October 26, 2026 WFHB Local News 125 Views
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This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, October 26th, 2026.
In today’s newscast, Democrat Beau Bayh and Republican Max Engling faced off in a debate for the Indiana Secretary of State race ahead of the upcoming November election. More in today’s feature report.
You’ll also hear Aubrey Seader from the Bloomington Volunteer Network. She says donating your time to a local nonprofit makes YOUR life better too. Find out more about our town’s online hub for community service later in the show on a new episode of Activate!
Monroe County health officer resigns before removal hearing
Monroe County health officer Dr. Sarah Ryterband resigned on October 22nd during the board of health’s regular meeting prior to a hearing on her potential removal. This comes six weeks after Ryterband fired health administrator Lori Kelley.
Board members unanimously approved hiring an interim health officer but that appointment still needs approval. Ryterband announced she was leaving immediately.
“It has been interesting partnering with you all, and I do love you, but I am done. I resign effective immediately,” says Ryterband.
Ryterband defended her decision to fire Kelley and accused the board of failing to ask for her explanation.
“I’m sad because not one of you reached out to ask what was going on that I would act in a manner that you must have seen as precipitous,” says Ryterband.
County attorney David Schilling said no vote was needed to accept the resignation. Hanner-Robinson then discussed temporary replacement.
“Dr. Paul Broderick, who currently serves as the Morgan County Health officer has indicated that he would be willing to serve as interim health officer for a few months for us. This is, of course, pending his approval, or rather, approval by our commissioners, and also pending approval of his board to allow him to do that because he currently serves in Morgan County,” says Hanner-Robinson.
Schilling says the county needs to act promptly because the health department can no longer issue documents under Ryterband’s authority.
“Sarah is no longer the health officer, so anything that’s stamped issued by the the health department with her name on it cannot be issued until we have some some replacement, which we need to do quickly,” says Schilling.
Schilling maintained he would contact state health officials about covering the vacancy while the interim appointment moves forward. The board also plans to advertise a position for a permanent health officer. Hanner-Robinson says they’re currently reviewing applications for the vacant health administrator position.
The hearing to consider Ryterband’s removal following the regular health board session was canceled.
Indiana Secretary of State candidates spar over election security, low voter turnout in debate
Two candidates from each major political party participated in a debate on Thursday for the Indiana Secretary of State race.
Democrat Beau Bayh and Republican Max Engling faced off in a debate ahead of the November election. Candidates clashed over election security, voter participation and alleged misconduct in the office.
The Secretary of State office serves as Indiana’s chief election officer, overseeing elections alongside county officials. On election security, both candidates agreed Indiana’s elections are secure. However, they differed on how to handle Indiana’s historically low voter turnout.
Bayh argued that Indiana needs to give voters more opportunities to participate in elections, including ending straight-ticket voting and allowing citizen-led ballot initiatives.
“More competition in politics holds politicians more accountable. It also increases the likelihood that folks will get out and vote because they’ll feel like, hey, my vote really might make the difference here,” says Bayh.
Engling acknowledged the state’s low voter turnout; however, he emphasized voter education, partnerships with county clerks and maintaining accurate voter rolls.
He proposed expanding early voting hours to better accommodate working people while continuing efforts to prevent noncitizens from voting.
“We certainly want it to be straightforward to vote. We want everybody that is eligible to vote to get the most access they possibly can to vote, so their voices are heard,” says Engling.
According to a December 2025 announcement from Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales and Attorney General Todd Rokita, a federal citizenship verification review identified 165 noncitizens registered to vote in Indiana, including at least 21 who allegedly cast ballots in recent elections.
However, as reported by the Indiana Capital Chronicle, state officials did not specify which election those votes occurred in or provide details about how each case was verified. For perspective, nearly three million Hoosiers voted in the 2024 general election alone. While the findings indicated instances of potential illegal voting, they do not establish widespread noncitizen voting in Indiana.
Next, the candidates sparred over allowing Indiana voters to place statewide referendums on the ballot without legislative approval.
Bayh argued that allowing voters to weigh in directly on issues like redistricting would increase participation and hold elected officials accountable.
Meanwhile, Engling opposed the proposal saying wealthy outside interests could influence elections through expensive campaigns surrounding ballot initiatives.
“One of the big problems with our politics here in Indiana is that some of the folks in the state house are too often looking out for the special interests, not the interests of the working people of our state. So I say let’s give the 5 million registered Hoosier voters a more direct say in some of the biggest issues that are facing them,” says Bayh.
“It’s dark money on the outside that spends hundreds of millions of dollars on confusingly worded ballot initiatives to try and trick the voters into getting information through and into law here in Indiana,” says Engling.
Then, candidates began to tackle issues of government accountability. Current Secretary of State Diego Morales has faced criticism over taxpayer-funded spending, the hiring of relatives and contracts awarded by his office.
Both candidates called for greater oversight for the office. Bayh pledged to conduct an independent audit of the office if elected. He also promised not to award state contracts to campaign donors, hire relatives or trade individual stocks while in office. Engling argued an investigation should be conducted by the state’s inspector general.
“Yeah, it’s been a central promise of this campaign that I will conduct an independent audit of this office,” says Bayh.
“I think we need to have the inspector general with the authority to do this, the full weight of the state to look at it and see if there are issues,” says Engling.
Candidates also tackled campaign finance transparency and the role of partisan politics in election administration. Independent candidate Greg Ballard and Libertarian Laurie Schilling were not among the participants.
Indiana voters will decide their next Secretary of State in the November 3rd election.
As the leaves change color and temperatures begin to drop, fall festivities are in full swing across southern Indiana. But behind the hayrides, corn mazes and pumpkin picking, local farmers are facing challenges of their own. In today’s feature report, WFHB Correspondent Stephanie Stewart visits Fowler Pumpkin Patch, where she speaks with owner Perry Fowler about the family-run operation, its seasonal attractions and the impact of this year’s growing conditions.
The new coordinator of the Bloomington Volunteer Network has a challenge for us: 100,000 hours of community service this year. Aubrey Seader was raised in a family that normalized volunteering as a natural part of everyday life. Now sh