Bridge needs lower 5-ton limit, repairs—but who pays: Monroe County or Bloomington?. Monroe County officials say a deteriorating 27-foot bridge near Lower Cascades Park is Bloomington’s responsibility, while the city disputes that claim. Inspectors found severe structural problems and recommended lowering the bridge’s weight limit from nine tons to five.
May 14, 2026: North Park vote, Kirkwood Avenue, AG versus sheriff, free speech. This morning’s edition includes a report on the first Family Night out on Kirkwood, the result of the first North Park vote as a new jail site, the state AG’s lawsuit against the county sheriff, and a visit by an AG investigator to a Monroe County resident’s home.
Kids on Kirkwood: Bloomington’s townie summer begins with block party for families. Children danced, chased bubbles, and filled Kirkwood Avenue Wednesday night as Bloomington launched its “Family Night Out” series. The monthly block parties are part of the city’s compromise approach to downtown activation, keeping Kirkwood mostly open to cars except for special events.
Final North Park jail showdown set for May 26 after Monroe County council’s 1–5 vote fails. The Monroe County council failed Tuesday to approve a $11.375 million purchase agreement for the proposed North Park jail site, but the ordinance can return May 26 for another vote. The meeting featured sharp exchanges, public opposition, and warnings about renewed ACLU litigation.
Judge pauses Rokita’s lawsuit against Monroe County sheriff, as fight over ICE detainers shifts to federal court. A special judge has paused Indiana AG Todd Rokita’s lawsuit against Monroe County sheriff Ruben Marté over immigration-enforcement policy, while a separate federal constitutional challenge to SEA 76 moves forward. Rokita is now asking the local court to unpause the lawsuit.
ACLU sues attorney general investigator over warning to Monroe County man about “86” social media posts. A Monroe County man has sued an investigator for the Indiana attorney general’s office, claiming a doorstep warning over Facebook posts using “86” violated his First Amendment rights. The encounter was captured on a door camera. The lawsuit seeks an injunction and damages.
May 11, 2026: Inside former H-T building, Hopewell South, election results analysis. This morning’s edition includes analysis of election results, a set of photos from inside the former Herald-Time building, and a report on the city council’s approval of the Hopewell South PUD.
Civic Solver: May 11, 2026. This is a 10-question news quiz for the week ending May 9, 2026.
Sunday Funnies: Hawk v. Fish. Hawk: I heard some IU students graduated after taking all their classes on a cruise in the Caribbean?? Fish has an explanation, and it is hilarious as usual.
Monroe County property transfers through May 5, 2026. This report includes new property transfers in Monroe County that haven’t previously been reported by The B Square, with dates ranging from March 20 to May 5, 2026. The data in this report comes from Beacon, the county’s online geographic information system for property and parcel data.
A carcass of traditional print media: Inside the former Herald-Times building. The Monroe County Community School Corporation is preparing to sell the former Herald-Times building at 1900 S. Walnut St., four years after buying it for $2.9 million. Photos with this article document the current conditions inside the building, including the newspaper’s old printing press.
Canvas breach hits Indiana University, MCCSC as hackers threaten data leak. Indiana University and Monroe County Community School Corporation are dealing with the impact from a global security breach involving the Canvas learning platform, which remained offline Friday at both institutions. MCCSC say there is no confirmation that student data was exposed.
Primary election notebook: Geographic breakdown of Monroe County clerk's race. Tree Martin Lucas won Tuesday's Democratic Party primary for Monroe County clerk with 47.7% in a 3-way race. Tanner Branham showed some strength in a few Bloomington precincts near the IU campus. Joe Davis won one precinct. This sets up a fall race between Martin Lucas and GOP nominee Julie Hays.
Hopewell South PUD wins unanimous OK from Bloomington city council. Bloomington’s city council unanimously approved the Hopewell South PUD after months of debate over issues like how much of the project should remain permanently affordable. A compromise set a 35% affordability minimum with a 50% target, while preserving flexibility for financing tools.
May 7, 2026: Election results, arrest in Kirkwood shooting, Hopewell South OK. This morning’s edition includes lots of reports on Tuesday’s primary election and an update on the police investigation into the Kirkwood shooting.
Called-in tips help ID Bloomington man in Kirkwood shooting; second shooter still sought. Bloomington police have arrested an 18-year-old Bloomington man in one of the two Kirkwood Avenue shootings during Little 500 weekend that injured five young women. Police say tips from released video images identified the suspect, while investigators still seek a second shooter.
Primary election notebook: Geographic breakdown of Monroe County commissioner’s race. A pocket of student-heavy precincts near Indiana University gave David Henry his strongest showing in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for Monroe County commissioner. But the small area, combined with low turnout there blunted the impact, as Trent Deckard cruised countywide with nearly 60% of the vote.
Deckard, Martin Lucas, Oliphant, Sharp cruise to Democratic Party nominations in Monroe County. None of Monroe County’s contested Democratic countywide primary races were especially close Tuesday night, with every race decided by at least 16 points. Trent Deckard, Tree Martin Lucas, Erika Oliphant and Judy Sharp all secured nominations in unofficial results.
Monroe County 2026 primary election results: Live updates. This report includes live updates from Election Central where the USB drives and the ballots from 28 different voting locations are turned in after the polls close at 6 p.m.
Rain means early Election Day turnout light so far in Monroe County primaries. This is a log of B Square Bulletin visits to different polling locations through the day on May 5, 2026. It will be updated through the day as resources allow.