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The goal of the local news collaboration Deep Dive: WFHB & Limestone Post Investigate was to provide Monroe County residents “with vital information, comprehensive coverage, and transparency.” For more than two years, the series covered pressing issues in Monroe County, from health to education to the environment. (Above) Deep Dive opened with a two-part series on the local housing crisis and potential solutions. | Photo by Jim Krause

Deep Dive: WFHB & Limestone Post’s Award-Winning Collaboration Two independent news outlets, two years of in-depth, public-service journalism
Limestone Post
The innovative local news series Deep Dive: WFHB & Limestone Post Investigate received statewide, national, and international recognition, but the most impact was local, surpassing its goal to provide Monroe County residents “with vital information, comprehensive coverage, and transparency.” Read a wrap-up of the series, including links to every broadcast and article by WFHB and Limestone Post.
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While many Americans do not trust national news sources, they still say they have faith in local news. | Photo by iStock/Getty Images Plus

Americans Still Have Faith in Local News — But Few Willing To Pay for It
Jennifer Hoewe
While many Americans have lost trust in national news sources, most say they still rely on the accuracy of local news, with 74 percent of Americans saying they had at least some trust in their local news organizations. And yet, more than 3,200 local and regional newspapers have closed since 2005. This report by Purdue University Professor Jennifer Hoewe puts the plight of news into perspective.
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Immigration enforcement is a key justification for repurposing government data, but it also lays the groundwork for mass surveillance, says IU researcher Nicole M. Bennett. | Photo by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via Getty Images

Making Government Surveillance of Americans More Efficient How the Trump administration is quietly repurposing everyone’s data for surveillance
Nicole M. Bennett
The result of newly imposed data-sharing arrangements between government agencies and private companies means the federal government is transforming into an integrated surveillance apparatus, capable of monitoring behavior at an unprecedented scale. IU researcher Nicole M. Bennett says these developments are framed as administrative streamlining, but they lay the groundwork for mass surveillance, without public scrutiny or judicial oversight. Read Bennett’s analysis here.
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Since 2016, live performances in The Remarkable Women Series have enlightened the public on “the many unknown and un-celebrated contributions of African Americans.” The series is produced by Resilience Productions, which was founded by (above, l-r) Danielle Bruce, Gladys DeVane, and Liz Mitchell. | Courtesy photo

‘History Reclaimed, Stories Retold, Theatre Revealed’ Resilience Productions’ Remarkable Women Series Aims to Educate, Enlighten, and Engage
Hiromi Yoshida
Since 2016, Danielle Bruce, Gladys DeVane, and Liz Mitchell have enlightened the public on “the many unknown and un-celebrated contributions of African Americans” to Indiana and U.S. history. The next live performance in their Remarkable Women Series is about Judge Viola Taliaferro. They shared their personal experiences and unique contributions with writer Hiromi Yoshida. Click here to read about these Remarkable Women.
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In 1994, a group of Bloomington women conducted a homegrown experiment to create a new science playground for children. Today, WonderLab Museum of Science, Health & Technology has become a success story far beyond what many could have imagined. (above) WonderLab staff at the museum’s original location in the Wicks Building on the downtown square (clockwise from far left): Louise Schlesinger, Mary Sommers, Colleen Couper, Karen Stucky, Erin Gerecke, Catherine Olmer, (unidentified), Karen Jepson-Innes, Jeanne Gunning, Greta Faroute | Photo by Melinda Seader

The ‘WonderWomen’ Behind WonderLab
Trung Le
In 1994, a group of Bloomington women conducted a homegrown experiment to create a science playground for children. Today, as it welcomes a new executive director, WonderLab Museum has become a success story far beyond what they imagined. LP contributor Trung Le interviewed some of the women involved with WonderLab since its humble beginnings. Click here to read about the WonderWomen.
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Indiana’s 2025 legislative session is underway at the Indiana Statehouse. A new report gives Indiana a grade of D for funding public schools, and the state ranks 32nd in percent of GDP allocated to K-12 schools. The priorities of the Republicans who control state government would be problematic for public schools, writes Steve Hinnefeld. | Limestone Post

School Matters: Indiana Earns ‘D for Effort’ in Funding Public Education Column by education reporter Steve Hinnefeld
Steve Hinnefeld
A new report gives Indiana a grade of D for funding public schools, and the state ranks 32nd in percent of GDP allocated to K-12 schools. As education reporter Steve Hinnefeld writes, with Indiana’s 2025 legislative session underway, the priorities of the Republicans who control state government would be problematic for public schools. Read Hinnefeld’s column here.
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As communities become more politically polarized, their citizens have to cope with ever more extreme policies. IU political science scholar Marjorie Hershey says polarization tends to make each party “less diverse internally and more different from the views and social characteristics of the other party.” Above, a vendor sells T-shirts in Milwaukee during the Republican National Convention in July. | Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian

Political Polarization Hurts Communities — What Can Be Done? Deep Dive: WFHB & Limestone Post Investigate Political Polarization
Marjorie Hershey, Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian
As communities become more Democratic or Republican, their citizens have to cope with ever more left-wing or right-wing policies. As political science scholar Marjorie Hershey writes, polarization tends to make each party “less diverse internally and more different from the views and social characteristics of the other party.” What can be done about it? Click here for a Deep Dive into political polarization.
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A study conducted in part by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy surveyed teens about the most common sources of distress in their lives. IU Storyteller Nikki Livingston explores both the key findings from the survey and how teens can combat distress and burnout.

American Teens Feel Pressure in 6 Areas of Life How can they address burnout and ‘grind culture’?
Nikki Livingston
What are the most common sources of distress among teens? A study conducted in part by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy surveyed teens about specific pressures they face. IU Storyteller Nikki Livingston explores key findings from the survey and how teens can combat distress, burnout, and “grind culture.” Find out how to address the distress.
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Indiana’s poorly written abortion ban has led to dangerous consequences for pregnant Hoosier women. Despite most people wanting more access to abortion, Indiana legislators have prevented doctors from taking proper care of their patients. (above) In September 2022, community members gathered at the Monroe County Courthouse for a protest vigil a few hours before Indiana’s near total abortion ban went into effect. | Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian

The Harmful Consequences of Indiana’s Badly Written Abortion Ban
Rebecca Hill
Indiana legislators have not clarified critical language in the state’s abortion ban, which has led to serious negative consequences for women’s healthcare, including endangering the lives of pregnant women. In part 2 of Rebecca Hill’s in-depth look at Indiana’s abortion ban, she writes about the problems that the majority of Hoosier lawmakers choose to ignore. Click here for the article.
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Activists gathered at the Monroe County Courthouse in 2022 for the “Take to the Streets — Defend Roe!” rally and march. Later that year, the U.S. Supreme Court ended federal protection of abortion rights across the country. Indiana then became the first state to pass an anti-abortion law, which, according to advocates for women’s health, has created confusion among doctors and endangered the lives of pregnant women. | Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian

Advocates for Women’s Healthcare Have Plans for Stricter Bans Groups provide abortion access despite further restrictions
Rebecca Hill
Poorly written anti-abortion laws in Indiana and other states have forced pregnant women to leave home for life-saving healthcare. Many women rely on networks of groups to help with travel to medical clinics and access to safe medication. Some of those groups have taken cues from the underground networks of the early 1970s. Read the in-depth report here.
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Private schools that get public money in Indiana can reject students for a number of discriminatory reasons, including their religion. Despite growing evidence that voucher students who switch from public to private schools fall behind academically, Indiana legislators increased the cost of the voucher program 40 percent in the 2023–2024 school year — to $439 million. | Photo by Pixabay

School Matters: 439 Million ‘Dollars to Discriminate’ with School Vouchers
Steve Hinnefeld
Despite growing evidence that voucher students fall behind academically when they switch from public to private schools, Indiana legislators have increased the cost of the state’s voucher program to $439 million. Education writer Steve Hinnefeld looks at the latest voucher report from the Indiana Department of Education, and asks, should Hoosier taxpayers pay for schools that discriminate? Read Hinnefeld’s column here.
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