WFHB Local News Features

Adria Nassim and her constant companion Lu — her service dog — might be as familiar to many Bloomington residents as Mayor Hamilton or IU basketball coach Tom Crean. Nassim is this town’s go-to expert on the autism spectrum, something she knows about intimately. She was a premature baby and early on was found to have the classic social interaction, …

With just a few days before the kick off of Welcome Week at Indiana University, Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton this morning announced plans to crack down on panhandling, surveil city parks and increase police presence downtown. At a press conference this morning, Hamilton laid out a plan that also included forming committees tasked with evaluating public safety downtown and making recommendations …

Darrell Boggess is a volunteer with the Solar Indiana Renewable Energy Network. He’s also the owner of a solar system that powers his home in Parkridge East. Late last month, Boggess spoke about the state of solar power in Indiana to a group gathered at Upland Brewery. The talk was part of series known as Green Drinks. We bring you …

A recent study by Purdue and Indiana University researchers identified more than 900 genes that are linked to alcoholism. WFHB Assistant News Director Sarah Vaughan spoke with the researchers about the study, and about how genetic disposition and environment relate to addiction.

Cathi Crabtree spent last week in Philadelphia as one of the Indiana 9th Congressional District delegates to the 2016 Democratic National Convention. It was her first party convention and she went as a Hillary Clinton delegate. Crabtree, a mechanical engineer for the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center, is active in the Monroe County Democratic Women’s Caucus and is a volunteer …

Kelley Benham French and Tom French are journalists, both now teaching at Indiana University’s Media School. Both were award-winning newspaper reporters for the Tampa Bay Times. They met when she was young and he was closer to middle age. Years later, after his first marriage ended, they finally became a couple, married, and tried to have a baby. For years, …

Abby Gitlitz was born and raised in Bloomington. At her high school, she was introduced to stained glass. After years away, she returned home to found the Bloomington Creative Glass Center. Taylor Haggerty has the story.

The City’s Growth Policies Plan, also known as the GPP or the Comp Plan, covers a broad range of topics such as land use, housing, environmental protection and transportation, among other issues. The GPP is the guiding document for the City in setting policies and ordinances. Sarah Vaughan spoke with Planning and Transportation Director Christy Langley about the portion of …

Bloomington High School South has begun to incorporate online courses into its curriculum. Now students are able to retake classes they failed – or begin working on college courses – all online. But some say a computer screen can’t completely replace a classroom. Student journalist, Alexis Davis, reported on the story. Each Monday during June and July, the Daily Local …

Steel manufacturers in Indiana want all Chinese steel imports blocked by the International Trade Commission to protect them from what they say are unfair and illegal trade practices. Correspondent Jerrod Dill brings us that story in today’s WFHB community report.