Bente Bouthier

1 week ago | indianapublicmedia.org | Bente Bouthier |Ethan Sandweiss

Mahogani Rosales and Ahlai Carballo can see Aharon Rosales, but he can’t see them. In a video call from the Hopkins County Jail, Aharon’s face appears in a small window as he talked to his mom and sister Monday evening. Since he was detained by ICE agents last Wednesday in Bloomington, his mom, Mahogani, and sister, Carballo, have anxiously awaited these calls. He’s been at the Kentucky ICE detention facility for more than a week. They have no way of reaching him unless he calls.

2 weeks ago | indianapublicmedia.org | Bente Bouthier

Bloomington’s community radio station — WFHB — stands to lose about 25 percent of its funding if the Trump administration’s plan to rescind $1.1 billion to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting passes in Congress. House leaders are reportedly preparing to vote on Trump’s budget bill as soon as next week. WFHB receives support from CPB’s Community Service Grant. The exact grant amount is determined by how much community support the station receives.

2 weeks ago | indianapublicmedia.org | Bente Bouthier

Bloomington Exodus’s office has been closed since Tuesday because of reported ICE presence in Bloomington. The nonprofit’s Bloomington location opened in 2022. Since then, it’s helped resettle about 500 people with humanitarian immigrant status.  Erin Aquino, Bloomington Exodus’s resettlement director, said it is still providing services.  Exodus works with refugees and parolees in the United States on temporary protected status – which are both legal.

2 weeks ago | indianapublicmedia.org | Bente Bouthier

Indiana University’s annual Little 500 bike race took place on Friday and Saturday. Friday was the women’s 37th race. Women’s teams race 25 miles around a quarter-mile track. The men’s 74th race was Saturday. Men’s teams race 50 miles. The race brings approximately 25,000 people to town, according to Visit Bloomington’s website. Hannah M.

3 weeks ago | indianapublicmedia.org | Bente Bouthier

The city of Bloomington is revoking occupancy permits for 11 properties owned and run by Jeff Jones of Pendragon Properties, a rental company in Bloomington. A letter to Jones from the city said occupancy permits at all of his other Bloomington properties will not be renewed after the current cycle. Jones owns about 34 properties in Bloomington, a city spokesperson said. Occupancy permits with the city have a cycle of three to five years.