This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, July 28th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, the Monroe County justice building will be closed at least through Wednesday due to a sewage backup. More in the latest edition of B Square Bites.

Also coming up in the next half hour, find out how to get involved in your community in the latest edition of Volunteer Connection, a weekly segment in collaboration with the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network.

The Monroe County justice building will be closed at least through Wednesday (July 29) according to a message sent out through the county government’s emergency alert system around noon on Monday.

Offices to be closed include the courts, clerk, prosecutor’s office, public defender’s office, probation and child support. People who have business with the courts are supposed to call the specific court handling the case to find out when it has been rescheduled. Those who aren’t sure which court is handling their case are supposed to call 812-349-2615.

The building is shut down, because it saw a sewer backup around 4 p.m. on Friday (July 24), which sent water from the jail, on the top two stories of the building, through ceiling tiles into offices below.

As water streamed through the ceiling tiles on Friday, here’s what it sounded like as staff looked on:

Already on Friday, the closure of the building was announced for Monday. Monday’s noon announcement extended the closure at least another two days.

On Friday evening, Angie Purdie, who is the administrator for the county commissioners, had anticipated that the closure could go past Monday.

The building is getting cleaned, sanitized, and dried, Purdie said. The needed work includes more than just cleaning. Purdie said that carpet and drywall are being removed as necessary.

Purdie said the building’s closure stemmed from a “blockage [of a sewer line] created by inmates” in the jail, which is located in the top two floors of the building.

Parked on College Avenue north of 7th Street on Monday around noon were four vehicles from Service Master, the same company that responded to the sewer backup on Friday.

The complete message sent out on Monday:

At this point in time, the Justice Building will be closed through Wednesday, July 29th – this includes the Court, Clerk, Prosecutor’s office, and the connected offices (Probation, Child Support, and Public Defender). County officials will reassess as they go through each day, and if the Justice Building is going to be closed longer, an advisement will be sent out.

All scheduled court proceedings are cancelled. The Clerk’s office is closed. It is recommended you contact the court handling your case to reschedule when the building re-opens. If you are unsure as to what court, call Court Administration at 812-349-2615.

That was the latest edition of B Square Bites – a collaboration between B Square Bulletin and WFHB. To read the full article, you can visit B Square Bulletin and look for the headline: “Sewage backup keeps Monroe County justice building closed at least through July 29.”

Featured Segments:

Earlier this month, the Bloomington Police Department announced increased traffic enforcement leading up to the start of the Monroe County Community School Corporation’s school year. Today’s archive segment reflects on local street safety with excerpts from the August 19, 2008 episode of Interchange. In this episode, host Robert Shull speaks with Jim Rosenbarger, then a member of the Bloomington City Council’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Commission, about problems and possibilities facing cyclists and pedestrians. Jim Rosenbarger served on the Commission for more than 20 years and passed away in 2025. That same year, the City Council voted to merge the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Commission with the Parking and Traffic Commissions into a Transportation Commission. We turn to that segment from the WFHB archives repackaged and repurposed by Correspondent Adriane Pontecorvo on the WFHB Local News.

Up next, we have Volunteer Connection on the WFHB Local News in collaboration with the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, highlighting four ways you can get involved in Bloomington. We turn to hosts Aubrey Seader and Dorian Villanueva from Monroe County CASA, for more.

Credits:

You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, July 27th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, WFHB Correspondent Ben Sharpe looks at the impact of the Bloomington Convention Center Expansion, exploring what the community will gain and what some believe the city is losing as part of this project. More in today’s feature report.

You’ll also hear Melanie Davis from The Front Door, a new LGBTQ+ community center opening soon in downtown Bloomington. Learn all about this safe space for queer folks and allies later in the show on a new episode of Activate!

Commissioners cancel Flock contract, address Thompson encampment and propose new justice center at Hopewell

By Claire Zeyen

The Monroe County Commissioners met on July 23rd. During department updates, County Attorney Jeff Cockerill informed the commissioners of deteriorating conditions at the Thompson homeless encampment and rising public safety concerns.

“It’s becoming more dangerous and more of a cause of a public safety concern,” said Cockerill. “We may need to act and begin the process formally prior to your next meeting.”

Next, commissioners approved early cancellation of the county’s contract with Flock, the automatic license plate reader vendor. Commissioner Jody Madeira explained that accepting the cost for removal was the correct choice.

“I appreciate the advocacy of the citizens who spoke before the city on this issue, and I think that it would be worth paying that $3,000 as a county,” said Madeira.

Commissioners ended the meeting by outlining their recent presentation to Bloomington City Council of a new justice center site on city-owned property at the former hospital. Commissioner Julie Thomas described the tradeoffs and said time and available space are driving the new proposal.

“It’s part of democracy. It takes time,” said Thomas. “If they’re willing to do this we need to find a quicker way to act.”

The next Monroe County Commissioners regular meeting will be on August 13th.

RBB schools upholds cell phone ban on buses despite pushback from parents

By Kade Young

The Richland Bean Blossom School Board met on July 21st. Board members reconsidered whether students should be allowed to use cell phones on school buses after hearing concerns from parents.

The new state law requires students to keep personal communication devices turned off and inaccessible during the school day. Superintendent Dr. Jerry Sanders explained why he wants phones off buses.

“A bus driver’s number one priority is keeping their eyes on the road and and and safety, but there’s also a kind of a to me a hidden safety issue in terms of students having access to their cell phone while on the bus. There’s nobody to monitor what they’re looking at, who they’re talking to, what they’re sharing with other students,” said Dr. Sanders.

He acknowledged the negative feedback he received from parents about the law itself and RBB’s stricter policies.

“We did get some pushback from some parents on that,” said Sanders. “Quite frankly, my personal opinion is: I like it. I think it’ll help students to be more focused and engaged. We also know that social media often leads to some behavior issues.”

School Board President Dana Kerr said the policy could prove difficult to enforce. In his view, it’s a matter of fairness.

“It’s kind of to me a perfect opportunity for good kids to be penalized for being good, and allowing kids that push the envelope to get by with it with no recourse?” said Kerr. “I just worry about the equity in that.”

Another board member said while he wants to abide by the state law, he questioned whether the board should implement a policy that takes it a step further.

“I’m fine with going by the letter of the law,” said the board member. “But I have a hard time going above and beyond that because there’s so much gray area on the school bus travel.”

Sanders said the district will monitor the policy and revisit it during an upcoming meeting in the fall. For now, the cell phone ban on buses remains. The RBB school board will meet again on August 18th.

Feature Report:

If you’ve walked past the convention center recently, you can see construction is well underway. However, the debate over the project’s impact isn’t over. In today’s feature report, WFHB News Correspondent Ben Sharpe looks at what the city hopes to gain, and what some say Bloomington is losing in the process. We now turn to Ben Sharpe for that report on the WFHB Local News.

The Front Door is about to open. Bloomington is getting its first off-campus hub for local queer culture when The Front Door Community Center opens later this year. Organizers say The Front Door is a safe and sober space to support LGBTIQ+ organizations and social groups and engage in social justice and education opportunities. Board president Melanie Davis says The Front Door can be whatever you want it to be – and NOW is the time to get involved and make your voice heard. Learn how on a new episode of Activate!, coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.

Credits:

Later in the program, we will listen to Grow With Glo as she talks with Anne Middleton, Associate Director of Wildcoasts, and how they are protecting Baja’s wild coastlines and more.

Clean energy investments amounting to $83 billion have faced cancellations or delays due to the Trump administration’s policies, which lessened federal support for clean energy initiatives. A report from the Blue-Green Alliance, released on July 14th, highlights that 223 clean energy projects representing $82.9 billion in investments and 111,765 jobs have either stalled or been canceled. Labor leaders discussed these findings with Senate Democrats, emphasizing that each project delay or cancellation impacts working individuals significantly. Brent Booker, president of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, stated that such decisions extend beyond energy policy; they directly affect jobs, incomes, and the prospects for the middle class. Additionally, the report notes that federal funding reductions and regulatory rollbacks, initiated in 2025, have undermined workplace protections for workers in the energy and industrial sectors.

Indiana, with over 100 coal ash sites—the most in the nation—is pursuing a permitting program for hazardous waste management as federal cleanup requirements are proposed for rollback. This state initiative would require utilities to obtain permits for disposal of coal combustion residuals, primarily managed in ponds, contrasting with federal oversight. On June 26, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) applied to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to oversee this management process, aiming to transfer regulatory responsibility to the state. Coal ash harbors dangerous pollutants like arsenic, chromium, lead, and mercury, associated with serious health issues and environmental contamination. While the EPA has enforced federal regulations since 2015, IDEM’s proposed oversight would represent a significant shift. Governor Mike Braun asserted the necessity of this program in a June 30 announcement, highlighting the critical need for such measures to improve Indiana’s air and water quality, which is currently ranked the worst in the U.S. Only five other states have established similar coal ash permitting programs, making Indiana’s potential program the largest in the country due to its high number of coal ash sites.

Summer brings many outdoor memories for most people, and a drive along the countryside in town brings the beautiful sight of blooming wildflowers. Many pale white Queen Anne’s lace flowers can be seen along the roads in town, as well as blue chicory. Chicory, a naturalized European perennial wildflower, blooms from the summer to the fall, with medicinal properties due to its inulin, a prebiotic fiber which helps in balancing stomach health and stimulating bile production. Chicory roots are also brewed as a coffee alternative, or into a tea. The leaves can also be eaten raw in salads, or cooked. Chicory also contains chicoric acid, an antioxidant, and flavonoids that may be used in natural medicine to heal the liver and the heart, as well as lower cholesterol levels. These blue flowers growing in the summer are medicinal, as well as a lovely sight. Consider how many plants growing as wildflowers, like chicory, that also contain medicinal properties, and remember to enjoy the view, while it is there.

Tall and striking, the tuliptree (Yellow Poplar) is a prominent native hardwood in North America, distinguished by its tulip-shaped flowers. Reaching heights of 70 to 100 feet, it features unique, four-lobed leaves that turn golden in fall and has subtle greenish-yellow blooms in late spring. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, it supports pollinators, provides habitat for wildlife, and offers shade in urban environments. Thriving in zones 4 to 9 under full sun and well-drained soil, the tuliptree is a versatile and stable utility wood, suitable for furniture, cabinetry, and even musical instruments.

Eco Report is looking for reporters, engineers, and segment producer to report facts on how we’re all affected by global climate disruption and the ongoing assaults on our air, land and water. We also celebrate ecologists, tree huggers, soil builders and other champions who actively protect and restore our natural world, particularly those who are active in south central Indiana. All levels of experience and all ages are welcome, and we provide the training you’ll need. WFHB also offers internships.

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, July 23rd, 2026.

In today’s newscast, the Bloomington City Council failed to override Mayor Kerry Thomson’s veto of the seasonal Kirkwood Avenue closure. More in today’s edition of B Square Bites – in partnership with the B Square Bulletin.

Also coming up in the next half hour, a rundown of Indiana news and politics in today’s installment of the Statehouse Roundup.

Bloomington council falls short of overriding Thomson veto of seasonal Kirkwood closure

By Dave Askins

Bloomington’s city council failed Wednesday (July 22) to override mayor Kerry Thomson’s veto of an ordinance that would have required five blocks of Kirkwood Avenue to close to motor vehicles for more than seven months each year.

Bloomington council falls short of overriding Thomson veto of seasonal Kirkwood closure

After voting 5–4 on June 10 to permanently enact a seasonal street closure as a part of city code, the council’s vote on the same ordinance Wednesday night was 4–4. That fell two votes short of the six required for a veto override under state law.

Voting for the override were: Isak Asare, Courtney Daily, Matt Flaherty and Kate Rosenbarger. Voting to sustain the veto were: Isabel Piedmont-Smith, Dave Rollo, Andy Ruff and Hopi Stosberg. The tally did not add to nine because Sydney Zulich was absent.

The result reflected a changed vote by Rollo, who supported the ordinance when the council originally approved it on June 10. The other seven councilmembers present on Wednesday voted the same way they had in June.

The failed override leaves the ordinance defeated, meaning the five-block closure from April 1 through Nov. 15 will not be placed in the city’s traffic code.

The vote does not repeal the separate outdoor-dining ordinance the council approved in 2025. That ordinance remains on the books, even if not a part of city code. It gives the city engineer authority to administer or suspend the outdoor-dining program based on emergencies, participation or other conditions that make it impractical. The Thomson administration could also continue authorizing shorter Kirkwood closures for festivals and other individual events.

Indiana state law requires a two-thirds vote to override a mayoral veto. It also requires the override vote to occur at the council’s first regular or special meeting after the mayor’s 10-day period for acting on the legislation. Because Bloomington has nine councilmembers, an override required six affirmative votes.

The ordinance would have required the five blocks of Kirkwood Avenue between Walnut Street and Indiana Avenue to close to motor vehicles annually through Nov. 15. Its April 21, 2027, effective date meant the first closure would have begun on that date, with an April 1 starting date in later years.

Rollo, who changed his position, said his original vote had been intended to force a broader discussion about Kirkwood, not to establish an inflexible outcome. On Wednesday, he said the street could become an “amazing space,” but that the council needed to work with the administration, businesses, churches, accessibility advocates and other stakeholders before committing to a long-term seasonal closure.

“I don’t want to just barrel through and say, ‘We’re going to close it, and you figure it out,’” Rollo said. He said he took Thomson at her word that she wanted the council and administration to work together on a long-term vision for Kirkwood. “I’m not going to attempt to override the veto,” Rollo said. “I’m going to actually reverse my vote this evening.”

That was the latest edition of B Square Bites – a collaboration between B Square Bulletin and WFHB. To read the full article, you can visit B Square Bulletin and look for the headline: “Bloomington council falls short of overriding Thomson veto of seasonal Kirkwood closure.”

‘Gutsy move’: City Council backs Bloomington Housing Authority’s $100 million housing plan

By Kade Young

The Bloomington City Council met on July 22nd. The council heard a resolution that would issue up to 100 million dollars in bonds to purchase nearly 1,000 affordable housing units across five apartment complexes from Hometown Group. Executive Director for the Bloomington Housing Authority Nathan Ferreira walked through the properties included.

“So the Hometown Group properties consist of five apartment complexes around town… totaling 924 units,” said Ferreira.

Ferreira says he hopes to preserve affordable housing before it’s redeveloped.

“We are excited about this project for a number of reasons… preservation of workforce housing of naturally occurring affordable rents is our primary goal here.”

He said federal funding support has continued to decline, therefore, forcing the Housing Authority to find new revenue sources.

“Our revenue from HUD has become less dependable… We estimate that bringing on these properties… will generate about a million dollars of revenue per year, and in the next five to ten years we would put at least one of these through a LIHTC or RAD‑like conversion… so that we can create deeper affordability.”

Bond attorney Chris Cashman from Ice Miller emphasized taxpayers would not be responsible if the bonds are not successful.

“They’re payable solely from the project revenues and any surplus funds of the Bloomington Housing Authority… They are not a general obligation of the City of Bloomington and not payable from taxes.”

Councilmember Isabel Piedmont Smith asked why the request authorized up to 100 million dollars. Cashman maintained the bond is expected to be lower than that.

“As it stands now, what we’re modeling is assuming about sixty‑five million dollars of existing mortgage debt on the properties… and then a smaller bond issuance amount, somewhere around thirty‑two million, if we go the route where the existing debt is assumed.”

Councilmember Matt Flaherty asked what the biggest risk would be. Ferreira said while he believes there’s risk involved for the BHA, he sees the effort as developing and maintaining affordable housing as worthwhile.

“Absolutely, there is risk here to the BHA… We feel like developing affordable housing, preserving affordable housing, addressing our housing shortage is a statutory responsibility of the housing authority. So we see this risk as worthwhile… there’s no reason, in my mind, that we should not try this.”

Ferreira says the BHA selected these five apartment complexes because they are deteriorating and vulnerable to redevelopment.

“We know that at least a couple of these properties are in very poor condition… We also know that two, Kingston Manor and Summit Point, are at locations that would be prime for redevelopment… Our goal here, in terms of preservation, would be to do the needed fixes and then do a much larger rehab… to save those properties,” he said.

Councilmember Kate Rosenbarger asked whether Seminary Pointe could someday be part of a similar effort.

“I don’t know if I can speak to that, but we on a side note have been part of the conversation about Seminary Pointe throughout… We have not contemplated attempting to sell bonds to purchase any other properties beyond this deal… I absolutely think we would consider selling bonds to purchase other properties for the purpose of preserving or creating affordable housing,” said Ferreira.

During public comment, Mary Morgan, executive director of Heading Home, said she supports the project saying it would fulfill a need for affordable housing in the community.

“You know, it’s a gutsy move… it’s an area that we have not explored before. It’s a need… I feel like it’s a great opportunity for our community,” said Morgan.

Meanwhile, local resident Randy Cassady raised concern about the lack of financial due diligence and the need for risk assessment with the project.

“I understand the aspect of the workforce housing and the fact of what BHA has done… it’s an admirable thing to do. The one only question I have… is this going to end up being tax‑exempt properties… those five properties at the present moment are churning out about eight hundred thirty thousand dollars a year in property taxes…”

The council voted unanimously to approve the 100 million dollar bonding authority, paving the way for the Bloomington Housing Authority to move ahead with the project. The city council meets again for its next regular session on August 5th.

Featured Segments:

Up next, WFHB Correspondent Max Schneider brings you a brief rundown on Indiana news and politics in today’s edition of the Statehouse Roundup. We turn to Schneider for more.

And now, we turn to Sports Correspondent Aidan Verde who provides a recent edition of the “Cream and Crimson Check-In.” Verde has more.

Credits:

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026.

In today’s newscast, Correspondent Elena Bai looks into the city’s contracts with Flock Safety, speaking with two members of Bloomington Democratic Socialists of America’s Solid State Working Group, about concerns over surveillance technology. More in today’s featured interview.

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

Bloomington Transit picks new management firm on split vote, ending Connell’s tenure

By Dave Askins

Bloomington  Transit’s board voted 3–2 Tuesday (July 21) to replace its longtime management company, a decision that will end general manager John Connell’s five-year tenure with the agency at the end of September.

Chair James McLary and board members Don Griffin and Doug Horn voted to negotiate a contract with Keolis instead of renewing an arrangement with RATP Dev.

Nancy Obermeyer and Kent McDaniel voted against the change.

Bloomington Transit does not directly hire its general manager. The agency contracts with a private management firm, which supplies the person who fills that position. So choosing Keolis over RATP Dev means replacing Connell, even though the board did not take a separate vote on Connell. Not named at Tuesday’s regular board meeting was the general manager who will be provided by Keolis.

The board’s vote came against the wishes of the mayor’s office, conveyed during Tuesday’s meeting by deputy mayor Gretchen Knapp, who defended RAPT Dev and Connell.

The board’s discussion was wide ranging and included: concerns about microtransit; marketing; the ballooning estimated cost of a new transit operations facility; and accusations that employee members of the recommendation committee were “disgruntled.”

Tuesday’s meeting included a dramatic exit by McDaniel, who left the meeting after saying to his colleagues: “It’s been a pleasure working with some of you.”

RATP Dev’s current contract expires Sept. 30, leaving Connell about two months to oversee a transition. Among his final major duties will be completing Bloomington Transit’s proposed 2027 budget and presenting it to the Bloomington city council in September.

Board members consistently said the vote was about the management firm, not Connell personally. Their discussion included pointed criticism of conditions at Bloomington Transit, the support provided to Connell by RATP Dev, and the performance of some agency initiatives.

Concerns voiced by board members included a slow and confusing microtransit rollout, lagging marketing efforts, and an estimated full-scope cost of about $55 million for a new operations, maintenance and administrative facility. That’s up from the roughly $35 million figure board members said they had previously understood.

That was the latest edition of B Square Bites – a collaboration between B Square Bulletin and WFHB. To read the full article, you can visit B Square Bulletin  and look for the headline: “Bloomington Transit picks new management firm on split vote, ending Connell’s tenure.”

Bloomington RDC Receives Two Proposals for College Square Site

By Kade Young

The Bloomington Redevelopment Commission met on July 20th and received two proposals to redevelop the College Square site downtown. Each proposal paired a new hotel with housing, but city officials say they need time to evaluate details before deciding what comes next.

The first proposal comes from a team led by Concord Hospitality, while the other comes from Dora Hospitality. These competing plans have drawn increased attention after local advocacy group Bloomington Homes for All urged the city to pursue a land swap they say could preserve affordable housing at Seminary Pointe.

The city’s Economic and Sustainability Director Anna Killion-Hanson announced the first proposal for the convention center hotel, which contained some affordable housing.

“Our proposal recognizes the opportunity for both a hotel that meets the functional needs outlined in the offering sheet, including approximately 160 rooms, full-service amenities and support for convention center activity. And complimentary mixed-use residential component that supports downtown vitality, integrates housing, including replacement of significantly affordable below-market-rate units, and activates the district beyond event driven demand,” she said.

Killion-Hanson described the competing proposal from Dora Hospitality.

“It’s from Dora Hospitality and the Louderback Group. They’re submitting the proposal for the redevelopment of College Square,” she said. “The proposal delivers two complementary projects on a single site: a 135 room boutique upscale hotel on the southern portion of the project site along Third Street, and an approximately 100-unit market-rate apartment community on the northern portion along Fourth Street.”

She maintained the commission is merely reviewing the proposals, not officially voting on any items.

“We will need to do a deep dive into what these actually say,” said Killion-Hanson.

City officials will now evaluate both proposals before bringing them back to the RDC for further discussion. The city’s redevelopment commission will meet again on August 3rd.

Featured Segments:

Bloomington officials chose not to renew one contract for Flock automated license plate readers earlier this year. However, some contracts with the surveillance technology company remain in place. In today’s featured interview, WFHB Correspondent Elena Bai speaks with two members of Bloomington Democratic Socialists of America’s Solid State Working Group about their campaign to eliminate Flock cameras and their concerns over surveillance technology. Stay tuned for further coverage from Bai in future broadcasts of the local news.

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

Credits:

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, July 20th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, Facebook has permanently suspended the Bloomingtonian’s page, saying the independent local news outlet violated its policies on “inauthentic behavior.” Founder Jeremy Hogan says the company has not identified what prompted the action and has denied the publication’s appeal. More from Jeremy Hogan in today’s featured interview.

You’ll also hear Randy Rogers from United Way of South Central Indiana – the non-profit that helps other non-profits. Find out how you can support many good causes by supporting United Way later in the show on a new episode of Activate!

New Indiana law restricts student cellphone use during the school day

By Zoe Moczek

K-12 students in Indiana will no longer be able to access their cell phones during the school day under state law.

Senate Enrolled Act 78 went into effect on July 1st. This law prohibits students from using personal wireless communication devices, like cellphones, laptops, or smartwatches, from the time their first class begins to the time their final class ends.

Under the law, school corporations in Indiana must choose one of two options. They can either adopt a policy that prohibits students from bringing wireless communication devices to school at all, or they can adopt a policy that allows students to bring these devices, but requires that the devices are powered off, inaccessible to students, and placed in a designated storage area during school time.

Governor Mike Braun, who signed this bill into law back in May, said he expects it to improve student learning through reducing distractions in the classroom.

“This law strengthens Indiana schools’ cell phone policies so students can focus, teachers can teach, and classrooms can function as they should,” said Braun. “Cell phones, smart watches, gaming devices, and other personal devices have become major sources of distraction during the school day. The constant distraction affects learning, behavior, attention, and mental health.”

In order to comply with state law, the Monroe County Community School Corporation updated Policy 5136 regarding wireless communication devices. The MCCSC Board of Trustees discussed the updated policy in a meeting on June 23rd, passing it with a 5-1 vote.

During the meeting, MCCSC assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction, and assessment Alexis Harmon explained that Monroe County schools will not ban students from bringing devices to school. Instead, the policy will mandate that devices are turned off and kept in a storage location throughout the day.

“We have gathered feedback in a variety of ways, but in particular a survey that was sent out to all family, staff, and students. We had 424 responses. 82% of them preferred the storage approach, the second option,” said Harmon.

Harmon explained that students will still be able to use their devices outside of instructional hours, and that there will be exceptions when students require devices as part of a learning accommodation or for medical use.

“Students can use devices before and after school, after school activities and extracurriculars”, said Harmon. “They can still have devices on buses. They can use them for medical use when it’s documented by a provider. They can have them as needed based upon an IEP, ILP, or 504 plan accommodations. They are allowed to be used during emergencies when authorized by administration, and they can still use school-issued devices for instruction that are connected to the internet.”

One board member, April Hennessy, said she acknowledges that cell phones can cause problems in classrooms, but she worries about the possibility of inconsistent disciplinary action for students who violate this policy.

“I really do not like this as a policy. I think that this is an overreach of the state, to sort of mandate how we determine when and where devices get used in our buildings,” said Hennessy. “I think different schools will likely have different storage places, different storage policies, different storage locations. And that will inevitably lead to different kinds of access. And then potentially greater or less disciplinary action around those phones.”

Hennessy also mentioned that enforcing the new policy will demand increased time, effort, and coordination from teachers and administrators. She expressed frustration that MCCSC schools will have to expend so much over a policy that is “fairly meaningless”.

“Of all the things that we have going on in the state, this is the thing that they sort of chose to take a stand on…but there’s no more dollars or resources for how we manage this in each of our 23 schools, right?,” said Hennessy. “It’s like another thing that needs to be folded in and encompassed by the ever-shrinking dollars that we’re given.”

During public comment, Susan Ellenwood, a community member and parent of MCCSC students, expressed concern that this policy could make it more difficult for parents to communicate with their children during an emergency.

“As parents, we find it crucial to be able to contact our children in the event of an emergency,” said Allenwood. “We get a lot of these texts. Some of them are false alarms. Some of them are drills. At any rate, the first thing any of us do is contact our kids, check in, make sure they’re okay. And I would like to be able to continue doing that.”

MCCSC schools will operate under the new phone policy when students return for the start of the 2026-2027 school year on Wednesday, August 5th.

Featured Segments:

Facebook has permanently suspended the Bloomingtonian’s page after alleging the local news outlet engaged in “inauthentic behavior.” In today’s featured interview, WFHB News Director Kade Young speaks with Bloomingtonian founder Jeremy Hogan about the suspension, its impact and what’s next for the online publication. That’s coming up next on the WFHB Local News.

Update: After this story was published, Meta restored The Bloomingtonian’s Facebook page following an appeal. Jeremy Hogan shared an email from Facebook stating the page had been republished and was publicly viewable again. However, the page still appears to have restricted monetization. Hogan says he also appears to have lost his Facebook subscribers. WFHB News will continue following this story and have more information in upcoming broadcasts.

United Way of South Central Indiana is the non-profit that helps other non-profits. All United Way agencies receive vital support from this umbrella organization, which also provides direct-to-the-public services like their popular annual tax preparation program. Local businesses conduct fundraising campaigns to support United Way, but individual support through donations and volunteer time is also welcome and critical. Executive Director Randy Roger shares ways you can support many good causes by supporting United Way on a new episode of Activate!, coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.

Credits:

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, July 16th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, the Monroe County Capital Improvement Board unanimously selected Dora Hospitality as the developer for the convention center host hotel. This further complicates efforts of advocates and officials wanting to preserve Seminary Pointe affordable housing and commercial spaces.

Also coming up in the next half hour, “Threats to Democracy” on Civic Conversations – a podcast collaboration between WFHB and the local chapter of the League of Women Voters.

Monroe County CIB Selects Dora Hospitality for Convention Center Host Hotel

By Kade Young

The Monroe County Capital Improvement Board met on July 15th and unanimously selected Dora Hospitality as the developer for the convention center host hotel.

This allows the CIB to start negotiations with Dora to build a roughly 200-room hotel south of the convention center. The decision comes despite appeals from local advocacy group Bloomington Homes for All who are urging the board to pump the brakes and consider a land swap with the Redevelopment Commission to preserve Seminary Pointe’s affordable housing.

CIB president John Whikehart explained why the board selected Dora Hospitality as its hotelier.

“The Dora Hospitality proposal not only met expectations for 200 guest rooms, restaurant and bar, fitness center, and meeting space but it exceeded expectations… [it] has the potential to anchor transformational southward development of our community,” said Whikehart.

Board member Doug Bruce walked through why the board rejected waiting for a land swap, saying Dora identified the south parcels as its preferred location for the hotel.

“Time is of the essence,” said Bruce. “The south parcels are a better and preferred location for their hotel.”

CIB member Jay Baer says despite encouragement for the land swap, he doesn’t believe it’s the board’s duty to tackle affordable housing.

“I certainly understand and appreciate the enthusiasm of members of this community to preserve or attain affordable housing,” said Baer. “Our role is not to solve affordable housing for Bloomington or Monroe County.”

Developer Russ Louderback said Dora Hospitality is ready to move forward and remains confident the south parcels are the right location for the project.

“We will stand by our commitments,” said Louderback. “We’re going to do our very best to provide you the very best host hotel that we can.”

On the other hand, Bloomington Homes for All organizer Bryce Greene said despite the CIB pursuing the project, he still believes the land swap is worthwhile.

“We still believe that the land swap is still something worth pursuing… it is one of the only ways that we’ll be able to save the Seminary Point housing from being demolished,” said Greene.

Sarah Woolford, Housing Solutions Director of Habitat for Humanity, urged the board to reconsider negotiations with the city’s redevelopment commission to preserve affordable housing in the city.

“The housing crisis cannot afford the loss of 29 units… You have the opportunity to be a savior of affordable housing while also serving the purpose the CIB was called to do,” she said.

The capital improvement board voted 6-0 in support of selecting Dora Hospitality as the convention center host hotel, opening the door for negotiations on a final development agreement. The CIB will meet again on August 19th.

Featured Segments:

Up next, we have the latest edition of Civic Conversations – a collaboration between WFHB and the local chapter of the League of Women Voters. In today’s edition, host Jim Allison speaks with Charles Reigeluth and Michael Molenda. Professor Reigeluth is an educational theorist who focuses on instructional design theories and is a professor at the Instructional Systems Technology Department at Indiana University. Professor Molenda, now retired from teaching in Instructional Systems Technology at Indiana University, continues to live in Bloomington and conduct research and write. Both are authors of the white paper titled “Remedies for the Most Serious Threats to Democracy in the US.

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This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, July 15th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, Correspondent Ben Sharpe speaks with Bloomington Homes for All organizer Amber Corr about why the group wants to preserve Seminary Pointe affordable housing and commercial spaces. More in our featured interview.

Also coming up in the next half hour, “Tricks in the Sticks” on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the local news.

‘Little Five’ to start filming this week in Bloomington 

By Aidan Verde

“Little Five” is a new movie being shot in Bloomington produced by Anne Hathaway’s production company, Somewhere Pictures, in collaboration with Indiana-based Pigasus Pictures.

The film centers around 4 young women at Indiana University competing in the annual Little 500 bike race. This film follows true events centered around the young women as they try and compete in the race in an attempt to redefine collegiate sports.

The idea for the film came from Pigasus Pictures’ co-owners, Gordon Strain and Zachary Spicer, while they were working on another film.

Pigasus called out to Bloomington residents and IU students to star as extras in the film, with already more than 5,000 people signed up as of July 14th. The production aspires to have a total of 10,000 extras for scenes that require large crowds.

Production for the film starts on Sunday, July 19th. Filming will lead to a series of downtown street closures and detours. You can expect closures around Grant Street, Park Avenue and Kirkwood Avenue between late July and mid-August.

City historic preservation board debates authority over Seminary Pointe

By Elena Bai

The Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission met on July 9th. City of Bloomington attorney David Kerr gave updates on a legal brief regarding the Historic Preservation Commission’s ability to rescind previous decisions.

This announcement comes in response to the push to rescind the Commission’s previous decision regarding Seminary Pointe. According to Kerr, the Indiana Supreme Court has set precedence that the Board of Zoning Appeals and other similar bodies should not be able to change previously made decisions.

Commissioner Reynard Cross challenged this precedence and its application to the Seminary Pointe ruling.

He also questioned the procedures of the previous meeting of the Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission.

The Commission also amended the previous meeting’s minutes to reflect details about the discussion of demolition delays.

The staff of the Commission announced that they approved Certification of Appropriateness to requests to replace a limestone retaining wall, the construction of a hoop house in a side yard, and the installation of a chain link fence.

During final commissioner comments, Commissioner John Butler also stated that the case of Seminary Pointe may point to a need to reconsider the commission’s standards for a historic place.

Chair of the commission Jeremy Hackerd also addressed Commissioner Cross’s comments on the procedures of previous votes.

The Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission will meet next on July 23rd.

Featured Segments:

As debate continues over the future of Seminary Pointe, affordable housing advocates are urging city leaders to reconsider plans to demolish the property for a proposed convention center host hotel. In today’s featured interview, Correspondent Ben Sharpe speaks with Bloomington Homes for All organizer Amber Corr about why the group believes preserving the site is critical to Bloomington’s affordable housing supply. That’s coming up next on the WFHB Local News.

Up next, “Tricks in the Sticks” 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, July 14th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, we rebroadcast a feature report on the fight to preserve Seminary Pointe’s affordable housing and commercial spaces. This feature came from a narrative journalism workshop hosted by WFHB’s news department. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, learn about four volunteer opportunities across Bloomington in the latest edition of Volunteer Connection.

Jail subcommittee recommends Curry Building expansion, Thompson site as backup

By Kade Young

The Collaborative Justice Project Working Subcommittee voted Monday to recommend renovating the current jail facility and expanding into the nearby Curry Building for the new jail project. The subcommittee also selected the Thomson property as a backup recommendation.

These recommendations will now make their way to the full Collaborative Justice Project committee, which includes county council members and county commissioners. This vote comes as the county now faces a new federal lawsuit over constitutional standards at the current facility.

The Curry Building is the county office building just west of the justice building in downtown Bloomington, located at 301 North College Avenue. It’s directly adjacent to the current jail.

Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson said she believes the Curry site offers the best path forward.

“It just appears to me to be the best case scenario and most efficient to move forward is this site, especially given the challenges at Thompson in terms of timing,” said the mayor.

Mayor Thomson says the Thompson Road property remains a strong option; however, relocating power lines could halt construction.

“Thompson also was my number two choice… starting the move of the power lines now would be prudent,” she said.

Deputy Prosecutor April Wilson said she’s concerned the Curry site wouldn’t have enough room for both a jail and future justice center offices.

“One of the concerns that I have is it feels a little like we might be repeating the same conversation that happened 40 years ago… I think either option we go with, I think we just don’t have enough space, and I think we’re going to have additional costs,” she said.

Wilson expressed urgency with the project citing the latest federal lawsuit, saying county officials need to move quickly to find a solution.

“These allegations are what is alleged to be happening now… every day we delay, it’s not just financial cost; it’s human cost,” said Wilson.

City councilmember Sydney Zulich critiqued what she sees as years of inaction that led to the county’s current situation.

“The settlement agreement has been in place since 2008. I was six in 2008. Somebody could have had a child in 2008. That child would be eligible to vote this year,” said Zulich.

The mayor maintained the county-owned Curry site gives officials more flexibility moving forward.

“It is true that there’s some assumption that because you own the property, it is more affordable to develop it… having site control… is something that I have considered in my selections,” said Thomson.

The committee approved Curry as its first recommendation on a 3-2 vote before unanimously selecting the Thompson property as its backup recommendation.

Featured Segments:

Last Wednesday, WFHB’s news department hosted a narrative journalism workshop hosted by volunteer Elyse Perry. The workshop culminated in today’s feature report, exploring the debate over Seminary Pointe, where affordable housing advocates are urging city leaders to reconsider plans to demolish the property for a proposed convention center hotel. We rebroadcast that feature which originally aired on July 8th.

Up next, we have Volunteer Connection on the WFHB Local News in collaboration with the Bloomington Volunteer Network, highlighting volunteer opportunities in Bloomington. We turn to hosts Aubrey Seader and Kade Young for more.

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This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, July 13th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, State Representative Matt Pierce discusses the impact of a new law that establishes a military police force within the Indiana National Guard. Correspondent Jorge Casillas has more in today’s featured interview.

You’ll also hear Jake Bruner from Hoosier Hills Food Bank, calling on you to help take the hunger out of poverty, later in the show on a new episode of Activate! But first, your daily headlines.

County commissioners declare emergency in jail due to overcrowding and extreme heat

By Kade Young

The Monroe County Commissioners held a work session on July 9th. County officials say the jail has reached a crisis point – from overcrowding, extreme heat and deteriorating conditions. Sheriff Ruben Marté says transporting inmates is becoming unavoidable.

“We have to be able to provide a constitutional jail. That is my responsibility, and we are at a point now that is very challenging for us to do that,” said Marté.

Jail Commander Kyle Gibbons maintains they’re struggling to keep inmates cool, fearing the overheating issue may lead to a crisis.

“We can’t even lock inmates inside their cell because it’s it’s 85, 90 degrees inside those cells. It’s 75 to 84 degrees inside the block, depending on the day,” said Gibbons.

Parker says inmate grievances are building toward litigation, making the situation even more dire.

“We’re not just living on borrowed time,” said Parker. “This litigation is coming our way…we are in an imminent situation.”

Gibbons brought up the politics of the new jail. However, in his view – the conditions of the current jail are being left out of the conversation.

“People have talked about what’s going to happen, and not a lot of people are talking about what’s happening, and we refuse to look past the needs of the people inside of that facility,” said Gibbons.

The commissioners approved a resolution by a 2-0 vote declaring an emergency at the county jail. This resolution allows county officials to begin the process of transferring inmates to neighboring jails.

New potential jail locations reviewed by Collaborative Justice Project

By Claire Zeyen

The Collaborative Justice Project Working Subcommittee met on July 9th to discuss the evaluation of five potential jail sites.

The options under consideration include renovating the current jail in combination with the Curry Building; building on a property north of Tapp Road near I-69 at Wapehani Road and Weimer Road; building on a property south of Tapp Road near I-69 and West Tapp Road; building on the Thomson property at 1620 South Rogers Street; and building on the Fullerton Pike property near State Road 37.

Discussion centered on factors including floodways, single- versus multi-story construction, and each site’s proximity to transportation and community services.

Mayor Kerry Thomson suggested the committee focus on treating all five locations as viable options.

“I think they’re all still viable, and I would suggest that we have a conversation about at least how we’re going to prioritize them and and lenses with which we’re we’re looking,” said Thomson.

Before opening the floor to public comment, committee members agreed on a voting process that will require rankings and written explanations for all five proposed sites.

During public comment, Seth Mutchler with Care Not Cages urged the committee to support the group’s preferred location.

“I would ask you all to vote in favor of renovation of the existing Zietlow building with the possible addition of the Curry and Fiscus building,” said Mutchler.

Monroe County Commissioner Jody Madeira then spoke emphasizing the significance of the decision.

“The question isn’t simply where to build or how cheaply it can be built or how quickly square footage can be stacked. It’s what kind of jail we’re willing to build. Monroe County can’t afford to reproduce the failures of the past,” said Madeira.

UPDATE: The committee met earlier today at noon in the Nat U. Hill Meeting Room at the Monroe County Courthouse. Committee members decided to recommend renovating the current facility and expanding services at the Curry building. You can find that meeting on CATS by tapping THIS LINK.

WFHB News will have more coverage of that meeting later this week on the local news.

Featured Segments:

Up next, WFHB Correspondent Max Schneider brings you a brief rundown on Indiana news and politics in today’s edition of the Statehouse Roundup. We turn to Schneider for more.

On July 1st, the Indiana Statehouse implemented 17 new laws to the Indiana Code. In an interview with State Representative Matt Pierce, Correspondent Jorge Casillas questions Pierce over the motivation, implementation and the effect of House Enrolled Act 1343. That new law authorizes the Indiana National Guard to establish a specialized military police force empowered to carry out law enforcement duties while on state active duty. An interview with Matt Pierce coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.

Hoosier Hills Food Bank serves six counties across southern Indiana, working with local agencies to make sure neighbors don·t have to choose between groceries, utilities, or medicine. Associate Director and Chief Administrative Officer Jake Bruner says they distribute between five and seven million pounds of food each year, with at least a quarter of that being fresh produce. Jake is calling on you to help take the hunger out of poverty on a new episode of Activate!, coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.

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