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2020 primaries of local interest all but set: 3-way race among Democrats to replace Stoops; 7 total county council candidates

2020 primaries of local interest all but set: 3-way race among Democrats to replace Stoops; 7 total county council candidates

Candidates for major party nominations to 2020 elected office had until Friday at noon to file their declarations. By that deadline, officially-declared candidates for Monroe County area state and local offices featured a mix of predictable names along with some that were possibly not-so-predictable. In the familiar, predictable category are

Primary election prep for board includes: briefing on new voting equipment, recruiting paid election workers, clarifying why vote centers won’t be used

Primary election prep for board includes: briefing on new voting equipment, recruiting paid election workers, clarifying why vote centers won’t be used

More than $800,000 worth of new voting equipment landed in Monroe County on Monday. The delivery came from Hart Intercivic, based in Austin Texas. It was no surprise. That was the expected news out of Monroe County’s election board meeting on Thursday afternoon. Hart Intercivic had indicated the

Amid “absurdity” Bloomington’s city council OKs mixed-use development on Pete Ellis Drive with 344 bedrooms, 19K square feet of commercial space

Amid “absurdity” Bloomington’s city council OKs mixed-use development on Pete Ellis Drive with 344 bedrooms, 19K square feet of commercial space

In a unanimous vote on Wednesday night, Bloomington’s city council approved a planned unit development (PUD) for the empty lot on the north side of the Longview Avenue, between Pete Ellis Drive and 7th Street. The new zoning will allow for construction of a single four-story building with 344

Bloomington public safety report: 2019 was “tough year” with a few bright spots

Bloomington public safety report: 2019 was “tough year” with a few bright spots

On Tuesday morning, Bloomington officials presented the city’s 2020 public safety report, a summary of activity and outcomes for the 2019 calendar year. Bloomington’s mayor, John Hamilton, introduced the three presenters: police chief Mike Diekhoff; community and family resources director Beverly Calender-Anderson; and fire chief Jason Moore. Hamilton

Opinion: It’s time to rethink closed door caucuses for Indiana city councils

Opinion: It’s time to rethink closed door caucuses for Indiana city councils

A 1980 article in the Valparaiso University Law Review states that the political party caucus exemption in the Open Door Law (ODL) here in the state of Indiana is “a major potential weakness in the act, and is virtually impossible to police.” The same article mentions that there have been

Bloomington files notice of appeal on rulings in 4th Street parking garage eminent domain case

Bloomington files notice of appeal on rulings in 4th Street parking garage eminent domain case

In a filing made last Friday, Jan. 31, Bloomington gave notice of an appeal of rulings made against the city in the 222 Hats eminent domain case involving the replacement of the 4th Street parking garage. The notice of appeal indicates the city is appealing both rulings by Monroe County

Bloomington city council’s OK of $324K for new sidewalks comes with discussion of additional funding sources

Bloomington city council’s OK of $324K for new sidewalks comes with discussion of additional funding sources

This year’s annual approval of the city council’s sidewalk committee report came at last Wednesday’s city council meeting. The report included $324,000 in funding for six different projects. The half dozen projects included: two sidewalk construction projects, two sidewalk design projects, and two traffic calming or