April 27, 2026: Kirkwood shooting, Perry Township trustee race, residential TIF, downtown Bloomington real estate

Civic Solver

We don’t have a new puzzle this week. We hope to have a new one for you next week!

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Weather Talk

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

Monday: Prepare for possible very bad weather. Whatever errands you need to get done, do them early. The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook that includes Monroe County:

Severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon into tonight. The main threat will be damaging straight line winds, although isolated tornadoes will also be possible. Flooding is also possible.

The probability of rain starts at around 30% at 10 a.m. and increases from there. Chances of thunderstorms start at around 30% at 2 p.m. and increase from there. By 9 p.m. we are almost guaranteed rain, with a 70% chance of thunderstorms. The high temperature will be around 78F°.

Tuesday: You’ll have most of the day to get things done. It will be mostly cloudy, then gradually become sunny, with a high near 74F°. But by around 8 p.m. there will be a 70% chance of rain, increasing from there. There will also be a slight chance of thunderstorms, increasing to around 50% through the early morning hours into Wednesday.

Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system

Recent articles

• Bloomington police correct tally on Kirkwood shooting: 5 hit by bullet or fragments, 1 victim in hospital.  Police now say just five of nine reported injuries in a Kirkwood Little 500 weekend shooting were caused by bullets or fragments; others were hurt fleeing. Two men are believed to have fired shots after a fight between two women. Victims were bystanders, not targets. The investigation continues.
• Bloomington police seek video after gunfire erupts in Kirkwood crowd, wounding at least 9.  Bloomington police say several people were wounded after gunfire erupted just after midnight Sunday on Kirkwood Avenue. Victims were taken to hospitals by ambulance, police and private vehicles. No suspects are in custody. Police are asking for help: Detective Chris Scott at 812-339-4477.
• Photos: Black Key Bulls win 2026 Little 500, after crash ends race under yellow flag.  The Black Key Bulls prevailed in Saturday’s Little 500 men’s race, after a crash with two laps to go ended the race under a yellow flag. Photographer Juliette Kniola was there to capture the competition for The B Square.
• Sunday Funnies: Hawk v. Fish.  Hawk: A Little 500 bicycle team goes into a bar. They try to order a custom cocktail called the “Two-Tired Toddy.” How does Fish complete the joke?
• Monroe County property transfers through April 23, 2026.  This report includes new property transfers in Monroe County that haven’t previously been reported by The B Square, with dates ranging from March 20 to April 23, 2026. The data in this report comes from Beacon, the county’s online geographic information system for property and parcel data.
• Photos: Alpha Chi Omega wins 2026 Little 500 Women’s Race.  Alpha Chi Omega won Friday’s edition of the women’s Little 500 bicycle race. Photographer Juliette Kniola was there to capture the competition for The B Square.
• New incumbent, familiar name square off in Perry Township Democratic Party primary.  Pre-primary filings show little money in the Perry Township trustee race, even if the stakes are big. Incumbent Leon Gordon seeks to continue in office, while Levi Combs appeals to his father's legacy.
• Request for host hotel proposals OK’d by CIB at Seminary Pointe, activists still hope for land swap.  Monroe County’s CIB approved an RFP for a convention center hotel using the Seminary Pointe real estate, with proposals due June 30. Housing advocates urged a land swap to preserve 29 affordable units, as Bloomington's RDC pursues its own RFP for College Square.
• Bloomington council OKs residential TIF for Summit, now back to RDC for final step.  Bloomington’s council created the 140-acre Summit District EDA and named Shasta Meadows as its first residential TIF district. The plan aims to fund major infrastructure, but sparked discussion about growth and a shift toward public financing of development.

Quick Notes

What do you think about public art? The Monroe County capital improvement board has released four finalist proposals for public art at the Bloomington Convention Center expansion and is inviting community feedback. People can review the proposals and submit comments online through May 1. For B Square background, see: Four finalist proposals revealed for Bloomington Convention Center art, public input sought. 

Early voting numbers. The local early voting numbers for the May 5 primary election continue to be strong. So far this year, 2,664 people have voted early. Monroe County has set up a dashboard to make it easy to track.

On the calendar

Outside counsel for county council about jail? On the 5 p.m. Tuesday (April 28) meeting agenda for the Monroe County council is discussion and possible approval of $30,000 appropriation “as a precautionary measure with regards to the possible ACLU litigation.” For B Square background, see: County council stand against North Park jail location backed by Bloomington counterparts

Purchase agreement for North Park as jail site. Looking ahead to the county commissioners meeting on April 30, there will likely be a purchase agreement for North Park on the agenda.

Government & Politics calendar. For a look just at the government and politics events on the community calendar, try this: pre-filtered view. Yes, I realize that the Spinners and Weavers Guild events are currently mis-classified!

Wise Panic Residency and Events. (April 26–30) Hosted by The Hundredth Hill. A spring residency exploring how communities respond to crisis through conversation, art, and scholarship. Participants include Ira Allen, Shannon Gayk, Mana Rezaei, and Minka Wiltz. Free public events include a community hike (April 26, 2–5 p.m.), a workshop at Redbud Books (April 28, 7 p.m.), and a reading at Morgenstern Books (April 30, 6 p.m.).

The residency also supports new creative work, including music and a developing screenplay. Organizers aim to spark discussion on navigating political, cultural, and environmental crises while strengthening community connections.

Hoosier Hills Plant Sale. Thursday to Saturday (April 30 to May 2) at the Hoosier Hills Career Center. Student-run greenhouse sale with vegetables, herbs, annuals, perennials, and houseplants. Hours: Thu–Fri 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sat 9–11 a.m. First come, first served. Plants are grown and maintained by students in the agriculture program and FFA chapter. Hanging baskets and planters available for Mother’s Day. Pre-orders due Apr. 24. Information at the website.

Air Sealing and Insulation Workshop. Thursday (April 30) from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Bloomington city hall. This is a free workshop on cutting energy loss and utility costs. Covers air leaks, insulation basics, and available rebates. Includes expert guidance, refreshments, and kids’ activities. Please register at https://bit.ly/showtell-energy. This is hosted by Electrify Indiana, a local volunteer-driven nonprofit, in partnership with the city of Bloomington.

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 Krypto!

Up for adoption, as of April 26 at the city of Bloomington’s animal shelter is Krypto. Here’s another link: all animals up for adoption at the shelter. (The photo is from the city’s website.)

This very, very good boy is a Dalmatian. Here’s what the shelter staff have written about Krypto:

Meet Krypto, the 6-year-old Dalmatian who is ready to fly right into your heart! Just like his superhero namesake, Krypto is full of energy, spirit, and a whole lot of love. The Quick Stats: Breed: Dalmatian (Check out those iconic spots!) Age: 6 years young Favorite Hobby: Professional Tennis Ball Retriever Superpower: High-speed "Zoomies" He’s incredibly friendly and greets everyone with a wagging tail and a big Dalmatian smile. At 6 years old, he’s found the perfect balance: he has plenty of energy for playtime, but he’s also mastered the art of the post-zoomie nap.

Photo Finish: Kirkwood Avenue & Dunn Street

The Photo Finish items are drawn from the B There section of the B Square website. But there are no new B There items since Monday.

Thanks for reading. I hope your week is off to a great start!

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

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