April 16, 2026: Flock cameras, North Park jail, Student IDs, Host hotel, Apartment site plan, Trashion runway

Civic Solver

This week’s Civic Solver is a jigsaw puzzle of Bloom Magazine’s cover. Complete the puzzle and you will know what you are looking for when you head out to any of the myriad locations where you can pick up a copy of this edition. If you want to head directly to the puzzle, without landing on a B Square page first, use this link.

Weather Talk

Based on the National Weather Service forecast in text and charts here’s some advice.

Thursday: Take rain gear when you head out this morning. Showers and thunderstorms are likely, mainly before 9 a.m. The rest of the day will be partly sunny, with a high near 78F°.

Friday: Wear something to keep yourself cool. It will be mostly sunny, with a high near 85F°.

Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system

Recent articles

• Bloomington Flock camera contract expired March 5, mayor reveals non-renewal 6 weeks later.  Bloomington did not renew its contract with Flock Safety for automated license plate readers, mayor Kerry Thomson announced April 15—six weeks after the contract expired. The city says it is transitioning away from Flock while continuing to evaluate other vendors.
• Pushback from public, county council on North Park jail site after filing for settlement extension.  Residents urged Monroe County councilors not to build a new jail at the North Park site during public comment at Tuesday’s meeting. Councilors also reacted to a court-approved extension of the county’s jail settlement agreement, which is tied to a purchase deal for the property.
• Preliminary injunction allowing student IDs at polls gets immediate use in Monroe County.  IU student Josh Montagne cast an early ballot Wednesday at Bloomington’s North Showers site using his university ID, hours after a federal judge blocked enforcement of Indiana’s SB 10. Montagne is a plaintiff in the lawsuit challenging the law.
• Monroe County land transfer to CIB has final OK, with calls for land swap to preserve housing, put host hotel on north parcel.  Monroe County councilors voted April 14 to transfer downtown property that includes Seminary Pointe apartments to the CIB, clearing the way for a potential convention center host hotel deal. The move could, but is not guaranteed, to allow a land swap involving the former Bunger & Robertson site.
• Judge restores use of state-issued university student cards as voter ID in Indiana—for now.  A federal judge has blocked Indiana from enforcing its new ban on using state-university student cards for voting, finding plaintiffs likely to succeed on their constitutional claim. The preliminary injunction restores the previous practice until the lawsuit over the 2025 law is concluded.
• Deadlock on delay leads to 5–3 approval by Bloomington for 360-unit residential project.  Bloomington’s plan commission approved a 360-unit, 760-bed Greystar apartment project at the Bloomington Iron and Metal site on North Rogers Street after a failed 4–4 vote to delay the decision. The major site plan passed 5–3 with conditions on environmental testing, utilities and public paths.
• Plastic bags, pop tabs, bike tires: 17th annual Trashion Refashion transforms trash into couture.  Bloomington’s 17th annual Trashion Refashion Runway Show packed the Buskirk-Chumley Theater on April 12 with more than 50 designs made from discarded materials. The event blended fashion and environmental advocacy while raising funds for the Center for Sustainable Living.
• North Park jail site dispute plays out in new federal court filing by Monroe County commissioners.  A dispute between Monroe County commissioners and councilors over North Park as new jail site surfaced in a federal court filing Monday. Commissioners and the ACLU asked to extend the long-running jail settlement to May 29 to allow time to OK purchase agreement for the property

On the calendar

Canceled: Board of county commissioners meeting. The regular 10 a.m. Thursday (April 16) meeting of the board of county commissioners has been canceled.

Parks master plan. On the 5 p.m. Thursday (April 16) meeting agenda for the board of parks commissioners is a report on the 2026-2030 5-year master plan.

Little 500: April 24–25, 2026. Looking ahead to next weekend, the Little 500 bicycle race is on the calendar. Remember that even in a limestone town, a team called the Cutters can’t take winning for granite.

Ms. Lake Lemon: May 16. Start your training regimen now. This amazing contest of skill is to be held at Riddle Point Park this year. Monitor the Ms. Lake Lemon Facebook page for details, as they become available. The B Square covered last year’s inaugural event.

Meet Brandy!

This very, very good girl is a shepherd-Rottweiler mix. Here’s what the shelter staff have written about Brandy:

Brandy is a very people-friendly gal who is excited to get out of the shelter and start her new life! She loves spending time with humans and does well meeting new friends. She also likes to play with toys and tugs. She has been very housetrained. She is not good with other animals and would need to be the only pet.

Photo Finish: City hall

The Photo Finish items are drawn from the B There section of the B Square website.

Thanks for reading. I hope you have a great weekend!

Dave Askins
734-645-2633
dave@bsquarebulletin.com

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