This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, June 10th, 2026.

In today’s newscast, you’ll hear from Amy Gaffney, an expert in helping neurodivergent students improve their learning systems and advocate for themselves. Meet Bloomington educators working to normalize neurodiversity later in the show in a feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, “Scams Busting Out All Over” on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News.

Monroe County revises 30-day notice policy ahead of July 1 ‘street camping’ lawBy Dave Askins

From left: Monroe County commissioners Julie Thomas and Jody Madeira. (Dave Askins, June 4, 2026)A new Indiana law (SB 285) that takes effect July 1, will make it illegal to camp, sleep or live for an extended time on land owned by the state or a local government, unless the land has been set aside for that purpose.

With a month to go before the law takes effect, Monroe County commissioners last Thursday (June 4) took formal action to strike a clause from their existing policy on responding to homeless encampments, which says they’ll give 30 days notice to residents before removing them. The resolution enacting the new policy says the 30-day prior notice has been made “irrelevant” by SB 285.

The law does not require police to arrest someone the first time they are found sleeping or camping on public land. First, an officer has to decide whether the person should be taken for emergency mental health care under Indiana law. If that applies, the officer is supposed to use that process instead.

If emergency detention does not apply, the officer is supposed to give the person a warning and information about places where shelter or services are available.

A person can be charged with a crime only after that warning has been given, at least 48 hours have passed, and the person is still camping, sleeping or living on public land within 300 feet of the place where the warning was issued. The offense is called “street camping” and is a Class C misdemeanor.

The law also limits what local governments can do. Cities, towns and counties may not adopt policies that bar or discourage enforcement of laws against public camping, sleeping or blocking sidewalks.

Last Thursday, county attorney Jeff Cockerill told commissioners the new state statute requires local law enforcement to act when people are sleeping on public property without authorization, and bars local policies that could be interpreted as limiting that authority. The 30-day notice had to be eliminated, because of that, according to Cockerill.

Cockerill contended that the county’s policy has not changed: When a camp removal is initiated by county government, commissioners intend to give as much notice as possible and still views 30 days as the goal. But he said they can no longer guarantee that in writing without risking conflict with state law.

Commissioner Jody Madeira used the vote to deliver a blunt critique of the statute, fighting back tears to frame it as criminalizing poverty and shifting costs onto local governments without new resources for housing or services:

I think we have an obligation to protect public spaces and the quality of life for all residents. We also have an obligation to say really clearly that homelessness isn’t solved by pushing people from one place to another, and poverty shouldn’t become a pathway into the criminal legal system. People don’t have to sleep outside because it’s easy, they sleep outside because they run out of options, because housing is too expensive, shelter is unavailable and unsuitable, and treatment is hard to access, and the safety net has failed them.

Madeira called the state’s approach “horrible” and “a double cruelty,” adding that “criminal penalties are not housing policy.” That was an allusion to the title of SB 285, which was “Housing Matters.”

Commissioner Julie Thomas echoed the criticism, describing the statute as “another unfunded mandate from the state of Indiana” that doesn’t solve anything.

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 and look for the headline: “Monroe County revises 30-day notice policy ahead of July 1 ‘street camping’ law.”

Featured Segments:

“Neurodivergent” is an umbrella term covering a variety of individuals whose brains process, learn, and experience the world differently than most. This includes autism, ADHD, dyslexia and even Tourette’s. Here in Bloomington two local educators are applying innovative methods to help neurodivergent students improve their learning systems and advocate for themselves. Correspondent Thomas Nicholson has that story in a feature report produced in partnership with The Media School at Indiana University.

The Statehouse Roundup is a brief, weekly segment focusing on Indiana news and politics. Tune in each Thursday during the WFHB Local News to hear a recap on news and politics on the state level.Up next, we have today’s Statehouse Roundup – a rundown on Indiana news and politics on the WFHB Local News. Indiana’s Secretary of State race is facing new controversy, a former Indiana congressman has received a presidential pardon, and the Chicago Bears are taking another step toward a possible move to Northwest Indiana. Correspondent Max Schneider has those stories and more in today’s Statehouse Roundup.

Jacob Moran (Photo courtesy of IU Athletics).With the Indiana Wrestling season at its end, head coach Angel Escobedo and former IU wrestler Jacob Moran speak with WFHB Sports Correspondent Aidan Verde on how wrestling has impacted their lives and how the IU wrestling program will continue to grow within a loaded Big 10 conference.

Up next, “Scams Busting Out All Over” on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News. We turn to host and producer Richard Fish for more.

Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Dave Askins produced B Square Bites.
Today’s feature story on educators supporting neurodivergent students was produced by Thomas Nicholson in partnership with The Media School at Indiana University. Theme music by FoolBoyMedia.
Max Schneider produced the Statehouse Roundup.
Aidan Verde produced today’s feature on IU wrestling.
Better Beware is produced by Richard Fish.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
Elena Bai and Jorge Casillas anchored today’s broadcast.