Monroe County property transfers through Dec. 3, 2025. This report includes new property transfers in Monroe County that haven’t previously been reported by The B Square, with dates ranging from Nov. 14 to Dec. 3, 2025. The data in this report comes from Beacon, the county’s online geographic information system for property and parcel data.
Sunday Funnies: Hawk v. Fish. Hawk says: Parsley, sage, and rosemary were trying to book a room in the host hotel for the Bloomington Convention Center. Guess why they couldn't do it. What does Fish say?
Sheriff asks public for footage after bicyclist critically hurt in northern Monroe County crash. A Friday afternoon collision between a Honda Accord and a bicyclist near North Bottom and West Maple roads left a 19-year-old IU student in critical condition. The Monroe County sheriff’s office is seeking witnesses and video as its Major Crash Investigation Team reviews the crash.
Homeless camp removal: Monroe County grants 1-week pause after activists disrupt meeting seeking 4-month delay. Monroe County commissioners delayed the planned Dec. 8 removal of the Thomson encampment by 1 week, after activists urged more time for relocation amid frigid weather. The move followed a tense meeting featuring sharp criticism and a brief recess. Notices were issued Dec. 1 to 40–50 residents.
Monroe County election board weighs cuts to early voting hours, polling sites for 2026, as vote center debate simmers. Monroe County’s election board is preparing for 2026 under a tight budget. Thursday's meeting featured debate about whether to cut early voting hours and reduce Election Day polling sites. The debate over vote centers also resurfaced.
Bloomington council turns down quadrupled septic hauling rate jump; wants different path to a needed increase. On Wednesday, Bloomington’s council unanimously rejected a four-fold septic hauling rate hike but agreed some increase is needed. Councilmembers are hoping for rates that distinguish between holding tanks and drain-field systems. CBU is expected to return in 2026 with a different proposal.
Jessica McClellan to step down as Bloomington city controller; Geoff McKim to take role in 2026. Bloomington controller Jessica McClellan will leave her post later this month, and former county councilor Geoff McKim is set to take over in January. Mayor Kerry Thomson praised both officials in announcing the transition. McKim will resign from the CIB to assume the role of controller
Bloomington council OKs fiscal plan for single-parcel voluntary annexation, but bigger votes loom. The Bloomington council unanimously approved a fiscal plan for annexing a single Cory Drive parcel but stressed it doesn’t necessarily support annexation or rezoning. Neighbors questioned missing cost estimates, and raised karst and “service island” concerns ahead of Dec. 17 votes.
Dec. 4, 2025: Kirkwood bricks, hotel land, redistricting. It's easy to receive this free message in your email inbox, instead of waiting for social media to serve it up to you: Visit the B Square website and click on the red button in the upper right hand corner.
Brick fix OK’d for Kirkwood Avenue at $491K cost. Bloomington’s board of public works has opted to repair the iconic brick sidewalks on Kirkwood Avenue, not repour them with stamped concrete, awarding E&B Paving a $491,600 contract to remove trip hazards and stabilize the base. With three additional projects, E&B won $1.18M in city work on Tuesday.
Bloomington RDC puts off resolution on donating land for host hotel. Bloomington’s RDC delayed action on a revised resolution that could make the $7M College Square property available at little or no cost for a proposed host hotel. City councilmembers objected, citing past commitments, as doubts persist about Dora Hospitality’s funding gap.
Analysis: New House map would reduce compactness, reshape Indiana’s political geometry in GOP’s favor. HB 1032, set for hearing Tuesday, would redraw Indiana’s congressional map mid-decade under pressure from President Trump. The proposal drops compactness scores by half and permits precinct-splitting for 2026. Starting the bill in the House will force Senate Republicans to take a make-or-break vote.
Dec. 1, 2025: Mayoral campaign, septic hauling, towing fees, $7M hotel project donation, jail tour. It's easy to receive this free message in your email inbox, instead of waiting for social media to serve it up to you: Visit the B Square website and click on the red button in the upper right hand corner.
Analysis: Re-election cues surface in Bloomington mayor’s report on housing and homelessness. Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson released a Nov. 20 housing and homelessness report days before a Dec. 3 campaign fundraiser. It presents a donor-friendly narrative but makes facts hard to check. Links loop back in a circular way, and key details in a table of projects aren't included.
Sunday Funnies: Hawk v. Fish. Hawk says: The meteorologists are providing fresh information about snowstorms, snow flurries, blizzards, and sleet. How does Hawk wrap up that thought?
Monroe County property transfers through Nov. 25, 2025. This report includes new property transfers in Monroe County that haven’t previously been reported by The B Square, with dates ranging from Nov. 6 to Nov. 25, 2025. The data in this report comes from Beacon, the county’s online geographic information system for property and parcel data.
2025 Canopy of Lights!. It’s been an annual tradition for the courthouse square in downtown Bloomington since 1985. This Friday was no different. Santa flipped the switch to transform the area into a sparkling winter wonderland.
Fallout from North Park jail site vote: Commissioners want huddle with council on ED LIT plan. Monroe County’s ED-LIT capital plan needs reworking after the county council’s rejection of North Park jail funding. County commissioners have called councilors to their Dec. 4 meeting to rework the state-required plan to avoid millions in local income tax being sequestered or redistributed.