asked about access to the traffic control plans for the project. Baugh said he will make sure board members have access to the information.

Roach further pressed Wason and the engineering department on how Hopewell construction will be impacted. Wason said the two projects shouldn’t conflict with one another.

President Kyla Cox-Deckard asked about the coordination with the properties in the closure area.

Cox-Deckard added that this is a “historic” closure and unique for the board to implement.

The board approved the closure request and noise permit by unanimous vote. The next Board of Public Works meeting will take place on December 30th.

Feature Report:

In today’s feature report, WFHB Correspondents Luke Janke and Katrine Bruner investigated the phenomenon of shoes hanging from power lines. Janke and Bruner hit the streets of Bloomington to ask residents what they believe the origins are for this cultural tradition. That report is coming up next on the WFHB Local News.

Up next, “Holiday Reminders” on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News. We turn to host and producer Richard Fish for more.

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This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, December 15th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, Environmental Correspondent Carrie Albright speaks with Shannon Gayk from IU’s English Department about the Environmental Futures Initiative—a group bringing together artists, scientists, scholars and the community to explore our relationship with nature. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund.

Ellettsville Town Council Members Clash in Approving Committee Members to Reorganization Committee

The Ellettsville Town Council met on December 8th and selected members for the Ellettsville Richland Township Reorganization Committee. The committee will be tasked with making a plan for the reorganization by June to be voted on by the public in November.

Town Manager Mike Farmer gathered a list of 22 names for the council to choose from. Council member Dan Swafford expressed concern that he had not seen the list before the meeting. He said Farmer should have sent it to him earlier.

Farmer said he was caught off guard by Swafford’s grievance because he had vetted the names to make sure they fit the council’s criteria. The council had arranged for Farmer to have the authority to vet the list in an email exchange.

Swafford thought the council should’ve had more say in the list.

Farmer said he didn’t know the council would want names and qualifications at the meeting. Swafford said Farmer should’ve reached out before the vote.

Council member William Ellis gave his opinion regarding the issue, saying Swafford should have gotten involved sooner.

Council member Pamela Samples said they would get nowhere by fighting and started asking about the duties of the committee.

Farmer outlined that the committee would make a plan for the reorganization independent of the Richland Township and Ellettsville Town Council.

The council decided Mike Coreman, Andrew Henry and William Ellis to be the three people representing the town on the committee.

The next meeting of the Ellettsville Town Council will be on December 22nd.

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Indiana University placed multiple fraternities on suspension this fall after hazing incidents that sent several students to the hospital, and has since lifted some of those suspensions while other chapters remain under investigation. WFHB Correspondent Camdyn Glover reports.

Bridging the arts and humanities with the natural world has long been a priority for our next interview guest, Shannon Gayk. Shannon is a medievalist and English professor at IU who has delved into the ways past societies responded to dramatic environmental upheaval—from cooling temperatures to plagues—using literature as a means for understanding. Today, she leads the Environmental Futures Initiative, fostering collaboration across arts and humanities, sciences, and local communities to deepen our attention to today’s changing world. For more, we turn to Environmental Correspondent Carrie Albright.

Now it’s time for Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. That’s coming up next on the local news.

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This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, December 15th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, State Senator Shelli Yoder comments about the Indiana senate rejecting House Bill 1032 to redraw congressional maps ahead of the midterm elections. That’s coming up in today’s featured interview.

You’ll also hear Jay Patel from the IU chapter of the Red Cross. He wants students to know what to do if they’re at a party and someone stops breathing. Find out more later in the show on a new episode of Activate!

Monroe County Commissioners Indefinitely Postpone Eviction of Thompson Property Encampment

The Monroe County Board of Commissioners announced they will indefinitely postpone an eviction of a homeless encampment on the county-owned Thompson property during their meeting on December 11th.

This signals they are abandoning the original December 15th deadline to evict people experiencing homelessness on the county property. Commissioner Julie Thomas said Sheriff Ruben Marté refused to enforce the proposal. She added that while she sees the encampments as trespassing, she recognizes that this is a community problem that needs to be addressed.

During public comment, Executive Director of Hotels for Homeless Katie Norris warned the Commissioners about the dangers of evicting encampments in the cold weather.

Camp resident Matt Frost urged county leaders to not issue an eviction under frigid temperatures.

Frost continued, saying an extension would remove added pressure on him to figure out where to relocate under current weather conditions.

The Commissioners indicated verbally that they would not pursue the planned December 15th eviction. No formal action was taken. The issue could be brought to a vote at their next meeting on December 18th.

Updates on City’s Public Art: Millers Showers and Convention Center Projects

The Bloomington Arts Commission met on December 10th. First, Assistant Director for the Arts Holly Warren said the arts commission went over budget this year, pulling the remaining dollars from the general fund.

Warren touched on why 16,500 dollars set aside for public art went unused.

One commission member asked how the money would be used. Warren said it will help cover some public art expenses, including traffic boxes and arts grants.

As for other updates, an arts commission member asked about the progress on the public artwork for Hopewell titled “Undulate.” He also asked about artwork for the Millers Showers building. Warren responded that the piece for Undulate is currently fabricated and sitting in storage while they work to find a concrete contractor for installation. As for the Millers Showers project, Warren hopes to make headway in early 2026.

Then, Public Art Interim Chair Christina Elem gave an update on the signature public artwork for the Bloomington Convention Center expansion. Elem says the city combed through about 180 applications for the artwork and narrowed it to 8 finalists.

Another commission member asked about the process behind selecting the final candidate. Elem said they ultimately want 5 candidates with a few alternates.

Warren admitted that she’s nervous about the community’s reaction to the public artwork. However, she maintained that backlash to art is inevitable.

The Bloomington Arts Commission will meet again for their next regular session on January 14th.

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The Indiana Senate rejected the controversial mid-decade redistricting effort on Thursday. The proposal followed a push by Republicans in Washington, D.C. to redraw congressional maps in several states ahead of the midterm election. In today’s feature report, WFHB News speaks with State Senator Shelli Yoder who says this was a fight to protect democracy from unfair representation.

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This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, December 11th, 2025.

In today’s broadcast, WFHB News speaks with Erin Aquino, executive director of Exodus Refugee Immigration, about recent ICE activity in Bloomington and Indianapolis. More in today’s featured interview.

Also coming up in the next half hour, WFHB Correspondent Chase Dodson brings you today’s Sports News Briefing – a rundown of local, state and national sports news.

The Statehouse Roundup

THIS JUST IN: The Indiana Senate voted down the proposal to redistrict the state ahead of the midterms. This is breaking news and we will continue to follow the story. Stay tuned to the WFHB Local News next week to hear more coverage on the issue. 

The Indiana State Senate is set to make a final decision today on the state’s mid-cycle redistricting effort. The proposal as it stands would add two more legislative seats to the GOP giving Republicans complete control over the state’s nine congressional seats.

This effort has seen pushback by both Democrats and Republicans alike – with opponents accusing the Republicans of trying to gerrymander maps ahead of the midterm elections. Earlier this week, WFHB News interviewed Julia Vaughn, the executive director of Common Cause Indiana, who called the proposal a “threat” to democracy initiated by the President of the United States.

State Senator Shelli Yoder, who represents Bloomington in the Indiana legislature, has been an outspoken critic of the redistricting effort. Yoder says this move would put a dent in representation of Indiana voters.

Yoder condemned Republican leadership in Washington, D.C. for pursuing this redistricting effort. She called the proposal an attempt to “rig” the midterm elections.

WFHB Politics Reporter Camdyn Glover filed a report on the redistricting proposal this week on the local news. Glover reported that politicians have been threatened for their opposition to redistrict the state.

Community Organizer Michelle Higgs, who said she will run for Indiana House District 60 in 2026, said this would rob Hoosiers of proper representation.

The Indiana Senate met to make a decision on the final map today at 1:30 p.m. As of this reporting, lawmakers have not made a final decision. If this bill passes, it awaits Governor Mike Braun’s signature to become law.

Update: the Indiana Senate voted down the proposal to redistrict the state ahead of the midterms.

Monroe County Election Board Considers Cutting Early Voting Hours After Budget Concerns

The Monroe County Election Board met on December 4th. County Clerk Nicole Browne said due to a budget shortfall, the county may need to reduce its early voting hours.

Republican Chair Danny Shields asked what the typical early voting hours look like. Browne responded that the hours were previously 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the proposal would reduce them to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shields said the reduction of hours could exclude voters who work into the evening.

Democratic Chair Penny Githens agreed, saying this would negatively impact working families and those with transportation barriers. Shields said although no one wants to reduce voting hours, the county can’t afford to fully staff the early voting site. Election Supervisor Kylie Moreland added the county already operates under a smaller staff for early voting.

Moreland suggested that the county election board present the issue to the county council and see if they could come up with a solution. However, she says staff in the clerk’s office typically need to work overtime during early voting. As a result of the tight county budget, overtime pay is no longer offered.

Then, the board debated whether to have 22 or 29 polling locations for the midterm election. Clerk Browne said she would prefer to not reduce the number of polling sites – especially now that the option of vote centers is off the table.

Moreland said she didn’t want to prematurely reach out to all 29 polling locations until the election board has a better sense of the budget. Shields suggested they reach out to 22 of the proposed voting locations and decide how much money they need to request from the county council to cover the funding shortfall.

Board members decided to reach out to 22 expected polling sites and delay the final decision until they hear from the county council in January 2026.

Feature Report:

This week, federal agents detained a student leaving Broadview Learning Center in Bloomington. The FBI has also raided a unit at the Maxwell Terrace apartment complex. For more insight, WFHB News spoke with Erin Aquino, executive director of Exodus Refugee Immigration. While Aquino couldn’t touch on any specific cases for privacy concerns, she highlighted the ramping up of detentions, the importance of due process and the impact these detentions have on families. That interview is coming up next on the local news.

Now, we turn to WFHB Sports Correspondent Chase Dodson who brings you today’s Sports News Briefing – a rundown of local, state and national sports news. That’s coming up next on WFHB.

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This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, December 10th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, Correspondent Catherine Terwilliger speaks with Community Organizer Michelle Higgs, who previously ran for Indiana House District 60. Higgs says the mid-cycle redistricting effort would prevent proper representation for Hoosiers. That’s coming up in today’s featured interview.

Also coming up in the next half hour, “Phone-y voicemails” on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News.

Council Advances Corey Drive Annexation, Rejects 300% Hauler Rate Hike

The Bloomington City Council met on December 3 and discussed the voluntary annexation of 2005 West Corey Drive and its associated fiscal plan.

The property owner hopes to build a duplex on the currently undeveloped lot and is seeking annexation to access city sewer and water services. Sewer and water lines already run along the street, and the owner would cover the cost of connecting the new duplex to those utilities.

According to Assistant City Attorney Chris Wheeler, annexing the property would not result in any significant positive or negative fiscal impact for the city.

Wheeler said the city would see a slight positive fiscal impact by adding the property to its tax base. He noted that the annexation would not result in any costs for the city.

However, Corey Drive resident Jay Nelson argued that the city is looking at the annexation the wrong way, since there is no evidence the land can be developed.

Nelson said it doesn’t make sense to annex the property when the entire street is not being annexed. He also expressed concern that the annexation could place added strain on the Bloomington police and fire departments.

The council approved the fiscal plan, and the annexation will be voted on at its next meeting.

Next, the council discussed amending Title 10 of the Bloomington Municipal Code, a change that would raise septic hauler rates by nearly 300 percent.

Utilities Director Katherine Zaiger presented an amendment to billing rates for wastewater haulers, saying the adjustment is intended to align rates more closely with the actual cost of treating wastewater.

Utilities Service Pretreatment Program Coordinator Steven Stanford noted that Bloomington’s comparatively low wastewater treatment rates attract haulers from as far away as Indianapolis and Ohio. He said the rates have not been updated in more than 25 years. In that time, the cost to treat a gallon of wastewater has risen to 17 cents. The proposed update would increase in-county rates from 2 cents to 8 cents per gallon, and out-of-county rates from 6 cents to 8 cents per gallon.

Stanford said grease waste customers could expect a larger increase of about 84 dollars per year.

Council member Dave Rollo questioned why out-of-county rates would not be set higher, noting that the relatively low cost could continue to incentivize haulers from outside the county to bring wastewater to Bloomington.

Zaiger responded that Lake Monroe, which supplies water for Bloomington’s wastewater treatment plant, is located partly outside the county. She said Bloomington Utilities does not want to raise rates so high that it discourages residents within the watershed from properly maintaining and pumping their septic systems. Zaiger added that the proposed increase should still make Bloomington’s rates less attractive to long-distance haulers.

During public comment, Courtney Medley from Medley Septic Service highlighted that out-of-county haulers are often in-county haulers bringing waste from surrounding counties. She says Bloomington is the local dumpsite.

Medley said due to mixed loads of in-and-out-of-county hauls, in-county residents are charged out-of-county prices.

Zaiger said the rate increase from 2 to 8 cents per gallon to haulers doesn’t mean residents will see the same rate increase.

Attorney Wheeler said there is a legal obligation to know the cost of services provided and a requirement to charge a break-even rate.

Wheeler said the current low rate for haulers has likely been subsidized by the rates paid by Bloomington Utilities’ sewer customers.

Jennifer Wilson from Crowe, the firm that conducted the wastewater study, said increasing the rates for haulers would have little impact on the customers who are currently subsidizing them.

She said her expectation is that rates would decrease by a very small amount for the current sewer customers.

Jeff Todd with Todd Septic in Bloomington shared his concerns with raising rates for haulers.

He suggested there be a separate rate for customers with holding tanks than for septage. Other holding tank users came forward to agree with Todd. Jerry Jackson from Spring Wilderness Campground opposed the rate hike.

Council member Andy Ruff says the motion is implementing too high of an increase.

The council decided the motion needs more work to distinguish between the different services, and the motion failed.

The next Bloomington City Council meeting will be on December 17th.

Feature Report:

On Monday, the Indiana Senate Elections Committee voted 6-3 to advance a controversial proposed map of congressional seats. This is part of a broader GOP push to redistrict states ahead of the midterm elections.

In today’s featured interview, WFHB Correspondent Catherine Terwilliger speaks with Community Organizer Michelle Higgs, who ran for the Indiana House District 60 in 2024. Higgs says this proposal would rob Indiana voters from proper representation. For more, we turn to Catherine Terwilliger.

Up next – “Phone-y voicemails” on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News. We turn to host and producer Richard Fish for more.

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