Walnut Street & Smith Avenue
A monarch butterfly feeds on the flowers of a linden tree.
Dave Askins
June 1, 2026: Graduations, convention center upgrades, recycled vinyl records, Ellettsville merger
This week’s edition includes reports on commencement ceremonies at Bloomington North and Bloomington South, as well as upgrades to the Bloomington Convention Center and the possible Ellettsville-Richland Township reorganization.
Ferguson Dog Park
A golden retriever named Muddy Waters routinely catches a second ball with one already in his mouth. (3 photos)
Sunday Funnies: Hawk v. Fish
It's graduation season which means Hawk and Fish have some weird compliments for each other.
Innkeeper’s tax helps pay for upgrades to existing Bloomington Convention Center
Monroe County’s CIB approved $2.1M in renovations for the existing convention center, using $1.6M from innkeeper’s tax reserves approved by the CVC, and about $500,000 of its own construction funds. The work covers HVAC, masonry, DOAS and windows.
Ellettsville, Richland Township OK fiscal impact for merger; police coverage issue gets sharpened
Ellettsville and Richland Township officials separately approved a fiscal impact analysis for a proposed merger, sending it to the state for review. Questions about police service in rural areas surfaced before two hearings in June and a possible Nov. 3 vote.
Washington Street & Kirkwood Avenue (Buskirk-Chumley)
The “Sold Out” sign says it all. Tickets for the pop-up concert by Phoebe Bridgers went fast.