This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, May 19th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, WFHB News took to the streets of Bloomington to ask residents about what their summer is looking like now that many of the students are gone. More in today’s feature report.

You’ll also hear violin professor Ingrid Matthews on the loss of a specialized classical music degree program at IU. Learn more about how new state law is reducing the range of diplomas offered later in the show in a feature report.

Monroe County Council Delays Vote on North Park Jail Site

By Claire Zeyen

The Monroe County Council met May 12th, with most of the meeting focused on debate over the proposed new county jail and justice center at the North Park site.

County commissioners brought the North Park proposal back before the council for a first reading, with the final vote delayed until the next council meeting.

During discussion Sheriff Ruben Marté stressed the urgency of moving forward.

“Every minute, every day, every hour, there are people in that facility that not everybody in this room sees, except for me and my staff,” said Marté. “I’m telling you, it’s getting worse.”

Councilmember Marty Hawk argued the county should not rush into a location decision without considering how the site affects the community it serves.

“I understand that takes a while, but anywhere you go, you’re not going to have a new jail to go to tomorrow. So, we’ve got to figure out what’s not just best for the jail and how that’s going to operate, but for the community at large,” said Hawk.

As discussion continued, council members questioned commissioners about long-term planning, public transparency, and whether the county is moving too quickly because of pressure tied to the ACLU lawsuit. County Commissioner Julie Thomas argued county leaders are balancing both financial concerns and legal deadlines.

“It makes my eyes water to think about how much money this is, and that’s a huge commitment. And I get this is a big decision, probably the biggest you’ll make as a council member,” said Thomas.

Councilmember David Henry later questioned how future decisions about co-location, treatment facilities and jail services would be made moving forward.

“I just want to know how we decide when something is proposed, why it gets jettisoned, or why we’re keeping it, and how to do that publicly,” said Henry.

Henry pushed for more public acknowledgment and transparency in how those decisions are being made and raised questions about the appraisal and value of the North Park property. Commissioner Jody Madeira asserted the valuation is fair.

“By any major, Bloomington property values have appreciated far more than 46 percent. So let’s by all means get another appraisal,” said Madeira.

Public comment began shortly after the two-hour mark. One speaker argued the Thomson property is a better choice.

“The Thompson site is already in county hands. Using our local income tax and economic development income tax reserves to fund the cleanup of the debris pile is a far more efficient use of taxpayer dollars than the $50 million budget gap currently stalling the North Park plan,” said the public commenter.

Another resident questioned the cost of the North Park property.

“Why were Allen County, Marion County, and Vigo County able to acquire land for jail or justice center projects at roughly $30,000 to $45,000 per acre, while Monroe County is being asked to pay approximately $219,000 per acre?”

Later in the meeting, another commenter warned North Park could be too valuable for long-term economic development to become a jail site.

“I worry that we may be unintentionally conflating two separate ideas, the urgency to act and the urgency to permanently commit North Park. They’re just not necessarily the same thing,” said the commenter.

Near the end of the meeting, council members debated whether to vote that night or wait until all council members could be present for a final decision. A motion to approve the North Park purchase failed in a 1-5 vote, with Councilmember Peter Iverson casting the lone vote in favor.

The Monroe County Council will cast its final vote on the second reading of the North Park proposal at its next meeting on May 26th.

Featured Segments:

“Townie summer” is officially upon us. As many of the students at Indiana University have left for the summer, the city settles into a different rhythm. In today’s feature report, WFHB News Correspondents Jorge Casillas and Aidan Verde took to the streets of Bloomington to ask residents and students about summer in the city. That’s coming up next on the WFHB Local News.

A new state law requiring all college degree programs to have minimum numbers of graduates is reducing the range of degrees offered at Indiana University. The Bloomington campus is seeing the largest number of program cuts. One of those affected is the Jacobs School of Music Historical Performance Institute, where all standalone degree programs have been eliminated. Correspondent Theo Hawkins has that story in a feature report produced in partnership with The Media School at Indiana University.

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This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, May 18th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, you’ll hear Leslie Cook, coach of the girls lacrosse team in Bloomington. Girls lacrosse is now recognized as an emerging sport, paving the way for officially sanctioned high school lacrosse games. Hear more later in the show in a feature report.

You’ll also hear Walt Johnson from the Lake Monroe Sailing Association, with a story about how their summer sailing camp changed a young boy’s life. Learn more later in the show on a new episode of Activate!

Featured Segments:

Up next, we have the latest edition of B Square Bites – a collaboration between the B Square Bulletin and WFHB. This next edition is titled “One-third of provisional ballots from May 5 primary election count in Monroe County.” That’s coming up next on WFHB.

On Friday, the local advocacy group Bloomington Homes for All held a block party and fundraiser aimed at keeping Seminary Pointe apartments affordable housing. The Monroe County Capital Improvement Board wants to build a host hotel for the new convention center on the College Square property. The CIB proposed a land swap with the city’s redevelopment commission to trade Seminary Pointe for the College Square property. While the RDC rejected that proposal, Homes for All still supports that land swap. WFHB News spoke with musician and organizer Gwyn Zimmer who says Bloomington needs to preserve the 29-units of affordable housing currently at Seminary Pointe.

Women’s lacrosse will make its historic debut at the Olympic Games in 2028. Girls lacrosse is surging in popularity in the Hoosier state, with the Indiana High School Athletic Association recently upgrading it to a so-called “emerging sport,” paving the way for officially sanctioned high school lacrosse games. Here in B-town a team called Bloomington Pride is ready for their chance to shine. Correspondent Camryn Guilfoy has that story in a feature report produced in partnership with The Media School at Indiana University.

The Lake Monroe Sailing Association ain’t a yacht club. This local marina operates as a nonprofit in a unique partnership with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to promote environmentally responsible sailing – it’s the first facility in this area to be designated as an official “Indiana Clean Marina.” LMSA also hosts maritime education programs, with adult classes and youth sailing camps through Bloomington Parks and Recreation. Lake Monroe Sailing Association manager Walt Johnson says that’s his favorite part – even though sailing is fun, the kids are actually learning useful life lessons. Find out how on a new episode of Activate!, coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.

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This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, May 14th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, medical school student Ethan Fairbanks joins us on Prescription for Healthcare – a monthly podcast collaboration between WFHB and Medicare for All Indiana.

You’ll also hear from Lilly and Makayla. On Saturday they were part of IU’s largest graduating class ever. Now these graduates are wondering what comes next. Hear more later in the show in a feature report.

Featured Segments:

WFHB Correspondent Zoe Moczek reports on recent settlements in a series of lawsuits by the ACLU of Indiana against the Indiana Department of Correction. These lawsuits allege that incarcerated men at Miami Correctional Facility were subject to dangerous conditions while in solitary confinement.

On Saturday Indiana University held commencement ceremonies for more than 21,000 graduates statewide. More than 11,000 of those degrees were handed out here in Bloomington, to IUB’s largest graduating class ever. It’s a time of celebration, but some former students heading out into the real world are unsure of their next move. Correspondent Karlie Flanagan has that story in a feature report produced in partnership with The Media School at Indiana University.

And now, we have Prescription for Healthcare, a podcast collaboration between the WFHB Local News and Medicare for All Indiana. This month we interview  Ethan Fairbanks, a fourth-year medical student at Indiana University School of Medicine, soon to be Dr. Ethan Fairbanks as of May 15th this year when he graduates. He will be leaving Bloomington for Grand Rapids, Michigan for his residency program at Michigan State University in internal medicine. Ethan is the current president of Students for a National Health Program in Indiana, SNaHP, the student organization of Physicians for a National Health Program, PNHP. That interview is coming up next on the WFHB Local News.

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This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, May 13th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, you’ll hear Alec McLaren, host of Bloomington’s Tiny Garage concert series. Go on-location with us to one of B-town’s hottest new house show venues later in the show in a feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, WFHB News looks at last night’s Monroe County Council meeting where councilors delayed a vote on the new jail project.

Featured Segments:

The Monroe County Council voted not to approve the North Park property during its regular session last night. In today’s feature report, WFHB News looks at what last night’s vote means for the future of a new jail. That’s coming up next on the local news.

Pass by 2-0-8 South Hillsdale Court on the east side of Bloomington during the day and you would likely have no idea you are at one of B-town’s hottest new house show hotspots. This is the home of Tiny Garage, where Alec McLaren is building his own concert venue, and yes, it is in his tiny garage. Correspondent McKenzie Vitale has that story in a feature report produced in partnership with The Media School at Indiana University.

Up next, “Doing a Job On You” 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, May 12th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, you’ll hear Gerard Pannekoek, speaking on the big change coming to the annual Granfalloon festival this year. Get the details later in the show in a feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, the Monroe County Council is meeting right now at the county courthouse to discuss a pivotal development in the construction of a new jail.

Featured Segments:

The Monroe County Council is expected to vote tonight on a purchase agreement for the North Park property, the proposed site of a new county jail.

The expected vote marks the latest development in Monroe County’s long-running debate over the future of the jail site. County officials say the current facility is overcrowded and unconstitutional. Critics argue the county should prioritize alternatives to incarceration and reconsider plans to build a new jail at the North Park site.

WFHB News looks back at the Commissioners meeting on April 30th where board members approved a purchase agreement for the North Park property. We also look back at public comments from the City Council meeting from April 23rd where the council approved a resolution reaffirming its opposition to the North Park site for a new jail.

A big change is coming to Granfalloon this year. The annual Granfalloon festival celebrates arts, ideas, and community. For years the festival has culminated in a free concert on Kirkwood Avenue. Starting this year there are three concerts instead of one, but they are NOT free and they are NOT on Kirkwood. Correspondent Tyson Matlock has that story in a feature report produced in partnership with The Media School at Indiana University.

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This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, May 11th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, you’ll hear Bloomington astrobiologist Lisa Pratt, a former Planetary Protection Officer for NASA. Learn more about Indiana’s connections to the Artemis II moon voyage later in the show in a feature report.

You’ll also hear Lea Woodard from Hilltop Garden and Nature Center, where spring is in full bloom. Hilltop is open to the community – learn about educational opportunities and ways to volunteer later in the show on a new episode of Activate!

Bloomington City Council approves Hopewell South PUD

By Claire Zeyen

The Bloomington City Council unanimously approved a planned unit development for the Hopewell South project last Wednesday.

This comes after months of deliberation on the first phase of a project aimed at bringing more affordable housing to Bloomington.

The Hopewell project is a city-led redevelopment project that aims to transform the former IU Health Hospital into a mixed-use neighborhood. City Clerk Nicole Bolden introduced the ordinance.

“This ordinance amends the zoning of the property from residential, urban lot and residential multi family within the transform redevelopment overlay to planned unit development,” said Bolden.

Much of the discussion centered on balancing sustainability goals with long-term affordability. Councilmember Matt Flaherty said energy efficiency measures could reduce costs for future residents.

“My orientation to energy efficiency and electrification generally is about creating affordable healthy homes. Gas appliances cause childhood asthma at very high rates. They’re unhealthy for all of us. We shouldn’t want those appliances,” said Flaherty. “It lowers utility bills over time, providing dramatic return on investment, actually, even though it does increase upfront costs to a degree.”

Anna Killion-Hanson, director of Housing and Neighborhood Development, warned council members about concerns from the Bloomington Redevelopment Commission regarding rising construction costs and affordability expectations.

“We don’t have bottomless amounts of money to be able to subsidize between the cost to build,” said Killion-Hanson. “The RDC feels like they really can only commit to the 25% right now.”

Next, Council President Hopi Stosberg considered how far the city should go with permanent affordability requirements in the project.

“I also like sticking with the 50 percent,” said Stosberg. “We could amend it later if it really became impossible to practically do that.”

The next Bloomington City Council meeting is scheduled for May 20th.

Featured Segments:

Bloomington consistently ranks as one of the most expensive cities to live in Indiana. In today’s feature report, WFHB News Correspondents Kam Shaw and Elyse Perry took to the streets of Bloomington to ask residents about affordability. That’s coming up next on the WFHB Local News.

Last month Artemis II completed a 10-day voyage around the Moon, setting a record for the greatest distance humans have traveled in space. Indiana played a part, with Hoosiers filling more than a thousand NASA jobs with $200 million in economic impact. Eighteen Indiana suppliers contributed to the Artemis program. Indianapolis company Major Tool & Machine did the friction welding on the rocket engines. Here in Bloomington, Dr. Lisa Pratt is a former Planetary Protection Officer for NASA. Space travel fascinates the imagination, but Pratt says it also impacts life on Earth in practical ways that you may not think of. Technologies built for orbit find their way into our everyday lives. Water filters, cordless power tools, and even some lifesaving medical devices started in the space program. Correspondent Ben Sharpe has that story in a feature report produced in partnership with The Media School at Indiana University.

Spring is in full bloom at Hilltop Garden and Nature Center. Hilltop is part of Indiana University, but it’s not connected to a specific academic unit and it’s not just for IU students. Hilltop is focused on gardening education, and their work extends into our local school system. Manager Lea Woodard says Hilltop distributes seed kits to local schools, and she’s really excited about their Junior Master Gardener program that gives local preteens their own garden plot at Hilltop. There are also gardening classes for adults and plenty of opportunities to volunteer. Woodard speaks to the joy and sense of accomplishment that gardening can bring on a new episode of Activate!, coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.

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In today’s feature report, WFHB News speaks with Julia Vaughn, executive director of Common Cause Indiana, who provides analysis of Primary Election Day. Vaughn noted increased turnout in some areas but overall low participation. She says Indiana saw significant spending by dark money organizations against Republican senators who opposed Trump, totaling $13.5 million. For a breakdown of what this means for Indiana voters, we turn to News Director Kade Young. 

Grief and healing are important themes in her work. When Katina Bitsicas’s father was dying of cancer, she recorded his feelings and impressions. Then after he died, she created a liquid light image of the type of cancer cells that ran through his body. Bitsicas also has compiled a book, Luci: The Girl with Four Hearts, about a young woman who underwent three separate heart transplants by the age of 32. Bitsicas is an associate professor in IU’s Media School.

Hosts Michael Glab and Tristra Newyear chat with Bloomington’s most fascinating people.

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, May 7th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, Julia Vaughn executive director of Common Cause Indiana, discusses the impact of President Trump on Indiana’s statewide races during Tuesday’s primaries. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, the Bloomington City Council unanimously approved a planned unit development for the Hopewell South project during its meeting last night.

Hopewell South PUD wins unanimous OK from Bloomington city council

By Dave Askins

Bloomington’s plan to turn the former IU Health hospital site at 2nd and Rogers streets into a new neighborhood finally passed a big milestone Wednesday night (May 6). The city council approved the Hopewell South planned unit development (PUD).

The decision came after a couple of months of granular debate over several issues, including what “permanent affordability” should mean for the 6-acre development, south of 1st Street. The council adopted the new zoning in the PUD on a 9–0 vote, but only after just a 6–3 majority settled on a new affordability condition.

The real estate is owned by Bloomington’s redevelopment commission (RDC). That means Hopewell South, and eventually the rest of the Hopewell development, is seen as a chance to set a high affordability standard for development in the rest of the city.

The PUD rezone was meant to allow up to 98 homes, most of them single-family dwellings, which is more than the 28 that the city’s zoning consultant said could be constructed by satisfying only objective criteria without any additional discretionary approvals.

The new affordability condition sets a floor of 35% permanently affordable units in the first phase, with an explicit goal of reaching 50%.

Only after Section 4 of the condition was struck was Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson’s administration agreeable to the condition’s approval. Section 4 said the administration would have to bring a detailed permanent-affordability enforcement and monitoring plan to the city council for approval, before any new affordability instrument is recorded or any dwelling unit in the PUD is sold.

Anna Killion-Hanson, who is Bloomington’s housing and neighborhood development (HAND) director, and the executive director of Bloomington’s RDC warned that locking in a hard 50% requirement now, before infrastructure and construction costs are fully known, could jeopardize the project’s feasibility.

Under the council’s condition, at least 35% of the roughly 98 dwellings planned for Hopewell South have to be kept permanently affordable. Within that set, at least 15% of all units have to be affordable to households earning at or below 90% of area median income (AMI), and at least 20% must be affordable to households at or below 120% of AMI.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Thomson took a turn at the public mic to respond to complaints about the amount of information and the lack of specificity in the plan for ensuring permanent affordability: “So I hear that you’re frustrated, and that the bulk of information that has been passed along may not be understood. But there has been quite extensive documentation.”

In her remarks at the meeting, Killion‑Hanson indicated her commitment to ensuring affordability of housing:

“I know what the goal is, and it’s admirable, and it’s the mission that I live every single day here, while I work for this community, to deliver affordable housing, and to think otherwise is really offensive, to be perfectly honest with you,” said Killion-Hanson.

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.

Bloomington RDC discusses potential land swap with Seminary Pointe and College Square properties

By Claire Zeyen

The Bloomington Redevelopment Commission met on May 4. The commission opened public comment concerning a potential land swap related to Seminary Pointe and College Square.

A resident, affiliated with Homes for All, spoke on the power the RDC has to support a land transfer intended to preserve affordable housing.

“We interpret this Indiana code as a means of encouragement to redevelopment commissions to find properties well suited for affordable housing projects, projects just like Seminary Pointe, a property where super affordable apartments already exist.”

RDC member Randy Cassady concluded the discussion by acknowledging that the property remains under CIB ownership and suggested tenants work with the board to pursue lease extensions while negotiations continue.

The next Bloomington RDC meeting is scheduled for May 18th.

Featured Segments:

In today’s feature report, WFHB News speaks with Julia Vaughn, executive director of Common Cause Indiana, who provides analysis of Primary Election Day. Vaughn noted increased turnout in some areas but overall low participation. She says Indiana saw significant spending by dark money organizations against Republican senators who opposed Trump, totaling $13.5 million. For a breakdown of what this means for Indiana voters, we turn to News Director Kade Young.

And 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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WFHB News speaks with Trent Deckard, who won the County Commissioners race during last night’s primary election. Deckard’s campaign used the phrase “community of care” and focused on fostering collaboration and bridging divides. Deckard discusses what that community of care looks like in practice, how he plans to address affordable housing issues and how he intends to work with the county commissioners on the divisive new jail project.