This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, August 6th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, the Bloomington City Council criticized a recent city survey for sidelining college students. More in today’s edition of B Square Bites – in partnership with the B Square Bulletin.

Also coming up in the next half hour, we start a new segment covering housing and homelessness issues in partnership with Heading Home of South Central Indiana. More in the bottom half of our broadcast.

Council rips Bloomington survey for sidelining college students

By Dave Askins

Link to report included in the Bloomington city council’s meeting information packet for Wednesday (Aug. 5, 2026)What population does this survey actually represent?” Bloomington city council president Isak Asare asked at the council’s regular meeting on Wednesday night (Aug. 5).

The answer was that the city’s latest community survey, by design, mostly reflected older, longer-term, year-round residents and under-emphasized Indiana University students.

That fact shifted the council’s focus on Wednesday from at least some favorable findings to sharp criticism of the administration’s choices about whose views should count when Bloomington asks what residents think.

Several councilmembers questioned whether the results of such a survey should guide city policy or spending decisions. Hopi Stosberg called the treatment of students “pretty appalling.” Sydney Zulich called the consultant’s explanation for the de-emphasis of students “a stunningly insulting answer.”

The criticism came despite at least some findings that reflected favorably on much of life in Bloomington. About 80% of respondents were satisfied with the city’s overall quality of life, and 72% said they would be at least somewhat likely to recommend Bloomington as a place to live. But even the item asking about recommending Bloomington came under scrutiny as councilmember Andy Ruff called it an “odd question.”

About 76% were dissatisfied with the availability of affordable housing, while streets, sidewalks and homelessness also emerged as prominent concerns. And except for fire, police, and fire protection, satisfaction with public services in the city was below 60%.

The city paid aQity Research & Insights Inc. $37,900 to conduct the survey. The firm received 561 responses between Feb. 18 and April 10. No council action was requested Wednesday.

But it was not clear what the answer to Asare’s basic question was for the consultant and city staff, as the council heads into the 2027 budget review season:

Audio: “What I’m trying to get at in all of my questioning is what’s the ‘So what?’ for council and the city? … What are the things that we’re claiming that should inform our behaviors, actions, decisions, especially as we’re going into budget here?”
No votes were taken Wednesday night in connection with the presentation of the survey results.

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 dot com and look for the headline: “Council rips Bloomington survey for sidelining college students.”

Featured Segments:

Correspondents Elena Bai and Ben Sharpe take to the streets of Bloomington to ask residents how they feel for the students returning to town (Photo by Kade Young).Townie summer is coming to a close. In a few short weeks, thousands of IU students will flood the streets of Bloomington. On July 29th, WFHB News Correspondents Ben Sharpe and Elena Bai went around town, asking residents how they feel about the students coming back. Today, we rebroadcast that segment on the WFHB Local News.

Executive Director Mary Morgan and Case Manager Mandy New in the WFHB studio recording the Heading Home podcast.Heading Home of South Central Indiana has launched a new podcast highlighting the realities of homelessness. In the first episode, street outreach case manager Mandy New shares her journey from addiction and living in her vehicle to finding stable housing, while offering insight into the challenges many people experiencing homelessness face every day. WFHB News brings you this excerpt from the “Heading Home” podcast. We turn to host Mary Morgan for more.

Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Dave Askins produced B Square Bites.
Ben Sharpe and Elena Bai produced today’s voxpop.
Mary Morgan produces the Heading Home podcast.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
Anchors are Kade Young and Ben Sharpe.