July 16, 2026: Host hotel; Scientia tax break; North Dunn subdivision; jail plan; parking rate overhaul

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.

Thursday: Slow down. It will be foggy early. Wear something cool that dries fast, because even if you get caught in a late-date thundershower, it’s probably not the kind of thing an umbrella will help with. But take an umbrella anyway, if you like, because it will help ward off the sun. Until about 3 p.m. when the slight chance of thundershowers starts, it will be sunny and hot with a high of around 91F°.

Friday: Take rain gear. There will be a chance of thundershowers starting as soon as 10 a.m. increasing to almost certain thundershowers by around 1 p.m. lasting through the rest of the day.

Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system

Recent articles

• CIB selects Dora for Bloomington Convention Center hotel, declines delay for potential land-swap.  Dora Hospitality won unanimous CIB approval Wednesday to build a 200-room convention center host hotel on the Seminary Pointe block. The CIB declined requests to delay the choice for a potential land swap with the city’s RDC.
• Monroe County OKs $82K Scientia tax abatement tied to 30 new jobs.  Monroe County councilors gave final 7–0 approval to a 10-year, $82,000 real-property tax abatement for defense contractor Scientia LLC, which plans to double its west-side facility and add 30 jobs with $2.3 million in new payroll.
• Photos: Inside the Bloomington Convention Center expansion.  After last Wednesday’s (July 8) meeting of the Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB) some board members were taken on a tour of the convention center expansion project. Leading the way was Weddle Bros. construction project manager Andrew Scere. The B Square tagged along.
• Bloomington plan commission OKs 11-lot North Dunn subdivision.  Bloomington’s plan commission approved an 11-lot North Dunn Street subdivision and three waivers, including one to allow a cul-de-sac. The 7–2 vote came after deliberations about wetlands and future transportation connections.
• Renovation-plus-Curry plan edges out Thomson site for jail panel’s recommendation.  A city-county subcommittee voted 3–2 to make renovation of the current Monroe County justice center, with expansion into the Curry and Fiscus buildings, its top jail-site recommendation. The Thomson property off South Rogers Street was the unanimous second choice.
• Bloomington’s parking consultant: Raise rates, use plate readers, shift ticket appeals from clerk.  A consultant’s study recommends a broad overhaul of Bloomington’s downtown parking system, including $1.50-an-hour core rates, doubled garage rates, pay-by-plate kiosks, license-plate-reader enforcement, shorter evening hours, and changes to fines and appeals.

On the calendar

Jail emergency, tax abatement. On the 10 a.m. Thursday (July 16) meeting agenda for the Monroe County commissioners are two items that have already seen action. On is the acknowledgment of a jail emergency due to overcrowding. The resolution on the jail was passed at the work session held immediately following last week’s regular meeting. On Thursday, the commissioners will be ratifying their action.

A second item involving action already taken, by the county council, relates to the tax abatement approved for Scientia. Because the real estate in question is inside a TIF (tax increment finance) district, it requires approval by the commissioners.

Roller Derby: Saturday (July 18). If you enjoyed The B Square’s photos of the roller derby action at Frank Southern Ice Arena a couple of weeks ago, you can watch more skating action with your own eyeballs this Saturday evening from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for $12. It’s billed as a double header, with the first bout starting at 5 p.m. between the Bloomington Blockheads going up against the Flat Track Attack. At 7 p.m the Bumblebees (black) take on the Butterflies (white/pastels). It’s the same venue as before: Frank Southern Ice Arena.

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings: Saturday (July 18) The Grammy-winning folk duo performs Saturday, July 18, at Switchyard Park as part of the Granfalloon Concert Series. Gates open at 6:30 p.m.; the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Children 12 and younger are admitted free with a ticketed adult in the general-admission lawn area.

Carwash fundraiser: Saturday (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 Kings Island!

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

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 Kings Island’s stay at the shelter as short as possible.

Photo Finish: 6th Street & College Avenue

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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