The B Square’s Most Recent 20
This is a list of the B Square Bulletin’s 20 most recent headlines with links to articles and the 300-character synopsis of each article.
Civic Solver: Aug. 24, 2026. This is a jigsaw puzzle featuring the people behind Cup & Kettle!
Monroe County jail notebook: Population stays under 229 benchmark, but remains well above sheriff’s 186 figure. This week’s jail count swung from 245 to 224 before ending at 228, which is still below one functional-capacity benchmark. Over 33 days, 299 people left the jail, with a median stay of 3 days. County officials have filed their answers to the ACLU’s federal lawsuit.
Sunday Funnies: Hawk v. Fish. Who has control of spending on top of the courthouse—Hawk or Fish?
Monroe County property transfers through Aug. 19, 2026. This report includes new property transfers in Monroe County that haven’t previously been reported by The B Square, with dates ranging from July 31 to Aug. 19, 2026. The data in this report comes from Beacon, the county’s online geographic information system for property and parcel data.
Zulich announces for 2027 Bloomington mayor’s race, putting District 6 council seat in play. Bloomington councilmember Sydney Zulich launched her 2027 mayoral campaign Saturday, calling for more local hiring and fewer out-of-town consultants. Her entry points toward a 3-way Democratic Party primary with mayor Kerry Thomson and Joe Davis, while opening Zulich’s District 6 council seat.
Bloomington South rolls past North 44–6 in season-opening rivalry game. Bloomington South opened the 2026 football season with a 44-6 win over crosstown rival Bloomington North. Hayden Clark rushed for three touchdowns, while TJ Wilson and Jonathan Winstead returned interceptions for scores as the Panthers built a 28-0 halftime lead.
Editor’s notebook: A two-wheeled Bloomington intro for IU students, townies alike. Bloomington’s Aug. 25 Welcome Week bike ride offers students and newcomers a two-wheeled introduction to the city: grocery stores, parks, trails, Kirkwood and downtown, plus bike-on-bus practice and a pedal-powered smoothie. One additional piece of advice: Look up for the hawks.
CIB approves letter of intent with Dora for hotel, moves ahead with Seminary Pointe demolition. Monroe County’s CIB is moving ahead with Seminary Pointe demolition even though Dora Hospitality’s proposed convention center hotel would not use that real estate. The CIB said the remaining land would stay with the board for now and could later be offered for sale. Demolition could start Nov. 4.
Aug. 20, 2026: North-South football kickoff; transit board, Keolis vote; county clerk office repairs; 2027 budget gap; alleycat race. This morning's edition includes reports on the Bloomington North-South football opener, the Transit board and looming Keolis vote, temporary Monroe County clerk operations during condensation repairs, Bloomington’s 2027 budget gap, and an alleycat bicycle race around town.
Crosstown kickoff: Bloomington North, South meet to open 2026 football season. Bloomington North and South open the 2026 football season Friday at North in the 69th meeting of the crosstown rivalry. North enters with new coach Andy Harding and a new conference, while South returns head coach Gabe Johnson and senior quarterback Duncan Combs. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Bloomington Transit board pick hangs in balance before Sept. 15 vote on management firm. The paths for two decisions are now running in parallel: Bloomington Transit’s Sept. 15 vote on a Keolis management contract, and a city council decision on Kent McDaniel’s board seat. McDaniel plans to vote no next month, but whether he gets to cast that vote could depend on council action.
Monroe County clerk services move for condensation repairs. The Monroe County clerk’s office will perform its public-facing functions in other locations for two weeks as crews address condensation from uninsulated ductwork. Payments will be handled on the child-support side, while in-person court filings are expected to move to the a judges conference room.
Mayor: Transit payment, election costs account for nearly all of Bloomington’s 2027 budget gap. Bloomington’s proposed 2027 budget continues a four-year reduction in its planned general fund shortfall. Mayor Kerry Thomson says a final $3.8M payment to Bloomington Transit and $650K for municipal elections account for nearly all of the remaining operating gap.
Initial report: Monroe County clerk’s office closed due to condensation into light fixtures. Monroe County’s clerk’s office closed Monday after condensation from unwrapped pipes sent water through the justice building ceiling and into light fixtures. Employees reported popping sounds. The incident follows recent sewage, drain-cleaner and HVAC problems at the aging building in downtown.
Manifest celebration of community: Alleycat bicycle riders race through Bloomington. Saturday’s alleycat bicycle race hosted by Bloomington Homes for All sent riders racing across town, where checkpoints involved bike repair, potato tossing, SCOBY eating, drawing and academic card trading. The sweaty afternoon ended at Friendly Beasts Cider Company.
Aug. 17, 2026: Bloomington budget scrutiny, Showers West settlements, jail capacity, Powerline Camp. This morning's edition includes reports on Bloomington’s $381K Showers West settlements, the city’s $165.7M draft budget, a jail population dip below one capacity benchmark, pressure over the Powerline Camp deadline, and county commissioner response to criticism of justice center conditions.
Bloomington to pay $381K to settle Showers West disputes after court losses. Bloomington’s redevelopment commission is set Monday to ratify $381,650 in settlements with two Showers West tenants after losing both lease disputes in circuit court. One tenant also gets a year of free rent, ending a legal fight over the city’s effort to clear private occupants from the building.
Sunday Funnies: Hawk v. Fish. What does Coach Cignetti say, after a preseason scrimmage, when the quarterback kicked the ball to the defensive unit? Did the quarterback really mean to do that?
Monroe County property transfers through Aug. 12, 2026. This report includes new property transfers in Monroe County that haven’t previously been reported by The B Square, with dates ranging from July 30 to Aug. 12, 2026. The data in this report comes from Beacon, the county’s online geographic information system for property and parcel data.
Monroe County jail notebook: Population count dips below one functional capacity benchmark. Monroe County’s jail population fell from 247 to 227 over 25 days. But the snapshots mask heavy turnover: 220 people left, with a median stay of 3 days. The Aug. 14 count dipped below the ACLU’s 229-person capacity estimate, but remained 41 above Sheriff Ruben Marté’s 186-person figure.