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Next month, Indiana plans to execute Jeffrey Weisheit for the 2010 murders of 8-year-old Alyssa Lynch and her 5-year-old brother, Caleb Lynch, who died in a fire at their Evansville home. His attorneys want to delay the date so doctors can perform and examine brain scans for evidence of brain injuries they say were not adequately developed or presented during his trial and appeals. Read more: Indiana death row inmate seeks execution delay If Governor Mike Braun ultimately denies clemency in the case, Weisheit will die from a lethal injection of the drug pentobarbital. It’s the same drug used in a failed execution in Tennessee last month of Christa Pike that left her unconscious in a hospital for days. She has since been returned to the prison and will likely face another execution attempt next year. It again raised questions of using pentobarbital as a lethal injection drug and calls for using other methods for executions have increased. Indiana state representative Jim Lucas (R-Seymour) said he plans to introduce legislation making a firing squad Indiana’s primary method of execution. At the federal level, Pentagon officials announced last month that it planned to live stream the execution by firing squad of Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 U.S. soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009, on Dec. 3. Whether the execution is televised or not remains to be seen, as the government has faced pushback. It would be the first military execution in 65 years, but the 14th federal execution since President Trump’s first term. Those all took place in a six-month stretch at the Federal penitentiary in Terre Haute just before the end of Trump’s first term in January of 2021. Listen to our podcast: Rush to Kill On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll talk about the efficacy of lethal injection, alternative execution methods, impending executions at the state and federal levels, and Americans’ attitudes about the death penalty. GuestsStefanie Anderson, Executive Director, Indiana Abolition CoalitionZachary Cormier, Associate Professor of Law, IU Robert H. McKinney School of LawMarla Sandys, Associate Professor, IU Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Early voting for this fall’s general election began this week, and with it comes fears about election integrity and security on both sides of the aisle. There also appears to be high levels of voter engagement. A new NPR/PBS/Marist poll shows nearly 9 in 10 voters say they care quite a bit about which party will win control of Congress in November. President Trump and the Republicans have been trying to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act for the past two legislative sessions. It would require enhanced identification to register to vote and increased voter identification at the polls. They say the intention is to safeguard election integrity, prevent non-citizens from voting and increase confidence in election results. Read more: The SAVE Act: What every American Voter Needs to Know Democrats and voting rights organizations say the legislation amounts to voter suppression. They say that requiring proof of citizenship at the polls would disenfranchise voters and having to obtain proof would amount to an illegal poll tax. They also point laws that already make it illegal for non-citizens to vote. And while the president claims most elections his party have lost have been rigged, studies have found it occurring between 0.0025 percent and 0.0003percent of the time. Read more: Debunking the Voter Fraud Myth, AgainLocally, there are no municipal races on the ballot, but there are a handful of county races and numerous state-wide races that will impact the daily lives of Hoosiers. Several school boards in the state are proposing referendums to raise money, and in northwest Monroe County, voters will decide whether or not the town of Ellettsville and Richland Township are merged into one governmental body. On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll talk with election officials and political representatives about midterm election security measures, details on local races, and what issues are on the ballot. GuestsKylie Farris, Election Supervisor, Monroe County Election BoardMarjorie Hershey, Professor Emeritus , IU Department of Political ScienceDebora “Ralf” Shaw, spokesperson, League of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County

Since the launch of artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT nearly four years ago, the field of artificial intelligence has rapidly grown – changing the world along with it. About half of all U.S. adults report using chatbots, and massive tech companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have poured hundreds of billions of dollars into research and infrastructure to support and further develop the AI boom. How fast artificial intelligence is developing has many people worried about dangers it might pose to humanity. Read more: A guide to the different factions in the AI safety debate President Trump this week gathered the leaders of the top technology firms in the U.S. for a summit at the White House. But instead of government regulation of AI, Trump and the industry leaders signed an accord saying they would self-police the development of AI. Read more: Trump says top tech firms have sign accord to 'self-police' AI development Another big concern with AI is the massive amount of computing power it takes to run it. And that means a rush to build data centers in communities across the country. In Indiana, almost 60 data centers are already operating, another 12 are under construction and more than two dozen are in the planning stage. The construction of data centers has led to growing pushback from communities, who don’t want the massive facilities - and the water and energy needs that come with them – in their backyards. Read more: Indiana counties turn to local restrictions against data centers On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll explore the growing pushback to data centers, how artificial intelligence impacts our daily lives, the landscape of AI regulation and what Hoosiers see as the future of artificial intelligence. GuestsAnna Kavanaugh, Protect Decatur TownshipAngie Raymond, Professor of Business Law and Ethics, IU Kelley School of BusinessScott Shackelford, Director, IU Ostrom Workshop Program on Cybersecurity & Internet Governance

Is my food safe to eat? Are vaccines and boosters safe to get? Who should I trust for medical advice? Should I be worried about measles? Recent outbreaks of cyclosporiasis and recalls and warnings of fruits, vegetables, meat and even potato chips and pasta have people wondering what’s going on with our food supply. A national survey by Navigator found 64% of women and 52% of men have changed what they eat due to food recalls. Read more: Food for thought: Americans are concerned about what’s on their plate And with flu season fast approaching, medical professionals continue to recommend flu vaccines for everyone over the age of six month, but especially for those over 65, pregnant or who have chronic health issues. COVID vaccines are recommended for those over 65, with one shot in the fall and a booster six months later. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the COVID vaccine for children ages six months to 23 months. But there’s been a lot of confusion and distrust of vaccines, driven by changing recommendations from the CDC and the FDA under the Trump administration. Plus, as of this week, 17 cases of one of the most contagious illnesses in the world have been confirmed in Indiana after years of eradication. Measles primarily affects unvaccinated individuals, but according to the Indiana Department of Health, almost 10% of Indiana kindergarteners are not up to date on their measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines. Read more: CDC's response to measles deaths stirs fears about agency's reliability Medical groups are posting all their recommendations on websites, so "the public has clear, consistent, science-based guidance even while the federal process is in flux," Dr. Sandra Fryhofer of the American Medical Association told PBS. On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll talk with the medical experts about the recent outbreaks, impacts of changes at the CDC and FDA and where to find accurate health information this vaccine season. GuestsDr. Tom Hrisomalos, Infectious Disease Specialist, IU HealthBill Sullivan, Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology, IU School of MedicineEduardo Ximenes, Associate Professor, IU School of Public Health

Friday marks 25 years since the deadliest terrorist attacks in history. Almost three thousand people were killed when hijacked planes slammed into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon, forever changing the world view for many. Read more: How the Sept. 11 attacks remade life in America Shortly after the attacks, President George W. Bush declared a “Global War on Terror,” leading to more than two decades of war in the Middle East, including in Afghanistan and Iraq, re-shaping U.S foreign policy and increased security on the home front. Now, a generation has grown up in the post-9/11 world, born after the tragic event but impacted by all that followed. Read more: Why 9/11 and its many griefs land differently 25 years later On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll look back at the events of 9/11, how they changed U.S. foreign policy, reshaped world politics and have played into the rise of Islamophobia at home. GuestsHussein Banai, Associate Professor, Hamilton Lugar School of International StudiesJim Buher, who was in the Pentagon on 9/11 with a group of Crane Naval Base employeesBrian Frantz, Professor of Practice, Hamilton Lugar School of International StudiesShelby Hiltunen, Producing Partner at Naptown Media

Indiana football is back this weekend, and with it comes high expectations from a fanbase still riding the high of a National Championship. The Hoosiers open the season is Saturday at home against the University of North Texas. It’s one of eight home games this season – all of which are sold out. This season comes with some big changes for longtime IU football fans. Sky-high demand for seats led to student season tickets being limited to five games. Memorial Stadium will also reflect the program’s massive spike in popularity, including expanded concessions and merch areas, new parking options, new tailgating rules, and a limited number of fans running onto the field with the team. Read more: Students begin new reality of limits on IU football tickets IU’s national championship inspired books, including the upcoming “Unthinkable to Unstoppable: How Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers Stunned College Football” by two local sports journalists. This season, the Hoosiers will have a new quarterback, Josh Hoover, replacing Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, who led the team to a 16-0 record. Read more: Wyatt, Daley practicing with IU but status uncertain for games On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll discuss the cultural impacts of last season’s dominance, how changes to the gameday experience will affect fans, and predictions for the upcoming season. GuestsZach Osterman, IU football beat writer for the Indianapolis Star and co-author of “Unthinkable to Unstoppable”Mike Niziolek, IU athletics beat writer for The Herald-Times and co-author of “Unthinkable to Unstoppable”Nathan Shriberg, IU football beat writer for the Indiana Daily Student

For more than half a century, Don Fischer has narrated the triumphs, heartbreaks, and defining moments of Indiana University athletics. From national championships and iconic buzzer-beaters to unforgettable football Saturdays, his voice has become inseparable from the Hoosier experience. This Friday, WTIU will debut a documentary on the legendary voice of IU sports called “Timeless: Don Fischer’s Half-Century Broadcasting IU Sports.” Read more: “Timeless” premieres August 28 on WTIU “Timeless” tells the story of the legendary broadcaster whose career spans generations of IU fans and athletes. Through archival footage, historic radio calls, interviews, and personal reflections, the documentary explores Fischer’s unlikely rise from a small-town Illinois upbringing to becoming one of the most recognizable voices in college sports. On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll talk with the reporters behind the documentary about the process, what they’ve learned about Fischer and why it is important to document the career of an IU living legend. GuestsMark Alesia, WTIU Senior News Editor and producer of “Timeless”Tyler Lake, WTIU video producer and editor of "Timeless"Elyse Perry, WTIU journalist and assistant producer of "Timeless"

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 is projected to reduce Medicaid enrollment by 7.5 million people. That includes more than 340,000 in the state of Indiana. That equates to an 18.5% drop in Medicaid in the state that ranks among the steepest in the country. It’s put stress on hospitals – particularly in rural areas -and healthcare providers to take care of uninsured patients in the state. Another four million people have lost access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits as a result of the bill, including roughly 92,000 in Indiana. Read more: Medicaid and SNAP cuts will harm students and local economies The impact hits hard on school children in the state. According to the Indiana Department of Education, fewer than half of the one million children eligible for free meals at school are getting them. That’s because in Indiana, more than two thirds of the schools eligible for the federal meal service program opted out this year. Indiana ranks 47th in the nation for participation in the program. Read more: Cuts to SNAP, Medicaid could impact free school meals at high-poverty schools On this week’s Noon Edition, we'll explore how federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid are affecting local individuals and families struggling with food insecurity.  GuestsJulio Alonso, Executive Director, Hoosier Hills Food BankTim Clougher, Assistant Director, Community Kitchen of Monroe CountyErin Macey, Director, Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute

The impending demolition of around two dozen apartments at Seminary Pointe has shined the spotlight on the lack of affordable housing in Bloomington. The low-rent apartments are on property that will be developed as part of the Bloomington Convention Center expansion. Advocates offered various ideas to save the apartments, but they have been cleared for demolition as soon as Oct. 1. Read more: Group offers deal for Seminary Pointe, convention hotel One of two proposals for a hotel near the convention center includes plans for an apartment complex at the Seminary Pointe site that would include 27 low-cost units to replace those being torn down. The Redevelopment Commission will decide on which proposal to accept next month. One area the city is planning for low-income housing is in the Hopewell Neighborhood. But that project has been slow moving. Planned five years ago on the site of the old Bloomington Hospital, no new homes have been built. Read more: Hopewell South passes city council unanimously However, earlier this year, the city council OK’d a planned unit development that allows for up to 98 affordable homes on small lots in one section of the neighborhood. That’s about three times more than what the usual zoning would allow. And in January, Mayor Kerry Thomson proposed changes to make it easier for low-income residents to become home owners, and in February, the council also approved changes to the Unified Development Ordinance that increased incentives for building low-income housing. Read more: Mayor proposes change to make more lower-income residents homeowners But affordable housing continues to be one of the big issues facing Bloomington residents and officials. On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll talk about the state of affordable housing in Bloomington and efforts by the city to address the issue. Join us on the air by calling 812-855-0812 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to [email protected].   You can also record your questions and send them in through email.  GuestsMayor Kerry Thomson, (D) BloomingtonAnna Killion-Hanson, Director, Bloomington Housing and Neighborhood DevelopmentBryce Greene, Organizer, Bloomington Democratic Socialists and Bloomington Homes For All!Nathan Ferreira, Executive Director, Bloomington Housing Authority

Rural Hoosiers already face obstacles in getting health care. There are counties that face shortages of doctors and nurses, treatment facilities or are located in health care deserts. Two counties bordering Monroe - Brown and Owen – don’t have hospitals. Others have had to scale back services. Read more: Greene County hospital to end labor, delivery services Rural Hoosiers are also more likely to have higher risk factors such as higher rates of smoking, high blood pressure and obesity. Coupled with higher rates of poverty and fewer options for health care, it presents even more challenges for those needing care. That access only gets harder with cuts to Medicare and changes to Medicaid. Read more: Americans begin to lose Medicaid under Trump's work rules On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll discuss the financial and staffing issues for rural hospitals and the challenge of treating those in need in health care deserts. GuestsChris Lunsford, Director, Owen County Emergency Medical ServicesBrenda Reetz, CEO, Greene County General HospitalDr. Robert Stone, Palliative Care Physcian, IU Health

The Taste of Bloomington returned last year after a five-year hiatus and was, by all accounts, a resounding success. But that success led to some changes this year. Around 20,000 people attended last year’s event along the Kirkwood Ave. cooridor, leading to crowd congestion on the street and around vendor areas, and a lot of trash to deal with. So, this year, organizers are expanding the footprint of the festival and tweaking the layout of vendors to provide more space. They’re also moving the kid’s area from People’s Park to inside at the Monroe County History Center. There will also be more vendors this year – 75 compared to 50 last year – and a third music stage added at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. Read more: Taste of Bloomington website The festival will run from 3 to 10 p.m. And, like last year, all food will cost $5 or less. On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll talk with the festival organizer and vendors about what they learned last year, changes coming this year and what food and drink will be available. GuestsBob Costello, Owner, Village Deli and Soma Coffeehouse and Juice BarJordan Davis, Organizer, Taste of Bloomington and General Manager, The Chocolate MooseMike McAfee, Executive Director, Visit BloomingtonRachel Wiehe, Owner, Weirdough Cookie Co.

A new Monroe County Community School year starts on August 5. One of the big changes this year will be a ban on students having access to cell phones during the school day. It’s the result of a new state law that does not allow students to access personal wireless devices, such as phones, smartwatches and tablets. Parents decried the new law, citing the inability to check in with their children in case of an emergency. But last month, the school board adopted the new rule. Read more: Despite concerns, MCCSC board passes state-mandated student cellphone policy The corporation continues to deal with the fallout from 2024’s Senate Enrolled Act 1, which reduces property tax revenue for public schools and requires sharing with charter schools. The loss of funding forced MCCSC to lay off 61 food service, health aide, and custodial employees last year. It also froze teacher salaries and did not fill some open positions. Read more: MCCSC board gives financial update, discusses changes to cellphone policy Following the implementation of a fiscal plan by the corporation, MCCSC says it has turned a projected $30 million deficit by 2030 into a projected $35 million surplus. The corporation is also facing a decrease in student enrollment. There were just under 10,000 students last year. Over the next 10 years, that number is projected to drop to around 8,500. And all of these changes come at a time when artificial intelligence is changing the landscape of education. Read more: Teachers worry AI is impacting students' critical thinking On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll discuss new and ongoing issues facing Monroe County students, parents, teachers and administrators with a new school year set to start in a couple weeks. GuestsErin Cooperman, President, MCCSC Board of TrusteesJenny Noble-Kuchera, President, Monroe County Education Association

Following a Supreme Court decision in June that the president had the authority to end the Temporary Protected Status program, the Trump administration is ending protections for immigrants from more than a dozen countries. Read more: Trump can begin deportations of Syrian, Haitian TPS holders, Supreme Court says Now, hundreds of thousands of immigrants living and working in the U.S. legally will lose that protected status and could face deportation. More than a half dozen countries have already had their TPS ended, others are set to expire by this fall. Protected status for more than 330,000 displaced Haitians ends next week. The Temporary Protected Status program was passed by Congress in 1990 to allow eligible migrants to live and work in the U.S. if it was too dangerous to return to their home countries due to natural disasters, armed conflict or other circumstances. But many of those losing status and being sent back to their home countries may be encountering just those conditions. On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll discuss the benefits of having Temporary Protective Status, what losing it will mean, and the role of immigrant support groups at a time when immigrants are under increasing political and social threats. Guests Elizabeth Dunn, Professor of Geography at IU BloomingtonGurinder Kaur, CEO of Immigrant Welcome CenterArwa Ghalawan, Syrian American Community Advocate

Indiana's Senate Enrolled Act 285 went into effect July 1. The new law prohibits camping, sleeping, or sheltering long-term on publicly owned land without permission. If unhoused people don’t move into a shelter or diversion program with 48 hours of being given a warning, they can be charged with a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. Read more: A cop, a homeless man, and a provider: The street view of new state law’s consequences At the same time, local organizations dedicated to fighting homelessness and providing services to unhoused people are making major steps to expand and create new paths towards permanent housing and long-term stability. Read more: Homelessness initiative would offer year of subsidized rent On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll discuss the short and long-term impacts of the new state law, the current state of homelessness response in Monroe County, and what the future looks like for organizations that provide services for unhoused people in Bloomington and beyond. Guests:Reverend Forrest Gilmore, Executive Director at Beacon, Inc.Mary Morgan, Executive Director of Heading Home of South Central IndianaBrian Giffen, Homelessness Response Coordinator with the City of Bloomington.

On Saturday, the United States will celebrate its 250th birthday. In towns and communities across the nation, Americans will gather to honor the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, when the 13 colonies announced their split from Great Britain. And over the past 250 years later, those 13 colonies grew to 50 states and the United States has become one of the world’s superpowers. Read more: Indiana going all out to celebrate America’s 250th birthday Indiana University has a number of events scheduled this summer to commemorate the anniversary. An exhibit at the Lilly Library titled, “The Declaration of Independence: The Motives, The Moment,” looks at how the colonies reached the point of insurrection. Watch: WFIU’s The State of Inquiry Podcast: America 250 And, the nation’s capital is celebrating with a two-week long “Great American State Fair” on the National Mall. But like most events over the past decade or two, claims of its politization have driven a wedge into the celebration. But for some, the celebration of the country’s 250th birthday has turned into more of a wake. Read more: America turns 250. Not everyone is celebrating On this week’s Noon Edition, we’ll discuss America's 250th anniversary - if we're living up to the revolutionary ideals, how today's cultural wars fit in the country's history, how we’re celebrating the Fourth this year and why some may not feel like celebrating. GuestsErika Dowell, Executive Associate Director, IU’s Lilly LibraryLeslie Lenkowsky, Professor Emeritus, IU School of Public and Environmental AffairsCarl Weinberg, Retired Teaching Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences at IU Bloomington