Noon Edition

Indiana Public Media

Noon Edition is a weekly radio program inviting your participation on news and issues facing the southern and central Indiana community

  1. 9H AGO

    Celebrating Black History Month during a time of rising division

    This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first celebration of Black history in the U.S. Now celebrated the entire month of February, it was launched by Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1926 as Negro History Week. It was expanded to a month-long celebration in 1976 and was officially recognized by Congress in 1986. February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas. The theme of this year’s celebration is "A Century of Black History Commemorations." Several events are scheduled in Bloomington and on the Indiana University campus. Read more: Bloomington announces 2026 Black History Month events But this year’s Black History Month comes at a time when the federal government has been removing Black history markers and content from sites ran by the National Parks Service. Read more: Slavery displays removed from Philadelphia historical site after Trump directive The president also eliminated Martin Luther King Day and Juneteenth as free days at national parks. In Indiana, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives across state government and public universities were targeted for elimination by Governor Mike Braun to align with federal directives. Read more: Following government orders, IU eliminates DEI programs On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll discuss the history of Black History Month, the importance of celebrating black history, if that's become more difficult as DEI programs have come under fire and what is being done to further black causes. Join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to news@indianapublicmedia.org.   You can also record your questions and send them in through email.  GuestsJim Sims, President, Monroe County Branch NAACPCarolyn Calloway-Thomas, Professor, Department of African American and African Diaspora StudiesJakobi Williams, Ruth N. Halls Associate Professor and Chair, Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies

    53 min
  2. FEB 6

    State advancing legislation to beef up immigration enforcement

    Minneapolis has been the focal point of the federal government’s push to deport illegal immigrants from the country. Around 3,000 Immigration and Custom Enforcement officials and border patrol agents have been sent to the city, leading to almost daily clashes with protestors and two U.S. citizens being killed by federal agents. Immigration enforcement tactics and rhetoric about undocumented people in the country has become another politically divisive issue between red and blue states, especially around how much local communities are required to cooperate with federal officials. In Indiana, lawmakers are advancing bills to expand cooperation with federal agencies such as ICE and border patrol. It passed in the Senate, with all democrats voting against it. Read more: Immigration enforcement bill clears Indiana Senate amid national ICE controversy Another bill that passed in the House would empower the governor to send a “military police force” made up of Indiana National Guard members throughout the state. They would be allowed to conduct searches, make arrests and exercise other police powers. Critics of the bill worry it could result in the governor targeting Democratic-ran cities akin to President Trump’s “Operation Metro Surge” in Minneapolis. Read more: Indiana National Guard ‘military police’ bill passes House Those opposing the deployment of ICE and border patrol agents across the county say that they have been violating first, second and fourth amendment rights. Protests have sprung up nation-wide against the tactics being used by ICE and immigration enforcement officials. On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll discuss the bills moving through the Indiana general assembly, the debate surrounding immigration enforcement and if peoples’ rights are being violated. Join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to news@indianapublicmedia.org.   You can also record your questions and send them in through email.  GuestsVanessa Cruz Nichols, Assistant Professor, IU Department of Political ScienceChristie Popp, immigration attorney; Adjunct, IU Maurer School of LawSen. Shelli Yoder, (D) Bloomington

    53 min
  3. JAN 30

    Lawmakers advance legislation meant to lure Bears to Gary

    The Chicago Bears are looking for a new home, and, if Indiana gets its way, the original NFL franchise could end up in Gary. The Indiana senate voted Wednesday to establish a state-run stadium authority that would finance and build a stadium for the Bears in northwest Indiana. “Indiana is open for business, and the Chicago Bears have taken notice,” Indiana governor Mike Braun said in a statement. “The Senate’s passage of SB 27 to establish a Northwest Indiana stadium authority is the next critical step in the right direction to bring the Chicago Bears to the Hoosier state and to grow Indiana’s economy.” If the bill becomes law, it would create the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority. It would acquire land, issue bonds and finance the building of the stadium. The state would own the stadium and lease it to the Bears for a minimum of 35 years. It’s pretty much the arrangement the Bears want to get out of now with the city of Chicago. The Chicago Parks Department owns the stadium and surrounding area, which limits the amount of money the team can bring in. The Bears are also negotiating with the state of Illinois for a stadium complex in Arlington Heights, north of the city. The Bears have said they will pay for the stadium but are looking for the state to pay for infrastructure around it. On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll discuss what kind of financial commitment it would take from the state to lure the Bears, what it would mean for the region, how realistic is it that it could happen, and how often franchises make these threats to move to secure new stadium deals at home. And what does it mean for the fan? Join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to news@indianapublicmedia.org.   You can also record your questions and send them in through email.   Guests Kyle Anderson, Clinical Assistant Professor of Business Economics, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University-IndianapolisMichael Gallenberger, Reporter, WVPEGeoffrey Propheter, Associate Professor, School of Public Affairs, University of Colorado-Denver

    53 min
  4. JAN 23

    What does the U.S.'s foreign policy mean for the world order?

    President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had “formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region.”  What that means is unclear, but the president said he will no longer impose tariffs on European countries who balked at his talk of taking over the country. Trump also said he was ruling out using the military to take over Greenland.  Read more: Trump hails 'framework of a future deal' on Greenland  It comes after weeks of rhetoric about the U.S.’s need to own Greenland for national security purpose. Trump has also used national security as his reasoning behind the incursion into Venezuela earlier this month to arrest Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. The U.S. military has also been attacking what they call drug boats and seizing tankers carrying Venezuelan oil.  Read more: Trump wants U.S. oil companies in Venezuela The president last week also threatened action against Iran over its crackdown on protests against the regime.   Read more: Iran warns Trump not to take action against Khamenei  The U.S. and Israel also bombed three nuclear sites in Iran last summer, tied to the continuing war in Gaza.  And, Thursday, Trump announced the creation of a “Board of Peace,” which is meant to oversee the ceasefire and reconstruction in Gaza – and more.  On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll discuss the U.S.’s foreign policy moves in Europe, the Middle East and the Western Hemisphere, how they are impacting relations with allies and adversaries and the future world order.  Join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to news@indianapublicmedia.org.  Guests Feisal al-Istrabadi, Founding Director, IU Center for the Study of the Middle East Leandro Aristeguieta, PhD history candidate, focused on U.S.-Venezuelan relationships

    53 min
  5. JAN 9

    What's behind the move of federal death row prisoners to Colorado?

    During the first Trump administration, the government resumed federal executions after a 17-year lull. Between July 2020 and January 2021, 13 people on federal death row at the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute were put to death. But in July 2021, under the Biden administration, a moratorium on federal executions was announced by attorney general Merrick Garland. Then, shortly before leaving office, Biden commuted the death sentences of 37 of the 40 prisoners on the federal death row, leaving only Tree of Life Synagogue shooter Robert Bowers, Mother Emanuel AME Church shooter Dylann Roof and Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev the only people eligible for execution. All three remain in Terre Haute. LISTEN: Rush to Kill podcast But once back in office, President Trump announced his intention to resume federal executions and to forcefully pursue the death penalty in future cases. And, the administration is in the process of sending the remaining 37 prisoners on death row to ADX Florence, dubbed the Alcatraz of the Rockies. It’s the U.S.’s lone super-maximum security prison and where its most dangerous criminals are held. LISTEN: Biden stopped the executions of 37 men. Trump's DOJ wants to punish them The move is designed to punish the prisoners whose sentences were commuted by Biden. Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X: “We have begun transferring the monsters Biden commuted to Supermax prisons, where they will spend the rest of their lives in conditions that match their egregious crimes.” On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll discuss the federal government moving death row prisoners from Terre Haute to ADX Florence, its desire to resume executions and the state of the prisoners remaining on death row. Join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to news@indianapublicmedia.org. GuestsBill Breeden, Spiritual Advisor to Death Row InmateChiara Eisner, Correspondent, NPR's Investigations UnitGeorge Hale, Reporter, WFIU News

    53 min
  6. JAN 2

    Looking back at the big stories of 2025 that impacted Hoosiers

    We officially said good-bye to 2025 Wednesday night, but it was a year filled with big news that impacted Hoosiers across the state. One of the biggest was Senate Enrolled Act 1, which provides property tax relief for residents and businesses but led to cuts in revenue for local communities and public education institutions. The general assembly also gave Gov. Mike Braun control of the three alumni picks to Indiana University’s Board of Trustees. He immediately replaced those positions with his picks. But, in a surprise move last month, the Indiana Senate overwhelmingly shot down an effort led by Gov. Braun, at the request of President Trump, to redistrict the state’s U.S. House district maps in an effort to pick up two Republican seats in this year’s mid-term elections. Indiana University came under fire for its free speech policies – or lack thereof. It was rated last among public institutions in free speech by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. And, in Bloomington, the county council nixed a plan for a new jail site at the 11th hour, reigniting an effort to seek a new location. But construction finally began on the Bloomington Convention Center expansion project after nearly a decade in the making. The city also continues to try to cope with its population of unhoused persons. On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll look back at some of the top stories from 2025 that impacted Hoosiers on a local and state level. Join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to news@indianapublicmedia.org.   You can also record your questions and send them in through email.  Guests Mark Alesia, News Editor, WFIU/WTIU News Joe Hren, Reporter, WFIU/WTIU News Niki Kelly, Editor, Indiana Capital Chronicle Ethan Sandweiss, Reporter, WFIU/WTIU News

    53 min

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Noon Edition is a weekly radio program inviting your participation on news and issues facing the southern and central Indiana community