June 12, 2025: Student IDs, pests, public comment, strawberries
Whoops
Earlier this week, an article about the Monroe County health board was sent to the newsletter distribution list by mistake. That's in addition to being published on the B Square's website. I'm sorry about that. Normally, a single news article will not be sent to the email list. The B Square is not looking to fill up your inbox with extra messages. I've adjusted a default setting in the publishing platform to help avoid this in the future.
Weather
Based on the National Weather Service forecast in text and charts here's some advice:
Thursday: Slow down. Drive slower than you normally would this morning. Patchy fog is predicted. Wear something light and breezy, because the daytime high will hit 85°F. Even though there's no threat of rain, it's a good day to look for your lost umbrella so that you are ready for Friday.
Friday: You'll need to figure out how to stay dry, especially later in the day. Chances of rain are about 50% in the morning hours, with increasing chances through the day with the added threat of thunderstorms. The high temperature will be around 81°F.
Do not wait for a crisis! Sign up for weather alerts NOW: Monroe County emergency alert system.
Roundup of recent articles
- Lawsuit targeting Indiana's student ID ban for voting pulls in Monroe County's election board On Thursday, Monroe County's election board has an executive session scheduled to discuss pending litigation. The local election board is a named defendant in a complaint that has been filed, which alleges that a new state law banning student IDs for election purposes is unconstitutional.
- Bloomington sounds alarm on spotted lanternfly: Residents asked to report sightings An invasive insect, the spotted lanternfly, is approaching Bloomington, putting crops and gardens at risk. That has prompted city officials to ask for help from residents to identify these pests as quickly as possible.
- Bloomington awards over $500K in social services grants as potential federal cuts loom Last Wednesday, Bloomington's city council approved over a half million dollars in funding to 35 different social service agencies, continuing the Jack Hopkins funding program's 33-year tradition. Since its start, more than $6 million has been awarded through the Jack Hopkins program.
- Following criticism, Monroe County health board mulls new public comment policy Following critical public commentary at recent meetings, the Monroe County Board of Health is now considering a new policy to govern public comment during its meetings. A policy draft will be reviewed by board members for the board's June 26 meeting.
On the calendar
Parks survey! I get that there is a certain survey fatigue that can set it, but this one is short. It's about the Bloomington parks system, to help the staff update the master plan for parks. The parks survey took me under 4 minutes to complete.
New IU trustees to be sworn in. Set to be sworn in as new Indiana University trustees on Thursday (June 12) at noon in the Hall of Champions at the football stadium are: Sage Steele, James Bopp Jr., and Brian Eagle. Appointed by the governor, they replace the trustees who were elected by IU alums: Vivian Winston, Jill Maurer Burnett, and Donna Spears. Also on the board of trustees agenda for Thursday is the adoption of an amended policy on expressive activities.
Strawberry Shortcake Festival at Switchyard Park! This is a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington. It takes place Thursday (June 12) from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the Switchyard Park Pavilion lawn. Check the start time. It looks like it is a perfect answer to the question: What's for lunch? Answer: Strawberry shortcake! (And hotdogs, if you want a well-rounded meal.) But wait, there's more. Hummingbird & the Beating Hearts will play from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Jenn Cristy will provide the evening musical set, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Darn those socks! Discardia Mending Day is a monthly event. The next one is Saturday, June 14 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Monroe County Public Library's downtown location in Meeting Room 2A. Drop in and bring any clothes or other textiles in need of repair. Please clean items first. Discardia will be on-hand to show you how to mend them or do it for you. All ages. A couple of years ago, I took a pair of socks into the Discardia crew, and they darned the holes. Those socks are still in service. I have a favorite shirt with a missing button that I am hoping to take in this Saturday. You might be thinking: How hard is it to sew a button on a shirt, Dave?? Try threading a needle with just one eye.
Bloom Magazine!
The latest edition of Bloom Magazine is out. My regular column starts like this: "The city of Bloomington is paying an out-of-state contractor $95,000 to provide 'branding, placemaking, public engagement, and destination marketing services and implementation strategies.'"
There's lots of places around town where you can find a free copy of Bloom Magazine and page through its luxuriously glossy pages.
Meet Dinosaur!
This very, very good boy is a bully breed mix. Here's what the shelter staff have to say about Dinosaur:
Dinosaur is a wonderful young dog who had a rough start in life. Dino came in underweight with signs of neglect. With time and patience his zest for life came out and he's having a blast in a foster home as a silly teenager. His foster has reported he's a total snuggle bug and is quickly learning all the cool skills walking and training. If you're looking for that good younger pup who's ready to go on a walk or chill on the couch with you, consider Dino!
Photo Finish
Hillside Drive & High Street
The Photo Finish items are drawn from the B There section of the B Square website. Today's item was submitted by Dave Ebeling.
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 good weekend!
Dave Askins
734-645-2633
dave@bsquarebulletin.com
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