WFHB Local News WFHB Local News

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, May 16th, 2024.

Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Zyro Roze speaks with Michelle Higgs, who is running as a Democrat for Indiana House District 60. More in the top half of our program.



Also coming up in the next half hour, WFHB Correspondent Brookelyn Lambright brings to us another segment of History Unbound. That’s coming up in the second half of tonight’s newscast.

Feature Reports:





In today’s feature report, WFHB Correspondent Zyro Roze speaks with Michelle Higgs, who is running as a Democrat for Indiana House District 60. We turn now to Zyro Roze for Part Two of that interview on the WFHB Local News.





Up next, WFHB Correspondent Brookelyn Lambright brings to us another segment of History Unbound. In today’s report, Lambright traces the origins of whiteness in America, beginning with Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676. She, along with scholar Micol Siegel, argue that whiteness, the ideology, has a starting place in time. Lambright tracks whiteness through time taking us to the present with the election of Donald Trump and the building of prisons in Appalachia. Lambright argues that whiteness not only hurts people of color, but it also hurts the people we might think benefit from the privileges associated with whiteness: lower-class white folks. We now turn to Part Two of the May edition of History Unbound on the WFHB Local News.

Credits:

You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,

Our features were produced by Zyro Roze and Brookelyn Lambright.

Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.

Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.

This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, May 15th, 2024.

In today’s feature report, the producers of Kite Line interviewed two professors at Indiana University who gave their reaction to the student Palestine solidarity protests in Dunn Meadow. More in today’s feature report.



Also coming up in the next half hour, “The Young and the Old” on Better Beware — your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News

But first, we hear an excerpt from Kite Line:





In today’s feature report, the producers of Kite Line interviewed two professors at Indiana University who discussed the student Palestine solidarity protests in Dunn Meadow. Kite Line airs each Friday at 5:30 pm on WFHB. We turn now to that interview on the WFHB Local News.







To hear the full episode of Kite Line, click here.





Up next, “The Young and the Old” on Better Beware — your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News. For more, we turn to host and producer Richard Fish.

Credits:

You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,

Our feature was produced by Mia Beach and Hugh Farrell.

Better Beware is produced by Richard Fish.

Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.

Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, May 14th, 2024.

In today’s feature report, WFHB Correspondent Zyro Roze speaks with Michelle Higgs, who is running as a Democrat for Indiana House District 60. More in today’s feature report.



Up next, Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between the WFHB Local News and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. We turn now to that segment.

But first, your local headlines:

Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission





The Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission met on May 9th. They discussed multiple demolition delays. The petitioner, Sable Beyers, requested full demolition approval on five properties located on East 7th Street and North Jefferson Street.



Historic Preservation Program Manager Noah Sandweiss gave background information on the historic nature of the properties.



Sandweiss said he received phone calls from neighbors about the potential demolition.



Commissioner Daniel Schlegel asked if the houses were in the Historic Green Acres district. Sandweiss responded.



Schlegel remarked that the demolition of the house at 324 North Jefferson Street would give him heartburn since he could tell it had been lovingly restored.



Commissioner Elizabeth Mitchell said that she would not like them to be demolished. Commissioner John Saunders replied that they could forward a recommendation to the city council to designate the area as a historic district.



Commissioner Bill Fulk said that although it would be sad to see them demolished, they are in an area that has been zoned for multi-family housing.



The petitioner Beyers Realty staff shared the purpose behind the demolition requests.



Legal Margie Rice suggested the city council could deliberate this in a work session.



Commissioner Member Sam Desollar recommended tabling the decision to have time to listen to public feedback on the potential demolitions.



Fulk said he would support a motion to table, and shared some final thoughts on the property.



The commission voted to table the vote on the demolition requests until their next meeting on May 23rd.

Bloomington Board of Public Works





The Board of Public Works met this Monday, May 6th.



During their meeting, Engineering Field Specialist Alex Gray shared the request from A-E-G to re-issue closure permits on South Maxwell Street and North Williams Street.



Board Member James Roach asked if she could explain what the installation is for. Gray responded.



The board voted unanimously to approve the closure permits request.



Later in the meeting, board members listened to a proposal for a new credit card processor at all city parking garages.



Parking Garages Parking Manager Jess Goodman spoke to the change in systems.



They said the new processor, Windcave, is necessary to be Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard.



The board approved the agreement with WindCave.



The next Bloomington Board of Public Works meeting will be held on May 21st.

Feature Report:





In today’s feature report, WFHB Correspondent Zyro Roze speaks with Michelle Higgs, who is running as a Democrat for Indiana House District 60. We turn now to Zyro Roze for that interview on the WFHB Local News.







Up next, Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between the WFHB Local News and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. We turn now to that segment.

Credits:

You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,

Today’s headlines were written by Kate Chmielewski and Noelle Herhusk...

This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, May 13th, 2024.

In today’s feature report, local journalist Dave Askins of the B Square Bulletin reads an item from his weekly newsletter for the WFHB Local News. More in today’s feature report.



That's Sandra Freund, director of the Sing For Joy community choir. Sandra just won a Be More award from the Bloomington Volunteer Network for running Bloomington's most inclusive performance group. Hear more later in the show on a new episode of Activate!

But first, your daily headlines:

Bloomington City Council





The City of Bloomington Common Council met this Wednesday, May 8th. During their meeting, the council members heard ordinance 2024-10 amending ordinance 23-25. City Clerk Nicole Browne elaborated on what the legislation entails.



Human Resources Director Sharr Pechac broke down the details of the policy saying it would add a position in the department of public works and reclassify job titles within the office of the mayor and the department of public works in order to “better reflect the nature of those positions.”



City Council Member Isak Asare asked where the board of public works deficit came from. Pechac responded.



Arare then questioned whether the office of the mayor is reclassifying currently filled positions. Pechac confirmed that adjustments are being made to change positions that more appropriately align with the needs of the office of the mayor.



Asare asked a final follow up question regarding the city’s policy when it comes to reclassifying job positions. Pechac said that the city would work with the HR department to match job descriptions with department needs.



City Council President Isabel Piedmont-Smith inquired if the current individual would be given a priority for another position within the city of Bloomington. Pechac could not guarantee that the individual would get an opening, but that conversations would be prioritized to see if a position would align with their skillset.



The board passed the ordinance with a unanimous vote. The next Bloomington City Council will meet next on Wednesday, May 15th.



Bloomington Arts Commission





During the May 8th meeting of the Bloomington Arts Commission, Assistant Director of the Arts Holly Warren announced an upcoming arts forum at the John Waldron Arts Center, which will happen on Monday, May 13th.



Warren said there will also be a listening and a question-and-answer component of the arts forum. She explained that it continues in the tradition of Mayor Kerry Thomson’s public forums and traveling town halls.



Next, the grants subcommittee gave an update on the 2024 Arts Projects Grant, which will fund public facing arts programming in the city. Commission Member Elliot Josephine Leila Reichert walked through the findings of the subcommittee on the arts projects grant.



One commission member asked when funds will be disbursed. Warren explained the timeline for issuing funds to awarded applicants. She said she hopes funding would be distributed by mid-June, though she said she can’t make any promises.



The arts commission unanimously passed the recommended funding package. Then, Commission Member Gerard Pannekoek made note of upcoming events and important dates for the city’s arts and culture department.



The Bloomington Arts Commission will meet again on June 12th.

Feature Report:





In today’s feature report, local journalist Dave Askins of the B Square Bulletin reads an item from his weekly newsletter for the WFHB Local News. We turn to Askins for more.

This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, May 9th, 2024.

Later in the program, Prescription for Healthcare, a podcast collaboration between the WFHB Local News and Medicare for All Indiana.



This month we interviewed Dr. Matt Hoffman of Alina Health in Minnesota and Marisa Powell, lead organizer for Doctors Council, SEIU, the Service Employees International Union.

But first, your local headlines:

Ellettsville Plan Commission





Photo courtesy of Elletsville.



At the Ellettsville Plan Commission meeting on May 2nd, Planning Director Denise Line gave the Planning Department update. She shared that they have tentatively scheduled a Unified Development Ordinance Open House for the 30th of May.



President of the commission David Drake asked if the Plan commission reviews the U-D-O during the open house. Line responded that it is a time for the public to give their input.



Line said she plans to have the U-D-O draft ready by the commission meeting in July.



The next Ellettsville Plan Commission meeting will be held on June 6th.



Monroe County Commissioners' Jail Feasibility Study





Photo by Benedict Jones.



On April 29th, the Monroe County Commissioners held a public hearing about the Jail Feasibility Study, also referred to as the Justice Study. According to a release sent out by the commissioners, the purpose of the hearing was to provide a “feasibility study of possible alternatives to the construction or reconstruction of the county jail." The public hearing coincided with the release of the



Monroe County Justice Study conducted by the R-Q-A-W Corporation, a consultant based out of Fishers, Indiana.



Project Manager Sanjay Patel introduced the staff working on the study and their roles.



The Monroe County Justice Study can be found online on the county’s website by going to their document center and searching Justice Study.

Feature Reports:





Up next, Prescription for Healthcare, a podcast collaboration between the WFHB Local News and Medicare for All Indiana, broadcasting the second Thursday of every month as part of the Local News.



This month we interviewed Dr. Matt Hoffman of Alina Health in Minnesota and Marisa Powell, lead organizer for Doctors Council, SEIU, the Service Employees International Union. Dr Hoffman, a family practitioner, was one of the leaders of the campaign that unionized more than 550 primary and urgent care physicians who work for Alina Hospitals and Clinics in Minnesota and Wisconsin.



We turn now to the latest edition of Prescription for Healthcare on the WFHB Local News.



In today’s feature report, WFHB Correspondent Kelsey Pease interviewed executive director and a volunteer from People and Animal Learning Services about the nonprofit's mission to preserve the beneficial connection between humans and horses.



Up next, WFHB Correspondent Kelsey Pease interviewed executive director and a volunteer from People and Animal Learning Services about the nonprofit's mission to preserve the beneficial connection between humans and horses.



Credits:

You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,

Today’s headlines were written by Kade Young and Noelle Herhusky-Schneider, in partnership with Cats - Community Access Television Services.

Our features were produced by Dr. Rob Stone, Karen Green Stone and Kelsey Pease.

Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.

Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.

This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, May 7th, 2024.

Later in the program, WFHB News delivers a Primary Election Day Special speaking with voters, poll workers and Monroe County Election Supervisor Kylie Moreland. 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.

But first, the Election Day Special:

WFHB News – Primary Election Day Special





A banner reads, "Vote Here Today," at 401 W 7th Street, Suite 100 (Young).



Today marks Primary Election Day in Monroe County. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.



WFHB News spoke with voters, poll workers and the county election supervisor to capture a glimpse of what Election Day looks like in Monroe County.



At 1 p.m., WFHB News Director Kade Young interviewed Monroe County Election Supervisor Kylie Moreland about what her position entails, what went into organizing the election and how to better engage voters in the election process. We turn now to that interview.







Up next, we have Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between WFHB and Lil Bub’s Big Fund. We now turn to that segment on the WFHB Local News.

Credits:

You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,

Today’s headlines were written by Noelle Herhusky-Schneider, in partnership with Cats - Community Access Television Services.

Our feature was produced by Kade Young.

Lil Bub’s Lil Show is produced by Christine Brackenhoff and Stacy Bridavsky.

Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.

Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.