July 10, 2025: Jail funding, street construction, recent arrests, water color, mandolins
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Weather
Based on the National Weather Service forecast in text and charts here’s some advice:
Thursday: Slow down. You’re going to get there in plenty of time, and you will be dealing with the morning fog that could persist through 10 a.m. Otherwise it will be a standard mid-July Bloomington day—mostly sunny, with a high near 88°F.
Friday: Just like Friday, except for the fog. Slow down, anyway, because maybe generally you move too fast. And maybe you want to make the morning last. Wear something that will make you feel groovy, even when the temperature hits the forecasted high of 90°F.
Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system.
Roundup of recent articles
- Monroe County sheriff announces arrests in separate cases: mid-June shooting; stolen trailer from Kentucky. On Wednesday (July 9) the Monroe County sheriff’s office announced arrests in two separate cases—one a shooting in mid-June and another involving a stolen trailer that was found on Tuesday.
- Monroe County leaders split on letter to state lawmakers over funding for new jail. After an hour of discussion Tuesday night, Monroe County councilors and commissioners did not have a clear path forward for asking state legislators for changes to Indiana tax law that might help them finance the planned new jail. A draft letter was not put to a vote.
- Bloomington RDC wants environmental sign-off before $1.7M street project starts for Hopewell neighborhood. The city of Bloomington’s effort to redevelop the Hopewell neighborhood took another step forward on Monday night. Getting approval from the city’s redevelopment commission at its regular meeting was a $1.7 million contract with Crider & Crider, Inc. to start a street construction project.
- Drinking water notebook: Bloomington says water color issues are aesthetic, caused by minerals; plans flushing. Some complaints logged in Bloomington’s uReport system over the weekend describe Bloomington’s drinking water as yellow or brown. A response from CBU indicates that the issues are aesthetic, due to naturally occurring substances, and that the water is safe.
On the calendar
Letter to legislators? On the 10 a.m. Thursday (July 10) meeting agenda for Monroe County commissioners is a letter that commissioners would like to send to state legislators, asking for change to state tax law that will make it easier to finance the county’s planned new jail project. For B Square background, see: Monroe County leaders split on letter to state lawmakers over funding for new jail.
Free mandolin music! Starting at 7 p.m. on Friday (July 11) at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater is a free mandolin concert. From the event host: “A Night of Mandolin Music: Jim Richter Mandolin Camp Faculty Concert celebrates mandolin music across its spectrum—orchestral, folk, jazz, bluegrass, rock, and blues. The Jim Richter Mandolin Camp for the Rest of Us is in its 12th year and has been a center of mandolin instruction based in Bloomington, Indiana since 2011”
Book Swap: Morgenstern’s. On Sunday, July 20, Morgenstern’s is hosting a book swap from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. All books have to be in good condition and printed in the last 10 years. There’s a limit of 5 books to swap per participant.
Vacancy caucus. The Monroe County Democratic Party will be holding a vacancy caucus to elect a new chair of the party on July 20 at 3 p.m in Bloomington’s city hall. For B Square background, see: Ujdak resigns as chair of Monroe County Dems after 3 1/2 months, calls for ‘direct action’ to improve lives of others
Meet Cinder!
Up for adoption, as of July 6, 2025, at the city of Bloomington's animal shelter is Cinder. Here's another link: all animals up for adoption at the shelter. (The photos are from the city's website.)
This very, very good girl is a husky. Here’s what the shelter staff have written about Cinder:
Cinder is a shy sweetheart who was found as a stray. She is pretty tiny for a husky, but we think that makes her extra cute. She walks politely on leash and enjoys a gentle sniff around the yard.
Photo Finish: Buskirk-Chumley Theater
The Photo Finish items are drawn from the B There section of the B Square website.
The geographic coverage of the B There section is pretty limited. Please consider occasionally contributing to the B There section some brief factual observations about the world outside your own head, as you go about your normal business. (Photos are optional for B There.) The mechanics of making a contribution are pretty straightforward—just let me know if you'd like to learn the ins and outs. If you're looking at this bulletin in your email inbox, you should be able to reach me by hitting Reply.
Thanks for reading. I hope you have a great weekend!
Dave Askins
734-645-2633
dave@bsquarebulletin.com
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