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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.

Early voting off to fast start in Monroe County; free parking at North Showers site

Early voting off to fast start in Monroe County; free parking at North Showers site

Early voting for the May 5 primaries is off to a fast start in Monroe County, with 632 ballots cast in the first four days—38.5% more than the same period in 2018, the next-highest year. The early voting location is at the North Showers building in downtown Bloomington.

Ridership slide fuels Bloomington Transit strategy shift: bigger buses, route rethink

Ridership slide fuels Bloomington Transit strategy shift: bigger buses, route rethink

Bloomington Transit is weighing service changes after a year-long ridership slide, reflected in a 16% drop in fixed-route ridership early in 2026. Plans include deploying new articulated buses on campus routes, merging Route 13 with Route 3, and expanding microtransit options.

Monroe County sheriff sues Indiana attorney general over new immigration detainer law

Monroe County sheriff sues Indiana attorney general over new immigration detainer law

Monroe County sheriff Ruben Marté has sued Indiana AG Todd Rokita in federal court, seeking to block a new state law requiring local jails to honor ICE detainer requests. The lawsuit says the new law would force deputies to violate the Fourth Amendment by detaining people without warrants.

Ahead of April 15 deadline, Monroe County BOC gives authority to president to extend jail accord, if ACLU agrees

Ahead of April 15 deadline, Monroe County BOC gives authority to president to extend jail accord, if ACLU agrees

Monroe County commissioners voted on Wednesday to authorize board president Julie Thomas to sign a possible extension of the county’s long-running settlement agreement with the ACLU over jail conditions, as talks continue ahead of the agreement’s April 15 expiration.

$3.6M appraisal accepted for future Bloomington Transit operations center property

$3.6M appraisal accepted for future Bloomington Transit operations center property

Bloomington Transit is moving ahead with the purchase of property at Curry Pike and Profile Parkway for a future operations center. A $3.6M appraisal has been accepted by the owner. Environmental concerns from a history of PCBs are expected to be addressed in part by a "comfort letter" from the IFA.

Campaign sign kerfuffle marks early voting launch at new Monroe County location

Campaign sign kerfuffle marks early voting launch at new Monroe County location

Early voting for the May 5 primary began Tuesday morning at Monroe County’s lone early voting site, the North Showers building in downtown Bloomington. A controversy over the placement of campaign signs came to the surface when Bloomington officials objected.

Bloomington RDC OKs transfer of parking lots to CIB, as step toward potential host hotel

Bloomington RDC OKs transfer of parking lots to CIB, as step toward potential host hotel

Bloomington’s RDC approved transferring convention-center parking parcels to the Monroe County capital improvement board to support a planned host hotel for the convention center expansion. The land will revert to the city if it is not used for convention-center-related purposes.