Kirkwood Avenue & College Avenue
There’s new art hanging on the walls of the backroom at Inkwell.
Dave Askins
Feb. 9, 2026: Elections, hotel deal, Kirkwood, pretty birds
This edition includes reports on early voting funding, Kirkwood’s summer conversion, the apparent fizzling of a host hotel deal for the convention center, and some photographs of some very pretty birds.
Election 2026: Contested local primaries, some November matchups take shape across Monroe County
With the filing deadline passed, Monroe County voters face a mix of crowded May primaries and a few November matchups. Democrats have contested races for assessor, clerk, commissioner and prosecutor, while several township boards and trustee seats are also contested.
Sunday Funnies: Hawk v. Fish
Of course Hawk is gonna make the superb owl joke today, but what about Fish?
Photos: Look! Hooded mergansers at Miller-Showers Park
On the partly frozen detention pond at Miller-Showers Park, a male hooded merganser and two females paddled through the remaining open water. A warming trend means the ice will be short-lived. The weird-looking ducks were a nice surprise, even if serious birders might yawn.
Walnut Street & Cottage Grove Avenue
Two weeks after the snow fell there are still some stretches of uncleared sidewalks.
Bloomington may walk back plan to keep Kirkwood open to vehicle traffic, after city council backlash
Bloomington councilmembers sharply criticized city staff's plan to keep Kirkwood Avenue open to cars in 2026, arguing it undercuts last year’s conversion ordinance. Staff cite costs and logistics. The administration is now reconsidering the proposal and could produce a revised plan later this month.