July 30, 2026: Justice center sewage backup, delayed court decision on Bloomington annexation, encampment closure. This morning's edition includes reports on the sewage backup that closed the Monroe County justice center and raised spending questions; the 271-day wait for an Indiana Supreme Court annexation ruling; and a planned encampment closure with a description of one resident's housing barriers.
Sewage backup in Monroe County justice center spurs scrutiny of future spending on ‘dying’ building. A bag of e-cigarettes flushed down a jail toilet sent sewage through the Monroe County justice building on Friday, disrupting court operations. At Tuesday’s meeting, councilors questioned why election offices were also closed and debated millions in spending for a facility described as “dying.”
How long is long? Bloomington annexation case awaits ruling from highest court after 271 days. Bloomington’s Area 1A and 1B annexation case is closed. But a separate constitutional challenge remains before the Indiana Supreme Court 271 days after oral arguments. That wait is near the 90th percentile among 316 argued cases decided since 2018, but about two dozen took longer.
Sewage backup keeps Monroe County justice building closed at least through July 29. Monroe County’s justice center will remain closed at least through Wednesday after a sewer backup last Friday sent wastewater from the jail into offices below. Courts and related offices are shut down while crews remove damaged carpet and drywall, sanitize and dry the building.
Monroe County eyes Thomson encampment closure; resident describes barriers to housing. Monroe County has authorized a step toward closing the Thomson encampment, though no date is set and a new state law could shorten the planned 30-day notice. Stephanie, a resident there, describes how rental history, lack of credit, and a criminal record have kept housing out of reach.
July 27, 2026: Annexation fees, justice building plumbing issue, boarding up Seminary Pointe, Flock cameras, Hopewell jail site?. This morning's edition includes reports on Bloomington’s $37,500 annexation legal-fee ruling, Monday’s justice building closure due to plumbing issue, Seminary Pointe being boarded up, the end to the county's Flock contract, and revival of Hopewell as a possible jail and justice center site.
Civic Solver: July 27, 2026. This is a 10-question news quiz about events in the week starting July 20, 2026.
Monroe County property transfers through July 22, 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 16 to July 22, 2026. 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. Why kind of drama goes with a movie about the Little 500 race? Fish has the answer!
Judge caps Bloomington’s annexation legal-fee payment at $37,500. A special judge ordered Bloomington to pay $37,500 in attorney fees to residents who defeated annexation of Areas 1A and 1B, rejecting their nearly $200,000 request. A separate constitutional annexation dispute remains pending while Indiana’s Supreme Court decides whether to take it.
Monroe County justice building closed Monday, July 27 due to ‘plumbing issue’. Monroe County’s justice building will be closed Monday (July 27) after an apparent sewage backup on Friday sent water through office ceilings. Court administration and at least one judge’s office were affected. The jail lost water service while cleanup crews worked at the building.
Seminary Pointe units boarded up after removal of unauthorized occupants, reports of drug use. On Thursday, Bloomington police removed unauthorized occupants from Seminary Pointe, where plywood was fastened over doors and windows after reports of break-ins and drug use. The mostly vacant, very low-rent apartments are slated for demolition to make way for a convention center host hotel.
Monroe County commissioners vote to end Flock contract, remove six license plate cameras. Monroe County commissioners voted 2–0 to end the county’s Flock Safety contract and remove six license plate readers, accepting a possible $3,000 removal fee. Commissioners cited concerns about misuse of data in Flock’s nationwide system. Sheriff Ruben Marté supports the move.
Monroe County commissioners re-float Hopewell as possible new jail site, seek city’s quick support. Monroe County commissioners have revived Hopewell as a possible jail and justice center site, asking Bloomington councilmembers to send the proposal to the RDC. But county officials want to avoid the full city planning review and approval process, because they say it would cause unacceptable delay.
July 23, 2026: Kirkwood veto stands; Bloomington Transit’s new management firm; College Square bids; Monroe County jail profile. This morning's edition includes reports on the failed Kirkwood veto override, Bloomington Transit’s switch to Keolis and John Connell’s departure, two College Square hotel-and-housing proposals, and a first look at who is being held in the Monroe County jail.
Bloomington council falls short of overriding Thomson veto of seasonal Kirkwood closure. Bloomington’s city council fell two votes short of overriding Mayor Kerry Thomson’s veto of a mandatory seasonal Kirkwood Avenue closure. The 4–4 vote left the ordinance defeated after Dave Rollo reversed his earlier support.
Bloomington Transit picks new management firm on split vote, ending Connell’s tenure. Bloomington Transit’s board has voted 3–2 to replace longtime management firm RATP Dev with Keolis. That ends general manager John Connell’s tenure. He has two months left. The board's action came despite opposition from the mayor’s office.
Two hotel-and-apartment proposals submitted for Bloomington’s College Square. Two development teams have proposed hotel-and-housing projects for Bloomington’s College Square property. One calls for a roughly 160-room hotel with below-market-rate housing; the other includes a 135-room boutique hotel and about 100 apartments. No purchase prices were disclosed by the RDC Monday.
Monroe County jail notebook: Initial look at population profile. Of 247 people held in the Monroe County jail on July 14, 22 had been there more than a year, while the median stay was about 60 days. The B Square has reviewed their upcoming court dates. The sheriff wants to move 50–100 prisoners to jails in other counties.
July 19, 2026: Scooter ridership drop; words in artwork; jail-overcrowding resolution. This morning's edition includes reports on Bloomington electric scooter ridership falling 82%, the story behind the (C)olumn sculpture at 2nd and Walnut streets, and county commissioners removing the sheriff’s jail-capacity figure from an overcrowding resolution.