This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, October 8th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, Bloomington police arrested a 26-year-old man in connection with a recent murder at the intersection of West Howe Street and Morton Street. More in today’s headlines:

Also coming up in the next half hour, “Don’t Drop Till You Shop” on Better Beware – your weekly-consumer watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News. More following today’s feature.

Bloomington Police Charge 26-Year-Old for Recent Murder

The Bloomington Bloomington Police Department arrested Stephen Dixon II, a 26-year-old man, for the fatal shooting of a 29-year-old man following a dispute. The shooting occurred at the intersection of West Howe Street and Morton Street on September 26th.

The victim was a 29-year-old man named Shawn Sullivan. The police report described him as transient, and said that he died from a gunshot wound to the upper torso.

According to the police report, witnesses said Sullivan threw a bicycle at a dark colored car, in response to the car speeding past them. A man, now presumed to be Dixon, exited the car and shot Sullivan.

Officers say Dixon was arrested and taken into custody without incident. He was found with a loaded 9 mm handgun. Kaila Simms, a 30-year-old was also arrested and listed as an accomplice.

Mayor Kerry Thomson says that the suspect has been booked into the Monroe County Jail and is facing several felony charges. The mayor took to her social media to address the recent arrest.

Charges for Dixon include murder, unlawful carrying of a handgun and criminal recklessness. Charges brought against Simms include neglect of a dependent.

Surveillance footage linked a dark-colored Volkswagen Passat to both the homicide and an earlier shooting that took place on September 22nd.

Police say that tips from the public led to the arrest of Dixon and Simms. It’s important to note that the charges are accusations and both suspects are innocent until proven guilty.

Ellettsville Plan Commission Approves Voluntary Annexation Request

The Ellettsville Plan Commission met on October 2nd. The commission heard a petition for voluntary annexation of three parcels of land. Town Planner Denise Line presented the annexation case on behalf of petitioners Michael and Megan Ripley.

Plan Commissioner David Drake clarified that this is for annexing the property from the county into the town limits.

Community Member Jim Perry asked for clarification on the zoning designation. Line responded saying that Monroe County and the Town of Ellettsville classify zoning terms differently.

Local Resident Richard Dillman asked about who will maintain McNeely Street, the town’s plans for future annexation and how this would impact the tax rate for the property.

The plan commission approved the voluntary annexation by a unanimous vote. The next meeting of the Ellettsville Plan Commission will take place on November 6th.

Monroe County Commissioners Approve Environmental Contracts, Convention Center Agreement

The Monroe County Commissioners met on Thursday October 2nd . The meeting started with department updates, including information that COVID-19 is currently trending down locally. Dr. John Baeten spoke to the commissioners about the Indiana Geographic Information Sowing Enriched and Enhanced Data Sets Grant.

Baeten has been awarded the funds for the grant already and received approval from the commissioners unanimously. Commissioner Jody Madeira moved to approve the Convention Center Management Agreement.

The commissioners approved the agreement unanimously.

The board then heard two agreements with VET Environmental Engineering. The first agenda item included a dehumidifier installation and long-term stewardship plan at the County Justice Building. The total amount of the contract was for $44,067.65.

Commissioners’ Administrator Angie Purdie presented the contract, explaining that this was in response to mold contamination at the building.

The commissioners approved the contract by a unanimous vote.

The second agreement with VET Environmental Engineering included ongoing mold inspection, targeted remediation and sampling. The contract was for about $135,000 dollars per year.

The Monroe County Board of Commissioners will meet again on Thursday, October 9th .

Feature Report:

Up next, we feature an interview with Andrew King of RecycleForce. In this feature report, you’ll hear more from Andrew and our team in a broader story piece about recycling and misconceptions surrounding it. For more, we turn to Environmental Correspondents Max Jancich and Ashton Harper. This is Part I of an ongoing interview series originally broadcast on our environmental public affairs show, Eco Report, which airs each Friday at 5 p.m.

Now it’s time for “Don’t Drop Till You Shop” on Better Beware – your weekly-consumer watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News.

Credits:

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, October 7th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, Mayor Thomson addressed the housing affordability crisis during a town hall yesterday that took place at Jackson Creek Middle School. More at the top of today’s show.

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

But first, your local headlines:

Mayor Thomson Addresses Housing Affordability Crisis At Town Hall 

On Monday, Mayor Kerry Thomson spoke with community members for a Traveling Town Hall at Jackson Creek Middle School.

The forum focused mainly on housing, a top priority of Thomson’s administration since she took office. The mayor outlined the city’s ongoing efforts to address the housing affordability crisis in addition to describing her long-term vision for the future of housing in the city. 

Mayor Thomson began with discussing the city’s response to homelessness, saying they hope to tackle the root causes, such as affordable housing and a lack of mental health treatment. She said if there’s any city that could address homelessness – Bloomington would be the place. 

“While this is not unique to Bloomington, I am firm in my belief that if there is any city in this country that can solve homelessness, it is Bloomington, Indiana,” said Thomson. “In a city as innovative and compassionate as Bloomington is that we really have an opportunity to create solutions that others have not tried.”

According to multiple data sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau and American Community Survey, Monroe County has the highest rate of cost-burden in Indiana. Housing cost-burden means that a household is spending more than 30 percent of its total income on housing costs. 

Bloomington’s 2020 Housing Survey says that over 60 percent of renters and nearly 30 percent of homeowners in the city are cost-burdened. 

During the town hall, Director of Housing and Neighborhood Development Anna Killion-Hanson outlined the city’s housing ecosystem. She says the demand for housing has outpaced our growth of housing development. 

“Unfortunately, right now, Bloomington is the most housing cost burden metro area in the state, high cost, low wage,” said Killion-Hanson.

Killion-Hanson explained the city’s focus on revising the Unified Development Ordinance, adding affordable housing units in the Hopewell neighborhood and implementing multifaceted strategies to promote diverse, attainable housing. 

“We need to make it easier to build more types of housing in more places for more people, without compromising the unique neighborhood character,” she said.”

The mayor says the city needs to rethink the geography of the housing market. She described her vision for the future of College Mall and the East Side of the city. Thomson hopes to redevelop the East Side into a mixed-use area for housing. 

“I’ll tell you one of my ultimate visions for Bloomington is that we stop thinking in this way if we only have one downtown,” said Thomson. “So my ultimate vision for College Mall would be that it becomes vibrant again.”

Thomson closed the hour-long session by inviting residents to share input on housing initiatives through the city’s website and future town halls. The city will host a presentation on the Hopewell redevelopment at 3:30 p.m. on October 20th at City Hall.

Monroe County Election Board Discusses Early Voting Site and Polling Accessibility

The Monroe County Election Board met on Thursday, October 2nd. The meeting began with a brief citizenship update, followed by Election Supervisor Kylie Farris speaking on the voter list maintenance in Monroe County.

She followed by addressing concerns regarding the new early voting location.

They discussed having a backup location in case construction is not finished in time for early voting. Fleet and Facilities Director, Richard Crider, will be invited to the next Election Board meeting to help the board further discuss the facility opportunities. She then shared that she created a list of the elected officials that members of the public can easily access.

The Election Board then discussed creating an easily accessible map of the districts for citizens. Clerk Nicole Browne briefly touched on a concern that there will be redistricting ahead 2026.

Clerk Browne also continued the conversation about how to make polling more accessible in Monroe County.

Special Projects Coordinator, Michael Shermis from the City of Bloomington Council for Community Accessibility answered questions regarding this, as he was the one that presented the new program demo to the board.

The next Monroe County Election Board meeting will be held on November 6th.

Featured Segments:

The folks at Stages Bloomington take the old movie line, “Hey kids, let’s put on a show,” seriously. Stages is a local nonprofit that specializes in bringing young people – elementary and high school aged – into the theater. Annalise Cain has been hired as the organization’s teen programming coordinator. Cain, a former theater kid herself, works hand-in-hand with teens to develop and refine theatrical productions. Last weekend, stages presented a new musical workshop presentation, “Nevere’s Love Potion.” In today’s feature report, we feature an excerpt from our public affairs program, Big Talk, with host Michael Glab speaking with Annalise Cain. The full interview can be found on our website at wfhb.org.

Up next – we have Lil Bub’s Lil Show, a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. That segment is coming up next on the WFHB Local News.

Credits:

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, October 6th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, Bloomington police arrested a third person in connection with the recent attack outside Upstairs Pub on a man experiencing homelessness.

You’ll also hear from Mena Morcos from IU Dance Marathon, kicking off their 2025 fundraising for Riley Children’s Hospital this Thursday on the Bloomington campus. We’ll have the details later in the show on a new episode of Activate!

Third Arrest Made in Recent Altercation Outside Upstairs Pub

A third arrest was made in the recent attack on 60-year-old Robert Ballard outside of Upstairs Pub. Bloomington police arrested a 16-year-old in connection to the assault.

According to Bloomingtonian reporting, two men were previously taken into custody. “Avery Williams, 25, of Bloomington, and Khalil Morris, 21, of Bloomington. After interviews, both men were arrested and booked into the Monroe County Jail on charges of battery resulting in serious bodily injury, a Level 5 felony.”

Last week, WFHB News featured an interview with the man known as “Bobby” who was assaulted. The interview comes from the Bloomingtonian. Bobby described what happened.

Following the incident, we interviewed Rev. Forest Gilmore, executive director of the anti-poverty organization Beacon Inc. Gilmore described the incident as “horrifying.” Gilmore says he believes that violence inflicted on the unhoused community relates to dehumanizing and harmful rhetoric surrounding homelessness.

Rev. Gilmore says that at the end of the day – the way to push back against this kind of hate-filled rhetoric is to treat people with humanity. Also, he said we need to create a system to care and support people experiencing homelessness.

Police have still not made an arrest related to a murder that happened on the same night at near the intersection of West Howe and South Morton.

The Bloomington City Council met on Tuesday, September 30th. The meeting began with council Member Kate Rosenbarger expressing grief for the recent attacks in Bloomington, including the murder of Shawn Sullivan and the assault of Robert Ballard.

Rosenbarger stated that there is a Go Fund Me for both parties that can be found on the Bloomingtonian website.

Council Member Isabel Piedmont-Smith also commented on the violence this weekend, stating that this is a nation-wide issue that should be examined thoroughly.

Next, Piedmont-Smith introduced reports from the special fiscal committee which discussed the setting of salaries for elected officials for 2026.

Council Member Courtney daily responded to the discussion saying she did not agree with increasing salaries, especially right now.

Council Member Rosenbarger expressed her wish to discuss the matter when all members are present.

Bloomington Resident Kevin Keel suggested that perhaps the council could look to the median household income for ideas on paying elected officials.

Next, Director of Economic and Sustainable Development for the city, Jane Kupersmith introduced the resolution 2025 dash 18 which would establish the geographic area surrounding Miller-Showers Park and the Indiana University Memorial Stadium as the Stadium District.

Kupersmith spoke on the issue, describing the benefits they hope it would have on local businesses in the designated area.

Council Member Rosenbarg raised the question of the name for the district, and whether the Maple Heights neighborhood needs to be included in the map.

Kupersmith stated that the Maple Heights neighborhood was not consulted, because the plan was not seen as being “harmful” for residents in the designated area.

Resident of Maple Heights neighborhood, Sarah Alexander objected to the plan, stating that it would only encourage more short-term residents to the area.

Council Member Stosberg agreed it would be in the best interest to change the map to not include Maple Heights, and recommended they postpone the consideration of the name change until the next regular session. The motion was approved.

The Bloomington City Council will meet again on October 6th to discuss the city’s 2026 budget.

Featured Segments:

Indiana University Dance Marathon is one of the biggest student philanthropy events in the United States, raising more than 56 million dollars for Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. For Mena Morcos  it’s personal – he has family who have been treated at Riley. Mena did Dance Marathon all four years of high school, and now he’s on the leadership team as a student at I-U. 2025 fundraising launches this Thursday with the annual “Day of Hope” event, then the actual Dance Marathon runs November Seventh through the Ninth. Mena has all the details on a new episode of Activate!, coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.

Up next, WFHB Sports Correspondent Chase Dodson attended the season opener for the IU Fall Softball league. Dodson spoke with parents and fans in the crowd about their expectations for this year’s team. We turn now to that report on the WFHB Local News.

Credits:

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, October 2nd, 2025.

In today’s newscast, WFHB News Correspondents Luke Janke and Catherine Terwilliger took to the streets of Bloomington to ask residents about free speech issues and the assasination of Charlie Kirk. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, Sports Correspondent Chase Dodson brings you today’s Sports News Briefing.

Featured Segments:

WFHB News Correspondent Luke Janke speaks with community members about their thoughts on free speech. Then, following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, WFHB News Correspondent Catherine Terwilliger took to the streets of Bloomington to gather community reactions to the news.

Credits:

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, October 1st, 2025.

In today’s newscast, WFHB News Correspondent Catherine Terwilliger speaks with Political Strategist Dana Black about Indiana University’s dismantling of its DEI program. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, “Tap Dancing” on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News. More following today’s feature.

Featured Segments:

At around 3:00 p.m. today, a fire broke out at First Christian Church at 205 East Kirkwood Avenue. WFHB News spoke with Interim Director of Outreach at the Church Caleb Hoagland. He explained that a fire alarm was triggered during a meeting due to a burning smell and a contractor yelling “fire.” Hoagland says he hopes there is minimal damage to the church. He offered his thanks to the Bloomington Fire Department for quickly putting out the fire. According to Hoagland, the fire department arrived quickly and extinguished the fire within minutes. Everyone evacuated safely. This is a breaking story. More details to come.

On Friday night, a 60-year-old man known as “Bobby” was assaulted near the Upstairs Pub. He was reportedly punched, knocked down, and kicked – losing several teeth. Local journalist Jeremy Hogan interviewed Bobby near the scene where he was assaulted. We turn to that interview from the Bloomingtonian on the WFHB Local News. That interview came from the Bloomingtonian. You can find further coverage on their website at bloomingtonian.com.

According to Jeremy Hogan’s reporting, two men have been arrested, “Avery Williams, 25, of Bloomington, and Khalil Morris, 21, of Bloomington. After interviews, both men were arrested and booked into the Monroe County Jail on charges of battery resulting in serious bodily injury, a Level 5 felony.”

In May of this year, Indiana University closed its office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, citing the need to ensure compliance with state and federal laws. In today’s feature report, WFHB Correspondent Catherine Terwilliger speaks with Political Strategist Dana Black about the implications of IU ending its DEI program and what this means for the future of the university. That interview is coming up next on the WFHB Local News.

Up next, WFHB Prison Affairs Correspondent Zoe Moczek reports on international prison news. In her report, Moczek looks into riots at two Ecuadorian prisons which left 31 people dead. We turn now to that report on the local news.

Credits:

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, September 30th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, WFHB interviewed attendees of this year’s Lotus Festival over the weekend. More in today’s feature report.

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

Featured Segments:

In today’s feature report, WFHB’s Youth Radio and News Department attended the 32nd annual Lotus World Music and Arts Festival over the weekend. They interview attendees, asking them about their experiences with Lotus past and present. That’s coming up next on the WFHB Local News.

Up next, WFHB Sports Correspondent Chase Dodson attended the season opener for the IU Fall Softball league. Dodson spoke with parents and fans in the crowd about their expectations for this year’s team. We turn now to that report on the WFHB Local News.

Now it’s time for Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. That segment is coming your way on the WFHB Local News.

Credits:

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, September 29th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, two violent incidents occurred involving people experiencing homelessness over the weekend. WFHB News speaks with the Executive Director of Beacon Inc. Forrest Gilmore and community members about their reactions to the incident. More in today’s feature report.

You’ll also hear Union Board VP Mickey Carrothers, calling on IU students to increase representation in Bloomington’s largest student programming organization. Hear more later in the show on a new episode of Activate!

Featured Segments:

On the same night in Bloomington, two violent incidents occurred involving people experiencing homelessness. A 29-year-old man was shot and killed near South Morton Street right off the B-line, and a 60-year-old man was assaulted outside the Upstairs Pub. Both cases remain under investigation. Earlier today, we spoke with Reverend Forrest Gilmore, executive director of the local antipoverty organization Beacon Inc., who said that people experiencing homelessness face an increased risk of violence. Gilmore emphasized the need to combat hate speech and improve support systems for the unhoused. He also criticized the tendency to blame victims and called for systemic changes to prevent further violence. Then, WFHB News went downtown to gather the community’s perspective on the incidents over the weekend. We spoke with a group of people experiencing homelessness at Peoples Park.

Union Board is the governing body of the Indiana Memorial Union, Indiana University’s student union building. But Union Board is perhaps better known for hosting concerts and other events on the Bloomington campus. Mickey Carrothers grew up in B-town, going to those events and roaming the halls of the IMU. Now as an adult he is Vice President for Relations for Union Board, and Mickey is on a mission to make UB more diverse and inclusive. He’s here to call on IU students to join Bloomington’s largest student programming organization 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, September 25th, 2025.

In today’s broadcast, WFHB News welcomes Tracey Hutchings-Goetz with Hoosier Action on the next episode of 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, your Sports News Briefing with WFHB Sports Correspondent Nate Rushemeza.

But first, your local headlines:

Monroe County Library Board of Trustees

The Monroe County Public Library Board of Trustees met on Wednesday, September 17th. Financial Officer Gary Lettelier spoke on the library’s 2026 budget, and offered insights on some of the changes.

Next, Library Director Grier Carson shared the Director’s Monthly Report.

Communications and Marketing Director Tori Lawhorn spoke on the media relations policy, and some changes that have been made with the policy, in order to keep up with modern technology changes.

Next, Children’s Services Manager Angelica Candelaria gave an update on their programming.

She shared the activities that children are able to do at the library, like summer reading and games and how they are important and beneficial to the children.

Next, the Manager of the Library’s South West Branch, Cathy Riley, gave an update to the board. One main point she touched on was that the library offers many programs for children, pre-teens and families. One being a cooking program for young children to really expand their learning and possibilities at a young age.

More information on other all-ages programs can be found at the library’s website at MCPL.info. The next Monroe County Public Library Board of Trustees meeting will take place on October 15th, 2025.

Feature Report:

In today’s feature report, we have Prescription for Healthcare, a podcast collaboration between the WFHB Local News and Medicare for All Indiana. This month, hosts Dr. Rob Stone and Karen Green Stone interviewed Tracey Hutchings-Goetz with Hoosier Action, a homegrown community organization rooted in small-town Southern Indiana, and led by their members. Hoosier Action has been a leader in advocating for the Indiana Medicaid program and supporting Hoosiers who need healthcare. We turn now to the latest edition of Prescription for Healthcare on the WFHB Local News.

Credits:

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

In today’s newscast, WFHB News Correspondent Katrine Bruner speaks with Artistic Director Tamara Lowenthal about what Lotus Festival holds in store this year. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, The Never Ending Battle” on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the local news. More following today’s feature.

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson will visit Indiana University as part of a Turning Point USA campus tour series.

Carlson will speak in place of Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist who was recently assassinated during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University.

According to Turning Point USA’s website, “Each stop is a chance to honor Charlie’s mission and keep the fight alive. We know he wouldn’t want us to surrender or be coerced into silence. Free speech is only free if we use our voices.”

Also in the news here locally, two former organizers for a Turning Point USA chapter have asked a federal court to reconsider part of their 2022 lawsuit against the City of Bloomington.

According to a lawsuit filed by IU alumni Kyle Reynolds and Tim Wheeler and the IU chapter of Turning Point USA, the plaintiffs requested an ‘All Lives Matter’ mural to be painted on Kirkwood Avenue near the Sample Gates.

A pretrial conference is scheduled in Indianapolis for Nov. 4 and a bench trial for Nov. 17, according to reporting by the IDS.

***

A free speech organization ranked Indiana University as the worst public college for freedom of speech.

The report conducted by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, or FIRE, referenced the university’s response to Palestine solidarity protests that took place in Dunn Meadow.

Earlier this month, WFHB News Correspondent Katrine Bruner spoke with IU Political Science Professor Jeff Isaac who gave his reaction to the news.

On September 15th, WFHB News Correspondent Max Schneider interviewed IU Professor Benjamin Robinson who the university placed sanctions on 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. Here’s what Robinson had to say about the recent free speech ranking.

Richland-Bean Blossom School Board Highlights Student Leadership Program, Approves Textbook and Facility Upgrades

The Richland Bean Blossom School Board met on Tuesday, September 16th.

Edgewood Junior High School Counselor Callie Shlemmer introduced the Lead and Learn program, which began last year. The program works with high school students to lead a panel discussion for junior high students. Then both the high school and junior high students then attend a panel from professionals. One Student, Naveah Scott, expressed her gratitude for the program in giving her more confidence in her future.

Director of the Bloomington Success School, Christopher Emge explained that the program seems to result in more engaged students.

The program will be hosting more panels in the future, which will cover topics like nutrition and culinary arts, business and marketing, agriculture, engineering and the trades.

Later in the meeting board members approved a two day training workshop for the school’s mental health team members. The training would take place over zoom, and offer follow up consultation if they have any questions.

Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Barrett explained more about the training.

Next, Barrett requested $92,369 for a new online textbook, called Inspire Science. The textbook would be adopted over the next six years, and would be paid over three years.

Superintendent Sanders recommended the replacement of the bleachers at the junior high school. The Board approved the replacement, and the bleachers are now set to be replaced in February of 2026.

Sanders reminded the public that the Edgewood schools’ showcase is on October 23rd. The show focuses on the new early childhood center.

Members of the School Board’s Leadership team gave updates on the Teacher Appreciation Grant, otherwise known as TAG. The grant is now limiting awards to no more than 20 percent of certified teachers in a district. As a result, the Indiana State Teachers Association, or ISTA, is opposed to accepting the money. Co-President of the leadership team, Ty McGinnis explained the reasoning behind this decision.

The meeting ended with board members, including Vice President Jimmie Durnil, expressing their appreciation, commending the students and their leadership.

President Dana Kerr ended the meeting by thanking Legal Accountant Christie Bartlett and the Community Access Television Services.

The Richland Bean Blossom School Board will meet again in October.

Feature Report:

The 2025 Lotus Festival will take place tomorrow and will continue through the weekend. WFHB News Correspondent Katrine Bruner speaks with Artistic Director Tamara Lowenthal about what the festival entails this year. Lowenthal says that Lotus fosters a sense of belonging and promotes cultural understanding. For more, we turn to Katrine Bruner.

Credits:

You’re listening to WFHB Rewind, where we bring you highlights from the week – and sometimes hidden gems you might have missed.

Stay with us for a blend of thoughtful storytelling, vibrant interviews, and the unexpected moments that bring our airwaves to life. This is WFHB Rewind.

Featured Segments:

On Wednesday, June 18th, 2025, we welcomed Chicago based cosmic country band, Tobacco City. Music Director and Host, Abby Noroozi chatted with Chris Coleslaw and Lexi Goddard about their new stunner of an album, Horses. They also chatted about influences, touring, Jason Molina, and the best part about being a band from Chicago. This was such a fun session that was followed by a big storm and downpour that cleared up just before their show at Orbit Room. Don’t sleep on Tobacco City!

In celebration of this weekend’s Lotus Festival, we’re going back 30 years to revisit selections from WFHB’s 1995 Lotus Live sessions. First, we’ll hear music director Jim Manion talk with Shahryar Saba of Ensemble Saba. Next, Diane Jarvi plays a Finnish folk song in the studios with programmer John Westhues. Finally, Ndhiko and Nomusa Xaba give us poetry and flute. All of these sessions were recorded on cassette and are stored in the WFHB archives.

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 Rewind.

Up next, we have Show Rats from WFHB’s Youth Radio. In this episode of ShowRats, host Ollie interviews Chicago-based musician Ben Astrachan. Ben shares his journey from the East Coast to Chicago, his passion for music and the arts, and his experiences balancing a career in behavioral health with his musical ambitions. The conversation covers Ben’s songwriting process, musical influences ranging from Jesus Christ Superstar to Pink Floyd, and his upcoming album “Signs.” Ben offers advice to Ollie and other aspiring musicians to consume as much music and poetry as possible, develop a consistent writing practice, and attend shows to build community and support other musicians.

WFHB Afternoon Music Mix DJ Cindy Beaulé speaks with Tamara Lowenthal, artistic director of the Lotus Education & Arts Foundation, about the upcoming Lotus Festival which starts tomorrow and continues through the weekend. That interview from yesterday’s Afternoon Music Mix is coming up next on WFHB Rewind.

Credits:

Produced by WFHB News, Music and Youth Radio departments.