WFHB Local News Features

Now in its third year, Love Songs for a Lasting World is described as a winter extravaganza of song and dance. It’s also a signature fund raiser for Middle Way House, a local nonprofit providing services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and human trafficking. This year’s concert honors former Middle Way House Director Toby Strout, who guided the …

Bloomington and Monroe County residents gathered for the first State of the Black Community in Bloomington City Council Chambers last night. Presenting at the conference were Safe and Civil City Director Rafi Hasan; Black Democratic Caucus Chair William Hosea; Attorney Geoff Bradley; and Associate Professor of Education Stephanie Power-Carter, along with Caleb Poer. The speakers presented research findings on racial …

Residents of Bloomington spoke out this afternoon against the purchase of an armored car by city police. Dozens of reporters, local government officials and concerned citizens gathered in the Bloomington Police Department Headquarters at noon, to ask questions of BPD Chief Mike Diekhoff. Their concerns were largely that the $225,000 armored vehicle would be used against protesters, and represented an …

Indiana’s caves, largely focused around the southern karst topography of the state, are reopening. Hoosier National Forest prohibited entrance to its caves for fear of spreading a deadly fungal infection that’s ravaged bat populations. As WFHB correspondent Jonah Chester reports, the death of millions of bats has dire implications for other parts of the state’s ecosystem.

On Friday, U.S. Health and Human Services approved Indiana’s request to impose additional requirements on Medicaid recipients in the state. The approval makes Indiana one of only two states that require residents receiving Medicaid to have a job. Kentucky has applied for similar stipulations. Jesse Cross-Call, Senior Policy Analyst for the DC-based, non-partisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, says …

Former Bloomington Mayor and redistricting advocate Tomi Allison speaks about Senate Bill 326, which is currently up for amendments in the statehouse. Allison and the Indiana League of Women Voters are pushing for the redistricting of electoral districts by an independent non-partisan commission, and hoping that any final implementation will include a non-partisan, independent redistricting committee. In today’s Feature Report, …

The Monroe County Community School Corporation school board submitted a letter to Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb’s office— as well as to the state legislature— last week, condemning a law that would allow the state to take over Muncie and Gary community school corporations. The letter, which was signed by all of the MCCSC board members, states, “[The MCCSC board of …

Associate Professor at Indiana University’s Media School, Joan Hawkins, is helping organize a conference and festival marking the 50th anniversary of a landmark, revolutionary year in global history. Titled “Wounded Galaxies 1968: Paris, Prague, Chicago,” the conference runs from February 6th through the 11th on the IU campus and at various venues throughout Bloomington. A pre-conference festival begins with a …

WFHB Assistant News Director Sarah Vaughn reports on a public meeting over the city of Bloomington’s transportation plan. Residents were asked what they liked and disliked about the current state of getting around in the city in a public charette held Monday. Groups commented on a variety of issues concerning Bloomington’s infrastructure, including pedestrian and bicycle safety, accessibility and flow …

Indiana President Brett Voorhees says the state’s AFL-CIO chapter is currently lobbying to get Indiana Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly re-elected. Donnelly’s seat is currently considered a Democratic bastion in one of 11 states where Republicans hold a super majority, and is the target of several Republican hopefuls this election year. Voorhees says the AFL-CIO is also employing nearly a dozen …