Feb. 5, 2026: Amplify Bloomington, Lee Hamilton, Hopewell, host hotel

Supporting The B Square: Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who already supports The B Square. If today is the day you have decided to help make this enterprise sustainable, here’s the link, where you can start making a recurring monthly contribution. The same link will allow someone to sign up for the Almost Daily Bulletin newsletter for free, just by choosing the “Free” tier. For folks who prefer to write paper checks, here’s the address: Dave Askins c/o The B Square Bulletin, PO Box 3355, Bloomington, IN 47402.

Weather Talk

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

Thursday: Dress warm, and slow down. There will be scattered flurries after 1 p.m. It will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 26F°.

Friday: Slow way down and maybe ask if you need to travel at all. There will be patchy snow and freezing rain before 11 a.m., then a slight chance of snow between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Do not wear shorts and sandals, but the high is supposed to get above freezing, near 36F°.

Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system

Recent articles

• Amplify Bloomington launched as ‘civic platform’ for innovation, with Fernandez at the helm.  Amplify Bloomington debuted as a 'civic platform' uniting The Mill, the Trades District, Indiana University, city government, and major employers under one strategy. Led by former mayor John Fernandez, the effort aims to coordinate startups, talent, space, and capital.
• Gordon sworn in as Perry Township trustee after caucus pick, transition starts.  Perry Township’s new trustee, Leon Gordon, was sworn in Tuesday at Bloomington city hall after a Democratic Party caucus chose him to replace the late Dan Combs. Gordon is transitioning from New Hope for Families while preparing for the May primary election for trustee.
• Lee Hamilton, bipartisan fixture of U.S. foreign affairs policy, proud Hoosier, dies at 94.  Lee Hamilton, the southern Indiana Democrat who served 34 years in Congress and later helped lead the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks on the United States, has died at 94. A former chair of key House foreign affairs and intelligence panels, he was known for pragmatic, bipartisan leadership.
• Hopewell anchors busy February for Bloomington's redevelopment commission.  Bloomington’s redevelopment commission has a packed February which includes: launch of a process to establish the city’s first residential TIF districts, a second plan commission hearing on Hopewell South, and more—as the city tries to tie financing, zoning and land strategy to housing goals.
• RDC bets on Hopewell South engineering as rezone heads back to plan commission for second hearing.  Bloomington’s plan commission is likely to vote Feb. 9 on rezoning 6.3 acres of the former IU Health hospital site for the Hopewell South PUD. Meanwhile the Bloomington RDC is already moving a ahead with a $424,000 preliminary engineering contract, OK’d on Monday.

Quick notes

Pepper spray, intimidation with gun? Towards the end of the protest against ICE and Flock cameras last Friday, there was a confrontation between an armed protester and a man who was looking for his daughter that ended with the protester pepper-spraying the man. The protestor was arrested and booked into jail on a charge of assault and pointing a firearm at another person.

As of Wednesday (Feb. 6), the Monroe County prosecutor’s office had not released the probable cause affidavit: “We want to make sure that we have as much information as possible. If you know of anyone with cell phone videos, please send them our way.”

Fluoride back in Bloomington drinking water? Based on information from a reliable source, the Bloomington fluoridation system for its drinking water is again operational. But The B Square has yet to get confirmation directly from city of Bloomington utilities that fluoride is back in the drinking water. It emerged last summer that no fluoride had been added to the city’s drinking water for a few years.

Board of zoning appeals: Re-appointment uncertain. At the Bloomington city council meeting on Wednesday, Jo Throckmorton’s name was pulled off a long list of appointments to boards and commissions. Throckmorton was proposed to be reappointed to the board of zoning appeals (BZA). But councilmember Matt Flaherty asked that his name be removed from consideration, based on the position that Throckmorton had taken on a case that had been in front of the BZA in 2024 involving conditional use approval for a duplex.

The council did not vote on Throckmorton’s reappointment—there is another candidate who has applied for appointment, who will be considered. The eventual outcome could be that either Throckmorton or the other candidate, or neither, will be appointed to the BZA seat.

On the calendar

25-year moratorium on subdivision. On the 10 a.m. Thursday (Feb. 5) meeting agenda for Monroe County commissioners is a county development ordinance (CDO) amendment that would tidy up the rules for its sliding scale subdivision option, but leave a key feature intact. The part that would be left intact is to prohibit any further subdivision of the parent parcel for the next 25 years.

A “sliding scale” means the number of small house lots you’re allowed to create increases in steps as the original parcel gets larger—bigger tracts can split off more lots—while at least 55% must remain as one large parent parcel. The proposal was forwarded to the commissions by the county plan commission with a positive recommendation on a 5–4 vote. The item is controversial because some plan commissioners think the 25-year moratorium is too long.

Election board: Early voting. On the 1:30 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 5) meeting agenda for the Monroe County election board are the hours for early voting in the 2026 election cycle. Background to that discussion of early voting hours includes a request from the clerk’s office made to the county council for an additional appropriation, to fund the compensation of poll workers needed for the number of hours that has been traditional in Monroe County. For B Square background, see: Early voting hours in Monroe County uncertain as council delays funding decision

Host hotel development? On the 3 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 5) meeting agenda for the Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB) is discussion of the development of a host hotel for the convention center. The main event will likely be the consideration of a proposed letter of intent from Dora Hospitality for development of the real estate south of the existing convention center facility as a host hotel. For B Square background, see: Feb. 5 meeting to review Dora ‘south option’ convention center hotel; mayor’s news release leaves CIB head ‘baffled’

Zingtrain (April 1). Brought to you by the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, this is a full day of training at the Bloomington Convention Center from the world’s leading experts in customer service—Zingerman’s Deli in Ann Arbor, Michigan. That’s not just the chamber telling you that, it’s me—former Ann Arbor resident for two decades—telling you that. And check this out: This event is free to everybody, chamber members and non-members alike. The chamber’s event description has more details. Lunch will also be provided!

Meet Artemis!

This very, very good boy is a mix of bully breed and hound. Here’s what the shelter staff have written about Artemis:

Artemis is a genuine peach of a dog. He adores everyone he meets, is incredibly cuddly and affectionate, and loves playing with other dogs. Anyone who chooses this sweet boy for a companion is in for a wonderful time!

Photo Finish: Pete Ellis Drive & East 10th Street

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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Civic Solver

Civic Solver turns Bloomington’s everyday civic life into a puzzle worth cracking—from familiar faces to local landmarks. This week’s puzzle is a basketball jigsaw: the Duncan dunk in 24 pieces.