Monroe County council faces yet another high-stakes North Park jail vote on Tuesday (May 26). With a federal lawsuit deadline just days away, Monroe County councilors on Tuesday (May 26) will again vote on the controversial North Park jail site. Commissioners say there is no backup plan if it fails, while opponents continue to raise concerns about cost and long-term impacts.
May 25, 2026: MCCSC staff cuts, airport sewer expansion, Cottage Grove conservation, Seminary Pointe leases, Kirkwood closure fight. This week's edition includes reports on MCCSC’s latest staffing cuts and proposed student cell phone ban, Bloomington’s new sewer-extension policy tied to airport-area economic development, the Cottage Grove conservation district approval, and a renewed fight over closing Kirkwood Avenue to cars.
Civic Solver: May 25, 2026. This is a jigsaw puzzle that reveals a design not considered as a finalist proposal for the public art component of the Bloomington Convention Center expansion. The proposal was functionally incomplete, because their were still outstanding engineering questions.
MCCSC board advances staff reductions, cell phone ban, gets update about online school. The MCCSC board approved staffing changes tied to its 2-year fiscal recovery plan, including one reduction in force that prompted tense public comment from a student. Trustees also advanced a new cell phone policy, approved anti-harassment revisions, reviewed online school growth.
Sunday Funnies: Hawk v. Fish. Think about this: Why was a skywalk between Rainbow Bakery and the Fourth And Rogers Contemporary Art Center ultimately rejected? Hawk and Fish have the answer!
Monroe County property transfers through May 21, 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 6 to May 21, 2026. The data in this report comes from Beacon, the county’s online geographic information system for property and parcel data.
New Bloomington sewer policy targets ‘strategic’ sites like airport property. A quiet policy change by Bloomington’s utilities service board in January is now emerging as part of the city’s economic development strategy. Officials say extending sewer service to select “strategic” sites, like the county airport, could help attract employers and major investment.
Seminary Pointe tenants get more time as Bloomington Convention Center host hotel moves ahead. Monroe County’s capital improvement board extended leases for remaining Seminary Pointe tenants while advancing appraisal, environmental, and demolition work tied to a future convention center host hotel. Housing advocates continue pushing a land-swap alternative.
Cottage Grove conservation district OK’d by Bloomington city council on 7–1 vote. Bloomington’s city council voted 7–1 to establish the Cottage Grove conservation district, adding historic protections the central Bloomington area. Supporters said it could slow teardowns and preserve neighborhood character. Opponents warned it would constrain housing supply and raise costs.
Kirkwood proposal, power struggle over Bloomington streets, cued up for June 3. Bloomington’s city council introduced an ordinance that would close five blocks of Kirkwood Avenue to vehicles each year from April through mid-November. The proposal revived disputes over accessibility, logistics, and which branch of city government controls Bloomington streets.
May 21, 2026: Historic protection OK’d, skybridge art chosen, fare-free week for public buses, Ms. Lake Lemon!. This morning’s edition includes reports on the convention center skybridge art, Bloomington Transit’s new marketing program, a final bridge closure, and photos from the Ms. Lake Lemon pageant.
Skybridge sculpture selected as public art for Bloomington convention center expansion. The Monroe County capital improvement board selected Los Angeles artist Benjamin Ball’s “A Form of Connection” as the signature public artwork for the Bloomington Convention Center expansion. The twisting aluminum installation will wrap around the skybridge spanning College Avenue.
Fare-free week, new west side route, ‘Bloomington Transit for Everyone’ to launch June 1. Starting June 1, Bloomington Transit will launch Route 16, combining Route 13 and Route 3 West to improve west-side service, including to Ivy Tech and Cook Medical. BT will also debut “Bloomington Transit for Everyone” and offer fare-free rides June 1–7 during Passenger Appreciation Week.
Bloomington formally closes road to unsafe Club House Drive bridge, as officials dispute ownership. Bloomington’s board of public works ratified the emergency closure of Club House Drive near Lower Cascades Park after inspectors found the bridge there unsafe for vehicles over five tons. City and county officials are still disputing who is legally responsible for the span.
Election complaints target Monroe County clerk hopeful over signs, electioneering in ‘chute’. The Monroe County election board has set June 4 hearings on complaints against candidate for clerk Joe Davis, who denies allegations, including electioneering inside the 50-foot “chute” at polling places. A different complaint, against independent assessor hopeful Lisa Jeneé Trimble, was tabled.
Photos: Ms. Lake Lemon pageant returns with mud dives, lawnmowers, and fancy dresses. Saturday’s second annual Ms. Lake Lemon competition mixed fancy dresses with frozen T-shirts, lawnmower driving, watermelon-seed spitting, and mud-pool dives at Riddle Point Park. The quirky fundraiser for Monroe County firefighters went ahead despite threatening skies and light rain.
May 18, 2026: Carless Kirkwood, unsafe bridge, extra tax money, rally for housing. This morning’s edition includes reports on upcoming road closure decisions by the board of public works (Club House Drive) and Bloomington city council (Kirkwood), extra unbudgeted money for local governments, and a rally to support housing at Seminary Pointe.
Civic Solver: May 18, 2026. This is a 5-question news quiz for the week ending May 16, 2026.
New Kirkwood closure proposal could revisit conflict over who controls Bloomington streets. Two Bloomington meetings next week will spotlight the question of who controls city streets. One is a board of public works bridge-related road closure on Club House Drive in Lower Cascades Park. The other is a new proposal from the city council for permanent seasonal shutdown of Kirkwood Avenue.
Sunday Funnies: Hawk v. Fish. Hawk: Capt. Janeway is supposed to be born on May 20, but it's not until 2336. Do you think she will come back in time next Wednesday to speak at the public mic during city council's meeting to advocate for closing down streets for her birthday? What does Fish say?