Nov. 5, 2026: Elections, Ellettsville reorganization, housing review

Weather Talk

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

Thursday: You might want to wear a light jacket or sweater, because it’s not going to get warmer than about 61F°. It will get cloudier as the day wears on.

Friday: Keep that light jacket or sweater on. After some overnight rain and a low of 45F°, the day will be mostly cloudy with a high of just 53F°.

Sign up for weather alerts: Monroe County emergency alert system

Recent articles

• Ellettsville–Richland Township reorganization passes by narrow margin outside town limits.  Voters approved the Ellettsville–Richland Township reorganization Tuesday, but the margin outside town was just 35 votes. A recount would require hundreds of petition signatures by Nov. 17. The change would expand Ellettsville’s boundaries and could affect future local income tax distributions.
• Monroe County 2026 General Election Results: Live from Election Central on Morton Street.  This article is a live update from Monroe County, Indiana's Election Central on Election Night, Nov. 3, 2026.
• Polls open with mild weather in Monroe County on Nov. 3, 2026.  This is a log of B Square Bulletin visits to different polling locations through the day on Nov. 3, 2026. It will be updated through the day as resources allow.
• Bloomington reviews housing barriers under new state law, more zoning changes on council agenda.  At a zoning hearing required by state law, a Bloomington homeowner described a seven-month wait for utility approval. Other speakers criticized development costs and permitting delays, while neighborhood residents warned about losing modest homes to larger rentals. More zoning changes are pending.

Other notes

Election Results: Success. Monroe County’s GIS division set up a general election results page, where the first authoritative election results out of Monroe County were posted on Election Night. The B Square automated the extraction of a subset of those results for live publication on the B Square’s website, too. That experiment can be declared a success.

Zody a candidate for county council seat. Unopposed on the ballot this week was Democrat Trent Deckard for Monroe County council. He’ll join Democrats Jody Madeira and Julie Thomas as county commissioners. That will leave his seat on the county council vacant. On Wednesday, John Zody announced publicly that he will be a candidate in the Democratic Party’s caucus that will fill the county council vacancy left by Deckard.

Artists sought for Miller-Showers Park gateway. The city of Bloomington is looking for artists to create a permanent public artwork near the limestone sign installed in 2024 at Miller-Showers Park. The project has a $125,000 budget. Professional artists or teams from Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois are eligible to apply by Dec. 4. Residents can also offer input through an online survey.

Convention center seeking local artwork. The Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB) is accepting submissions from artists interested in selling existing works for permanent display in the expanded Bloomington Convention Center. A total of $88,320 is available. But the CIB is expecting to pay between $1,500 and $12,000 for each piece of art. To be eligible, an artist has to be at least 18 years old and live in Monroe County or one of five adjoining counties. Artists can submit up to three works. The deadline is 5 p.m. on Nov. 27.

Griffy Lake to close for deer hunts. Bloomington parks and recreation has scheduled the annual controlled deer hunts at Griffy Lake Nature Preserve for the weekends of Nov. 14–15 and Nov. 21–22. The whole preserve, including trails, shoreline and lake, will close from 11 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday on both weekends. The city says the hunts are part of a continuing effort that started in 2017, to reduce damage to native vegetation from deer browsing. Only selected, authorized hunters are allowed to participate.

Monroe County website down, backup. On Wednesday, there was a notice that came through saying that the Monroe County government website was down. But it looks like it has returned to service.

On the calendar

Bloomington fire department operations center opening. The city will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. on Friday (Nov. 6) for its new fire department operations center at 3182 S. Walnut St. The public is invited to tour the building afterward. The facility, which will provide space for training, equipment maintenance and storage, was the last of several public safety projects funded through a bond approved by the city council in 2022. For B Square background, see: New logistics center for Bloomington’s fire department on track for September finish.

Bloomington Handmade Market. On Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 21–22, more than 100 artists and makers from around the Midwest are expected at the Bloomington Convention Center for the Bloomington’s annual Handmade Market Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Admission is free. Sunday’s activities will include youth artists and photos with Santa.

Meet Buddy!

This very good boy is a mix of Rottweiler and hound. Here’s what the shelter staff have written for Buddy:

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.

Let’s try and make Buddy’s stay at the shelter as short as possible!

Photo Finish: 9th Street & Morton Street (Election Central)

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

Thanks for reading. I hope you have a good weekend.

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

Sponsors stand with local civic journalism

The B Square Bulletin is made possible by financial supporters who believe in informed, engaged communities.