This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, June 15th, 2026.
In today’s newscast, you’ll hear media law expert Anthony Fargo, a member of the task force calling for editorial independence and a sustainable funding structure for IU student media. Hear more later in the show in a feature report.
You’ll also hear from Greg Janowiak from the Community Bike Project, where you can earn a free bike by volunteering at this non-profit bike repair shop. Learn how bicycles are building community in Bloomington later in the show on a new episode of Activate!
Featured Segments:
A task force pondering the future of student media at Indiana University has issued its recommendations. The Task Force on Editorial Independence and Sustainability was launched in November by The Media School at Indiana University after the firing of the director of student media and suspension of print editions of the student newspaper drew outrage on campus and across the nation. In May the task force issued its recommendations including enforceable protections for editorial independence, meaningful student representation in student media governance and a sustainable funding structure that cannot be used to influence or punish editorial coverage. Earlier this month a coalition of 14 national journalism organizations sent a letter to IU administrators urging them to act on these recommendations. As Bloomington and press freedom advocates around the country wait to see what happens next, task force member Anthony Fargo sat down with correspondent Carolina Pierce for a feature report.
Photo by Jorge CasillasMonroe County takes a step towards the litigation route after the county council rejected the North Park Property as the location for a new county jail. The vote to reject North Park nearly guarantees lawsuits to be filed against Monroe County officials which would create a situation where the Monroe County taxpayer becomes the piggy bank to pay for legal fees. However, the approval of North Park would guarantee a price tag of approximately 100 million dollars to be placed upon taxpayers. In today’s feature report, WFHB correspondent Jorge Casillas speaks with activists and county officials to paint a picture over the current state of legal issues that have haunted Monroe County for 17 years.
Cicada Cinema is opening up a movie theater. For nearly a decade, Cicada has operated as a pop-up movie theater, screening an eclectic array of films. Now, the organization plans to open up a permanent movie theater in Bloomington’s near west side, and today they’re kicking off a fundraising campaign with a dollar-for-dollar match. WFHB speaks with Derek Navardauskas, programming chair of Cicada Cinema, coming up next on the local news.
When Greg Janowiak moved to Bloomington in late 2024 he found connection in an unexpected place: a non-profit bike shop. The Bloomington Community Bike Project is a volunteer-run space where anyone can stop in, use professional tools, get help with repairs, and maybe even earn a free bike by volunteering. Greg says the group does more than fix flats; volunteers build relationships and sometimes help change the direction of someone’s life simply by showing up. Hear how a few hours in a bike shop can turn into real community on a new episode of Activate!, coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s feature on the new jail was produced by Jorge Casillas.
Today’s feature story on faculty response to IU’s student media crisis was produced by Carolina Pierce in partnership with The Media School at Indiana University. Theme music by Jamyl Efiom.
Kade Young produced our interview with Cicada Cinema.
This episode of Activate! was produced by Ethan Poto through WFHB’s partnership with The Media School at Indiana University
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
Anchors are Zoe Moczek and Aidan Verde.