Yellowwood State Forest is growing. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has acquired 122 acres in northwestern Brown County to expand Yellowwood. Forest preservation advocates approve but remain wary, given the history of state-sanctioned logging on Hoosier public lands. Correspondent Andrew Price has that story in a feature report produced in partnership with The Media School at Indiana University.
Spring storms are a fact of life in Indiana, bringing the possibility of heavy rain, damaging winds, and tornadoes each year. But researchers say changing weather patterns may mean communities need to rethink how they prepare for severe weather. In this week’s program, WFHB Correspondent Ben Sharpe speaks with IU meteorologist Cody Kirkpatrick to take a closer look at Tornado Alley’s recent eastward expansion, what it could mean for Indiana, and how residents can stay prepared.
Indianapolis and the surrounding metropolitan area failed a number of critical air pollution measures in the American Lung Association’s latest State of the Air report.
The ALA’s annual nationwide report published each spring gives the Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie metro area an “F” in smog and soot pollution. The report analyzes emissions data over a three-year period from 2022 to 2024.
Smog is ground-level ozone pollution and soot is particulate matter. The two comprise two of the six commonly found air pollutants in the United States according to the EPA. Both pollutants form in part when coal-fired power plants and diesel engines burn fossil fuels. Smog and soot can cause premature death and other serious health hazards such as heart attacks, strokes, preterm births, asthma and cognitive decline, according to the ALA.
The lung health report ranks the central Indiana metro area in a number of categories with the region performing poorly in most. Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie ranked the 11th most polluted area for year-round particle pollution and 14th for short-term particle pollution.
And the rest of the state fares little better. More than 670,000 Hoosier children breathe unhealthy levels of air pollution, the report says. This year’s report focused on the risk to youth that polluted air can pose. Small lungs are particularly vulnerable, said Tiffany Nichols, ALA director of advocacy.
“Infants, children and teens have lungs that are still developing, which makes them more susceptible to the impacts of unhealthy air,” Nichols said.
To prevent today’s youth from developing diseases related to polluted air, the American Lung Association has been asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to stop rolling back clean air rules put in place by previous administrations. The Indiana chapter has also asked state lawmakers to take steps to protect air quality.
Nichols grew up on the northwest side of Indy where the neighborhoods had been demolished to build I-65. Nearby trees were torn down to make way for the highway that would bring cars and trucks emitting harmful exhaust.
“So, then you have these areas that are essentially like a pocket of unhealthy air, and then those neighborhoods also had a lot of factories,” Nichols said. “That exacerbated health conditions in many of those communities that are oftentimes less fortunate already.”
While air pollutants have existed for centuries, the rise of data centers poses a new threat. State and local lawmakers, Nichols said, should also pay attention to these new potential sources of pollution both in Indiana and across the country.
“We’re asking that those companies that are interested in putting data centers in communities work with the local community,” Nichols said. “Since data centers have the potential to be another source of pollution we also ask that they use renewable, zero-ignition energy sources.”
The ALA report also urges the U.S. EPA to recommit to protecting people’s health from harmful air pollution. This year, the EPA has gone on what Administrator Lee Zeldin has characterized as a deregulation campaign that environmental advocates in Indiana have charged will lead to “death by 1,000 cuts.”
The current EPA, the American Lung Association report says, has “retreated from its public health foundation by rolling back clean air protections.”
Since we just celebrated Arbor Day, we thought you would like to learn 5 simple tips for tree selection success. Planting a tree is one of the most lasting ways to shape your space. The right choice delivers decades of shade, beauty, and wildlife benefits – but success starts with smart selection.
First, start with your site. Look beyond hardiness zones. Consider sun exposure, soil type, drainage, and weather extremes. The better you understand your conditions, the better your tree will thrive.
Second, plan for mature size. That sapling will grow. Check height and spread at maturity, and allow space away from roofs, utilities, sidewalks, and driveways.
Next, choose with purpose. Decide what you want your tree to do – provide shade, create privacy, support wildlife, or conserve water – and let function guide your choice.
Then, think roots and maintenance. Tree roots need space to grow, and some trees have higher care needs. Pick a species that fits both your space and your schedule.
And last, do your homework and don’t just settle for what’s available. Research native and climate – resilient trees suited to your area. They are more likely to thrive and support local ecosystems long term.
During a visit to one of Europe’s most polluted regions, Pope Leo openly criticized companies that prioritize profit over environmental protection and the health of vulnerable communities.
On May 23rd, Pope Leo visited Acerra, Italy. This area is known as the Triangle of Death because of abnormally high cancer rates linked to decades of illegal toxic waste dumping. There Pope Leo met with families who lost loved ones to pollution-related illnesses and called out companies seeking what he termed “dizzying profits” [end quote] at the cost of environmental destruction.
In January 2025, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Italian authorities had repeatedly failed to protect residents from illegal dumping since at least 1988. Italy’s Prime Minister launched a task force aimed at helping victims and pursuing environmental cleanup. But Pope Leo identified the systemic break in these good intentions, stating that “unscrupulous people and organizations have been allowed to act with impunity for too long.”
Pope Leo, who took office in May, has been speaking more forcefully on environmental and social issues, and is expected to release encyclicals—or letters directed at the 1.4B Catholics of the world, outlining the church’s perspective on a topic—that focus on these unchecked environmental concerns.
This June, Bloomington is hosting Pollinator Week as part of its Bee City USA designation. Local residents are invited to be citizen scientists by simply taking photos of pollinators and plants with your phone.
BioBlitz 2026 runs June 21–28 throughout Bloomington and surrounding areas. A bioblitz is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time. Residents are invited to join community events or make observations on their own using the iNaturalist app, a tool used by everyday nature enthusiasts for species identification and logging GPS-tagged observations.
By snapping photos of bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, or plants, community members help scientists identify species and gather crucial data about local biodiversity. All observations support current and future management of urban, landscaped, and natural areas around Bloomington.
Pollinators like bees transfer pollen between flowers, allowing more than 85% of all flowering plants and 67% of agricultural crops to reproduce . Butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, wasps, bats, and hummingbirds are also important contributors to this process. Yet research shows significant declines in native pollinator populations globally, with up to 40% of pollinator species at risk of extinction in coming years due to habitat loss, harmful pesticides, and climate change.
By participating in BioBlitz, Bloomington residents join the global efforts to document and understand the biodiversity we share. Whether you’re an experienced naturalist or just someone with a smartphone, you can contribute to real science and help protect the pollinators that sustain our food, gardens, and ecosystems.
Bloomington’s Bee City committee has organized three events:
– A Pollinator Week Pop-up Exhibition at the Lilly Library on June 18
– A documentary screening of “My Garden of a Thousand Bees” at the Monroe County Public Library on June 21, and
– Green Drinks Bloomington featuring a Sycamore Land Trust discussion about the cypress firefly on June 24 at Upland Brewing.
Credits:On Air
Julianna Dailey
Carrie Albright
Headlines
Karl Schneider with IndyStar
Carrie Albright
Feature Report
Ben Sharpe
Andrew Price in partnership with
The Media School at Indiana University
Script
Julianna Dailey
Events Calendar
Julianna Dailey
Engineer
Branden Blewett
Are you looking for a way to make a difference on environmental issues? Eco Report is looking for reporters, engineers, and segment producer to report facts on how we’re all affected by global climate disruption and the ongoing assaults on our air, land and water. We also celebrate ecologists, tree huggers, soil builders and other champions who actively protect and restore our natural world, particularly those who are active in south central Indiana. All levels of experience and all ages are welcome, and we provide the training you’ll need. WFHB also offers internships.
To volunteer for Eco Report, call at (812) 323-1200, or e-mail earth@wfhb.org.