June 8, 2026: Lake rescue, liquor permits, legal fees, election complaints, carless Kirkwood

Civic Solver

We’re skipping the puzzle for this week.

Weather Talk

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

Monday: Take an umbrella. There is a 60-70% chance of rain showers starting around 10 a.m. and that comes with a 50% chance of thunderstorms, which goes pretty much through the whole day. The high will reach 84F°.

Tuesday: Keep that umbrella handy. Coming off of a rainy overnight, the rain showers will stick around the day with an 80% chance in the early afternoon, along with a good chance of thunderstorms. The high will reach 84F°.

Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system

Recent articles

• Injured hiker, overnight ordeal prompts Sunday boat rescue from Lake Monroe peninsula.  Three teenagers stranded overnight in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area were rescued Sunday by Monroe Fire Protection District and DNR crews after one hiker injured an ankle. The group had run out of water and phone batteries were fading before a rescue boat reached them on Lake Monroe.
• Sunday Funnies: Hawk v. Fish.  Hawk is ready to defend his fish friend from what he thinks is a discriminatory proposal to ban carps from Kirkwood Avenue.
• Monroe County property transfers through June 3, 2026.  This report includes new property transfers in Monroe County that haven’t previously been reported by The B Square, with dates ranging from April 23 through June 3, 2026. The data in this report comes from Beacon, the county’s online geographic information system for property and parcel data.
• Bloomington council to weigh liquor-permit rules with reach beyond two new state slots.  Bloomington’s council will consider rules for recommending scarce three-way alcohol permits, after a new state law opened two more slots. The framework would favor local, restaurant-based economic development and apply to historic-district permits and any future riverfront district.
• Bloomington Transit’s first 60-foot articulated bus arrives at Grimes Lane depot.  Bloomington Transit’s first 60-foot articulated bus has arrived at the Grimes Lane operations facility, with two more expected this month. The bigger buses will add capacity on high-ridership campus routes, especially Routes 6 and 12, starting with the fall semester.
• Bloomington argues $37,500 cap on legal fees in annexation loss; remonstrators seek $200K.  After losing its bid to annex Areas 1A and 1B, Bloomington is now disputing the legal fees it owes. Remonstrators seek nearly $200,000, while the city says state law caps reimbursement at $37,500. Special judge Nathan Nikirk will decide after proposed orders are filed July 8.
• Monroe County election board sends complaints about candidate for clerk to prosecutor.  Monroe County’s election board voted Thursday to send two complaints against clerk candidate Joe Davis to the county prosecutor, after hearing allegations about campaign signs, electioneering in the polling chute, and voter intimidation. Davis denied wrongdoing.
• Bloomington council delays vote on carless Kirkwood until June 10, after commission review.  A Bloomington city council vote on making five blocks of Kirkwood Avenue car-free from April to mid-November was postponed to June 10, after officials said the transportation commission must first review the measure. Debate aired business concerns, and visions for downtown.
• Land swap to save Seminary Pointe housing now backed by Bloomington city council.  Bloomington’s city council voted 8–0 Wednesday for a new letter to the RDC that backs a possible College Square–Seminary Pointe land swap, even if unequal, to clear a path for a convention center host hotel while preserving affordable apartments and community-oriented businesses.

Other Important Notes

Memorial Service. A memorial service for Wei Yang “Joann” Wong will be held at the FAR Center for Contemporary Arts on Friday (June 12) at 3 p.m. Readers who did not know the Bloomington resident and former IU journalism professor will recognize the name of her son, Kelton O’Connell. For the last several months, including his senior year at Bloomington High School North, Kelton has been covering the K-12 beat for The B Square.

On the calendar

Northgrove subdivision of land. On the 5:30 p.m. Monday (June 8) agenda for Bloomington’s plan commission is consideration of a proposed subdivision of land for Northgrove on North Dunn Street, which has generated a lot of opposition. Bloomington plan commission sends Northgrove subdivision to second hearing amid concerns

Carless Kirkwood. On the 7 p.m. Monday (June 8) meeting agenda for Bloomington’s transportation commission is consideration of a city council proposal to close Kirkwood between Indiana Avenue and Walnut Street from April to mid-November every year. For B Square background, see: Bloomington council delays vote on carless Kirkwood until June 10, after commission review

County council: Canceled. The regular Tuesday (June 9) meeting of the Monroe County council has been cancelled.

Carless Kirkwood, liquor permits, AI, and more. The Bloomington city council’s agenda is packed for its Wednesday (June 10) meeting starting at 6:30 p.m. Returning for a third time is an ordinance that would close Kirkwood between Indiana Avenue and Walnut Street from April to mid-November every year. For B Square background, see: Bloomington council delays vote on carless Kirkwood until June 10, after commission review

Making its first appearance on the agenda is a resolution to establish rules for recommending extra liquor permits that have been allocated to the city of Bloomington. For B Square background, see Bloomington council to weigh liquor-permit rules with reach beyond two new state slots. 

Other agenda items include: resolutions on the existential risk of artificial intelligence, adoption of the Monroe County multi-hazard mitigation plan, and allocation of 2026 Jack Hopkins Social Services Program funds. The council will also consider ordinances on loans between utilities and a proposed requirement that legislation have councilmember sponsorship before it can be considered. Finally, the council will also hear the annual presentation on tax abatements.

Thursday joint city-county jail meeting. The topic of a joint government meeting for 6 p.m. on Thursday at the historic county courthouse is not indicated on the meeting notice for the city council, or the joint notice for the county council and the county commissioners. But the topic is supposed to be planning for a new county jail.

Monroe County History Center Garage Sale: June 10–15. The Monroe County History Center’s annual Garage Sale, now in its 45th year, returns in June at 4015 Profile Parkway. The sale is the center’s biggest fundraiser, with donated antiques, household items and other goods supporting artifact preservation, exhibits and programs.

An early-access day for current MCHC members, Cook employees and Simtra employees is set for 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday (June 10). Public sale days: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday (June 12–13); and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday (June 15).

4th of July Parade: June 15. The last day to file paperwork for entries for Bloomington’s Fourth of July Parade is June 15.

Bingo Brunch at Cardinal Spirits: June 28. It’s every Sunday 12-2 p.m. at Cardinal Spirits: Bingo Brunch with celebrity callers! You might wonder: What is the Cardinal Spirits definition of celebrity? It needs to be flexible enough to include ... me, the founder of The B Square. I plan to apply all the principles I have learned about government meeting procedures to bingo calling—in the best possible way! You have never heard letters and numbers sound so great.

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 Myles!

This very, very good boy is a mountain cur mix. Here’s what the shelter staff have written about Myles:

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.

Photo Finish: Fairfax SRA

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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