Nov. 3, 2025: Annexation, jail, football, funeral as protest, bicycle races

Corporate sponsorships

Thanks solely to the individual financial contributions of many of you, The B Square has been able to provide a livelihood for one person and to pay for occasional work by some freelance reporters and photogs. To expand The B Square’s staff, and to put it on a sustainable financial footing for the next decade or more, we are working to add corporate sponsorships.

Heads up: In the coming weeks and months, you might start to notice some signs that the corporate sponsorship program is softly rolling out. Thanks in advance for your patience, and for sticking with The B Square—it’s your support that has brought us this far.

Weather Talk

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

Monday: Wear a jacket or a sweater or maybe even a warm hat to ward off the brisk 36F° temperatures that will start the day. You don’t need an umbrella, because it’s not going to rain. Skies will be sunny, and the temperature will reach a high of just 56F°.

Tuesday: Tuesday will be a slightly warmer repeat of Monday, except that skies will start cloudy and then clear. The day will start from an overnight low of 36F° and reach a high of around 62F°.

Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system.

Roundup of recent articles

• Little 500 fall series: Riders trade oval for off-road cyclocross fun.  This year’s edition of the Little 500 fall series cyclocross event took place on Saturday. Riders pedaled standard Little 500 machines around a cyclocross course laid out on the tailgate grounds south of the Indiana Memorial football stadium. Photographer Juliette Kniola was there for the B Square.
• Dirge for democracy: Bloomington protesters stage mock funeral at Switchyard Park.  A mock funeral procession at Bloomington’s Switchyard Park on Saturday served as a protest against the Trump administration. The demonstration featured a casket labeled “Rule of Law,” mourners in black, and a brass band playing "March and Canzona (Funeral Music for Queen Mary)"
• Monroe County property transfers through Oct. 29, 2025.  This report includes new property transfers in Monroe County that haven’t previously been reported by The B Square, with dates ranging from Oct. 9 to Oct. 29, 2025. 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.  Hawk: Why did the frog make extra sure his car was parked correctly in the reverse angle on-street spot? What does Fish say in reply?
• Bloomington North blanks Vigo North 49-0 to set up rematch with Bloomington South for title.  Bloomington North rolled past Terre Haute North Vigo 49–0 in the Sectional 15 semifinals. The Cougars built a 35–0 halftime lead behind Carter Matthew and a pick-six from Anthony Wrancher. With Bloomington South also victorious, next week’s sectional final stays in town at South’s Huff Field.
• Bloomington South rallies late to top Terre Haute South, 41–34, advances to Sectional title game against cross-town rival.  Bloomington South outlasted Terre Haute South 41–34 in the Class 5A Sectional 15 semifinals. Junior QB Duncan Combs threw for 249 yards and three TDs, and Hayden Clark’s late touchdown sealed it. The Panthers advance to face Bloomington North in next week’s sectional final.
• Indiana Supreme Court hears Bloomington’s constitutional annexation challenge over voided remonstration waivers.  The Indiana Supreme Court heard arguments in Bloomington’s annexation case, testing whether cities can claim constitutional protection when the legislature voids their contracts. Justices focused on conflicts between two appellate rulings and the scope of Home Rule.
• Monroe County commissioners warn: Council's ‘no’ vote may shift jail's future to federal court.  After the Monroe County council on Tuesday rejected funding to buy land for a new jail, county commissioners warned on Thursday that the decision could hand control of jail planning to a federal judge, when the ACLU settlement expires on Jan. 15 2026.

Interview with MCCSC superintendent Markay Winston

Bloomington High School North Student Media has produced this recent interview with Monroe County Community School Corporation superintendent Markay Winston. It’s part of the “Talking up North” series, and it’s worth a listen.

On the calendar

$5-million set-aside for southwest quadrant, police HQ. Back on the 5 p.m. Monday (Nov. 3) agenda for Bloomington’s redevelopment commission (RDC) is a resolution to set aside $5 million for infrastructure investments in the southwest quadrant of the city. It was postponed from the previous RDC meeting. For B Square background, see: Vote postponed on $5M TIF set-aside for southwest Bloomington infrastructure planning. Also on the Monday RDC agenda is an item that approves a contract with an engineer to evaluate the vacant 714 S. Rogers building for its suitability to be adapted and reused as a police headquarters.

Appeal of fine for MOT (maintenance of traffic) plan violation. For construction projects that use the public right-of-way, contractors have to submit and follow a maintenance of traffic plan approved by the board of public works. The city issued a $4,000 fine in connection with a project at 17th and Lincoln streets. The contractor is appealing the fine, which will be heard at the 5:30 p.m. Monday (Nov. 3) board of public works meeting. Note that this is a departure from the normal Tuesday meeting schedule for the board of public works. I think it’s because it would be Election Day, if any elections were being held, but don’t know that for a fact.

Naming of the area around Miller-Showers Park. Back on the 6:30 p.m. Wednesday (Nov. 5) agenda for Bloomington’s city council is a resolution that would rename an area around Miller-Showers Park as “Stadium District.” The item was postponed from the most recent council meeting for a second time. For B Square background, see: City council again mulls ‘Stadium District’ as name for area around Bloomington urban wetland park, as liquor zone question looms.

Also returning to the city council agenda is an item that would allow commercial urban agriculture as a use in the city’s zoning code. It was postponed from the previous meeting.

Nerd Nite: Nov. 6. The fourth edition of Bloomington’s Nerd Nite is 6 p.m. on Thursday (Nov. 6) at The Bishop Bar. This month’s talks span memes, morals, and math. Wolfe Allen dives into “SpongeBob… DrillPants?”—a look at how parody rap turned a cartoon into an online hip-hop feud. Dana Duffy revisits Louisa May Alcott’s radical life behind “Little Women.” And Ben Spitz unpacks the wild centuries-long quest to find The Quintic Formula.

Handmade Market: Nov. 8–9. The Bloomington Handmade Market takes place Nov. 8–9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bloomington Convention Center (still called by almost everyone the Monroe Convention Center). More than 100 makers from across the Midwest will fill both floors. Sunday is family day, featuring kid makers from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Santa from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission and parking are free, and concessions will be available.

Dec. 1: Online auction for “Batman House” ends. The big old mansion at Kirkwood Avenue and Madison Street is up for auction for a minimum bid of $750,000. The auction is being conducted online.

Meet Lonely!

This very, very good boy is a mix of hound and vizsla. Here’s what the shelter staff have written about Lonely:

Despite his name, Lonely is a friendly boy who loves humans, dogs, and kids! According to his previous owner, Lonely thinks he's a lap dog, and his more than happy to snuggle up next to you on the couch. He enjoys car rides and long walks. Lonely's only request is that he lives in a home without cats!

Photo Finish: 7th Street & Grant Street

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

Thanks for reading. I hope your week is off to a great start!

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

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