July 13, 2026: Jail emergency, ACLU lawsuit, jail site debate, fatal crash, Revolutionary War plaque

Civic Solver

This week’s puzzle is a 10-question news quiz. Even if you don’t know every answer, you might find it a more entertaining way to get up to speed on what happened over the last week!

Weather Talk

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

Monday: Don’t leave the house without an umbrella, but not because of rain. The sun will be beating down the whole day and umbrellas make for great portable shade. (If not for you, then for someone you see baking under the hot rays.) The high will be 86F°.

Friday: Rinse, repeat. Except the high will be 90F°.

Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system

Recent articles

• Plaque dedication in Monroe County marks nation’s 250th anniversary.  A new plaque unveiled Saturday at the Monroe County Courthouse recognizes 30 Revolutionary War patriots buried in the county, replacing a 1986 version. The local DAR chapters hosted the dedication as part of events marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.
• Sunday Funnies: Hawk v. Fish.  Hawk: The bridge connecting the two parts of the convention center should be called "Luke" you know, like "Luke, the Skywalk." Star Wars, you know? Hilarious, right? Why does Fish say that’s not going to happen?
• Monroe County property transfers through July 9, 2026.  This report includes new property transfers in Monroe County that haven’t previously been reported by The B Square, with dates ranging from June 3 to July 9, 2026. The data in this report comes from Beacon, the county’s online geographic information system for property and parcel data.
• New federal lawsuit alleges unconstitutional conditions at Monroe County jail.  The ACLU has filed a proposed class action on behalf of two Monroe County jail prisoners, alleging unconstitutional overcrowding, unsafe conditions and a deteriorating facility. The suit was filed one day after commissioners declared an overcrowding emergency in preparation for inmate transfers.
• Support heard for renovation of Monroe County jail with added space using Curry Building.  A jail-site panel heard public support Thursday for renovating the downtown justice center and expanding, by using the Curry Building. Members kept a July 13 deadline, and prepared to recommend a site from five remaining options after a few weeks of review.
• Bloomington police: SUV turned into path of truck in fatal crash near SR 45/46 and I-69.  An 85-year-old Bloomington man was killed Thursday morning when police say his SUV turned into the path of a box truck on SR 45/46 near I-69. The truck driver was taken to a hospital and voluntarily submitted to a blood draw. Bloomington police are investigating.
• Monroe County declares jail-overcrowding emergency, sheriff preps to move up to 100 inmates.  Monroe County commissioners declared a jail-overcrowding emergency Thursday after sheriff Ruben Marté said the county must prepare to move 50 to 100 inmates elsewhere. The first-year cost could reach $5.09 million as the jail population far exceeds its functional capacity.
• Monroe County commissioners unveil jail-site map, scoring grid as they push case for North Park.  Monroe County commissioners say time and space will drive their jail-site decision—and both factors point to North Park. They also unveiled a site-evaluation grid and dynamic map, while warning of mounting legal, financial and human costs as a city-county panel nears a recommendation on July 13.

Other notes

Special meeting of election board. On Friday (July 10) at 10 a.m. the special meeting of the Monroe County election board had exactly one agenda item, which was to approve the ballot language for the referendum on the merging of Richland Township and Town of Ellettsville government. The board approved the language, but only after some discussion. Using the full block of text will probably push the ballot for Nov. 3 to two pages. For B Square background see: Ellettsville–Richland reorganization headed to November ballot.

On the calendar

Jail site recommendation. At noon on Monday (July 13), the final meeting of a subcommittee will be held to make a recommendation on a site for a new jail that is located inside the city limits. For the most recent B Square background just on the work of the Collaborative Justice Project Working Subcommittee, see: Support heard for renovation of Monroe County jail with added space using Curry Building

UDO text amendments. On the agenda for the plan commission at its 5:30 p.m. Monday (July 13) meeting are some proposed changes to the city’s unified development ordinance (UDO). These are changes initiated by the city council, which include the elimination of parking minimums from the code. I think the most likely outcome is for the plan commission to continue consideration of the UDO changes to its regular meeting in August, before voting on a recommendation to the city council.

Tax abatement for Scientia. On the county council’s 5 p.m. Tuesday (July 14) agenda is a tax abatement for Scientia LLC. Scientia. According to the company’s application materials, it expects to create 30–35 new jobs on top of its 40 existing jobs. The abatement would cover $1.425 million in new assessed value: $1 million for the new building; and $425,000 in new personal property and IT equipment.

Although there is not an item explicitly on the agenda about the the emergency declaration related to the jail or the lawsuit over jail conditions that was filed on Friday, it’s hard to imagine that no councilor will say a single word about those topics at the Tuesday meeting.

Bicycle racing, soccer. On the board of public works agenda for 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday (July 14) are two street closure items. One is for the July 19 viewing of the World Cup finals which will mean shutting down the part of Kirkwood Avenue outside Uptown Cafe, where the restaurant plans to set up a giant screen for people to watch the game. For a couple of the matches played by the U.S. team, including last Monday (July 6), Uptown has used a setup that used an on-street parking space.

Also on the board’s agenda is a series of right-of-way permits with dates ranging from July 20 to Aug. 4 for the making of a movie called “LITTLE FIVE.” According to the board’s meeting information packet, the film is set against the backdrop of Indiana University in the early 1980s and inspired by the first Women’s Little 500 race in 1988.

In spring of 1988, I had just moved to Bloomington, and was living on Jefferson Street where I rented a room in a house with three strangers, one of whom turned out to be training for the first Women’s Little 500 race. I wonder if Angie knows about the making of the movie.

Selection of convention center hotelier? The schedule laid out by the Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB) calls for the board at its 3 p.m. Wednesday (July 15) meeting to choose a hotelier to develop a host hotel for the convention center at Seminary Pointe.

It’s not clear if that will actually happen. The CIB’s hotel evaluation group is expected to deliver a recommendation on a choice of hoteliers on Wednesday. But one possibility is that the CIB could let the recommendation sit for a few days, to allow for the results of the Bloomington redevelopment commission’s (RDC’s) public offering of College Square to come in—they’re due by July 20. That could allow for a land-swap scenario to be considered: Seminary Pointe for College Square.

The land-swap idea has broad support across the community. Last Friday, five Bloomington city councilmembers sent a letter to the RDC in support of the land swap. For B Square background, see: Dora, MHG pitch host hotel plans for Bloomington convention center, land-swap question lingers or Bloomington Convention Center Timeline.

Carwash fundraiser: July 18. Is your car filthy? Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana invites the community to support the 17th Annual Crew for Kids fundraiser on Saturday, July 18, 2026, with a rain date of Saturday, July 25. For one day only, visit a participating Crew Carwash location and purchase an Ultimate or Ultimate 360 wash. Fifty percent of the cost will be donated directly to Big Brothers Big Sisters, helping join Bigs and Littles together for effective mentorship and impacting lives for the better through meaningful one-to-one relationships. Bloomington participants can visit Crew Carwash at 235 South Pete Ellis Drive or 3430 West 3rd Street.

Meet Disney Land!

This very, very good boy is a German shepherd mix. Here’s what the shelter staff have written about Disney Land:

I am new to the shelter and we are all getting to know each other. If you are interested in adopting, stop by the shelter for a visit.

Let’s please make Disney Land’s stay at the shelter as short as possible.

Photo Finish: 7th Street & College Avenue

The Photo Finish items are drawn from the B There section of the B Square website.

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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