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Local Government

Articles in this section cover Bloomington city council, the mayor's office, Monroe County's board of commissioners, county council, and all the other local units.

Years-old jail lawsuit against Monroe County nearing end, but ACLU signals potential new case based on current conditions

Years-old jail lawsuit against Monroe County nearing end, but ACLU signals potential new case based on current conditions

A settlement over unconstitutional overcrowding at the Monroe County Jail is set for a final 90-day extension, pending court approval. After that, the case is supposed to be dismissed—clearing the way for a new lawsuit, as the ACLU warns jail conditions remain dangerous and unresolved.

Archived Live Report: Bloomington city council organizational meeting (Jan. 7, 2025) | Asare now president

Archived Live Report: Bloomington city council organizational meeting (Jan. 7, 2025) | Asare now president

This is a live report from Bloomington's Wednesday (Dec. 7) city council meeting.

Archived Live Report: Election Central candidate filings (Jan. 7, 2026)

Archived Live Report: Election Central candidate filings (Jan. 7, 2026)

This is where live reports will be filed from Election Central, starting 8 a.m. on Jan. 7, 2026 to document the filing of declarations by candidates for elected office this year.

Bloomington to consider establishing future residential areas as TIF districts

Bloomington to consider establishing future residential areas as TIF districts

Bloomington’s redevelopment commission is considering carving two future residential areas—Summit District and Hopewell—out of the city’s consolidated TIF area to form separate “residential TIF” districts. No decisions are final yet. A multi-step public approval process begins Feb. 5.

Stalwart Perry Township trustee Dan “Carp” Combs dies at 73

Stalwart Perry Township trustee Dan “Carp” Combs dies at 73

Dan “Carp” Combs, who served as Perry Township trustee since 1986 and was among Monroe County’s longest-serving township officials, has died at 73. A Democrat, Combs was in the final year of his 10th term. A party caucus will fill the vacancy.

Public art: Bloomington grants site access for Trades District soil tests, Lilly Endowment grant used

Public art: Bloomington grants site access for Trades District soil tests, Lilly Endowment grant used

Bloomington’s RDC approved site access for geotechnical soil borings at up to 10 locations in the Trades District, clearing the way for early planning tied to a $16M Lilly Endowment CCC grant. The work will inform future public art and other district improvements, with no cost to the RDC.

Buckle up for 2026: Elections, courts, construction, development, and more

Buckle up for 2026: Elections, courts, construction, development, and more

Bloomington’s 2026 civic calendar is packed: contested elections, major construction, housing developments, stalled jail plans, annexation lawsuits, and budget politics. Many storylines are easy to foresee—even if outcomes are unpredictable