May 7, 2026: Election results, arrest in Kirkwood shooting, Hopewell South OK

Civic Solver

This week’s puzzle is a 10-question news quiz based on B Square coverage from last week. It’s multiple choice. Please do not brag too much when you get 10 out of 10, which I think you will.

Weather Talk

Based on the National Weather Service forecast in text and charts here’s some advice.

Thursday: Wear socks with your sandals and sunglasses, because we are starting the day from an overnight low of under 40F° and it’s gonna be nothing but sun with a high around 61F°.

Friday: You can get away with no rain gear until late in the day, but after 4 p.m. there will be a 30% chance of showers increasing from there. Otherwise it will be party sunny, with a high near 69F°.

Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system

Recent articles

• 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.
• Nearly 5,000 vote early in Monroe County, rain may shape Tuesday (May 5) turnout.  Early voting in Monroe County closed at noon Monday, with 4,957 ballots cast. That’s well above 2022 but just shy of 2018’s record. Voters now head to assigned precincts Tuesday, where rain could dampen turnout. Results are expected to be posted online a couple hours after polls close.

Quick Notes

Hopewell South PUD: Passed 9–0. Bloomington’s plan to turn the former IU Health hospital site into a new downtown neighborhood passed a big milestone Wednesday night (May 6), as the city council approved the Hopewell South planned unit development (PUD). The decision came after a couple of months of granular debate over what “permanent affordability” should mean for the 6-acre development on city-owned land. The council adopted the PUD on a 9–0 vote, but only after a divided 6–3 majority settled on a new affordability condition. As resources allow, The B Square will later provide more detailed reporting on the council’s Hopewell South action.

Cottage Grove conservation district. Set for second consideration on May 20 is protection for Cottage Grove as a conservation district. It looked like some Bloomington city councilmembers had been prepared to vote in support of the district Wednesday night (May 6). But to pass the first time it appeared on the agenda would have required a unanimous vote, which it would not have had, at least not Wednesday night. So the council voted to set the proposal for second consideration on May 20.

On the calendar

Grassland prairie project. On the agenda for the 10 a.m. Thursday (May 7) meeting agenda for the board of county commission are two items for the establishment of a grassland prairie at the newly acquired land that’s been named the Monroe County Nature Preserve. The project is proposed in collaboration with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Program. For B Square background on the Monroe County Nature preserve, see: Huntington land gift named ‘Monroe County Nature Preserve’ but commissioners leave door open to history-based change

Bloomington Transit Public Hearings: West Side Route Changes. The final hearing on proposed westside route changes for public buses takes place Thursday. For B Square background, see: Ridership slide fuels Bloomington Transit strategy shift: bigger buses, route rethink.

• Thursday May 7, 4 p.m.
  Downtown Transit Center 301 S. Walnut St.

Hoosier Hills discount plant sale: May 7. Representatives of the Hoosier Hills FFA say they are not quite ready to wrap up the 2026 Plant Sale. The group will hold a discounted plant sale on Thursday (May 7) from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the greenhouse, with most remaining plants marked down by 30% to 50%. Organizers say a wide selection is still available, including vegetables, herbs, annuals, house plants, perennials and succulents.

Small hanging baskets and planters will be sold for $15, while large hanging baskets and planters will cost $20. Remaining varieties include wave petunias, million bells, snapdragons, salvias, cucumbers, squash, bell peppers, lemon balm, lisianthus, roses, dracaena and pothos. The street address is 3070 N. Prow Rd. Bloomington, IN 47404. The greenhouse is located behind the chain link fence just before the entrance to the HHCC parking lot.

Ms. Lake Lemon: May 16. You should be in the final phase of your training regimen. This amazing contest of skill is to be held at Riddle Point Park this year. Monitor the Ms. Lake Lemon Facebook page for details, as they become available. The B Square covered last year’s inaugural event.

Meet Maisie!

This very, very good girl is a German shepherd. Here’s what the shelter staff have written about Maisie:

I am new to the shelter and we are all getting to know each other. If you are interested in adopting stop by the shelter for a visit.

Photo Finish: 9th Street & Morton Street

The Photo Finish items are drawn from the B There section of the B Square website.

Thanks for reading. I hope you have a great weekend!

Dave Askins
734-645-2633
dave@bsquarebulletin.com

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