This is an audio transcript of the Weekly News Rundown.
Annabel Prokopy: It’s Monday, Nov. 3.
Nate Soco: In state news, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun convened a special legislative session to begin on Nov. 3 that will focus on redistricting. Pressure from the White House to draw maps that will help Republicans gain more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives included a meeting between Indiana Republican leaders and President Trump in late August. Vice President JD Vance also visited the state twice to meet with Gov. Braun and Republican leaders. Two out of Indiana’s nine House districts are held by Democrats, which could change in the favor of Republicans if maps are redrawn. Annabel, what have reactions been?
A: Nate, Indiana Senate Democratic Leader and Bloomington representative Shelli Yoder said that the move is a “national disgrace.” Democrat Matt Pierce, who represents Bloomington in the Indiana House, called it a “power grab” and said that Republicans are supporting redistricting in fear of retribution from the White House.
N: In county news, the Monroe County Council unanimously voted on Oct. 28 not to spend almost $11.38 million to purchase the North Park site for the new Monroe County Jail. The ACLU sued the Sheriff’s Office in 2008 for overcrowding and conditions in the current jail, the Charlotte Zietlow Justice Center. The site was approved by the Monroe County Board of Commissioners and Council last year. However, despite recommendations to renovate the current jail building or build a new jail, the project has stalled in recent years. Cost and location concerns contribute to the delay, with an estimate from the DLZ Corporation quoting $237 million for building a new facility. Annabel, why did the county council vote against funding the new site?
A: Nate, Councilmember Marty Hawk said the cost of the jail could strain the county’s budget, which has faced uncertainty in recent months. Monroe County Council President Jennifer Crossley called allocating the money for the new jail “tone-deaf.” Nate, what else do we know?
N: The local advocacy group Care Not Cages has lobbied against the proposed project. The group wants jail construction funds to go toward recidivism reduction programs focusing on issues like drug abuse and mental health. However, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Jail commander Kyle Gibbons has emphasized the need for renovations, saying that the walls are “literally caving in inside the facility right now” and calling the current jail “not sustainable.”
A: In city news, the Bloomington Planning and Transportation Department is gathering input on the College Avenue and Walnut Street corridor. The first of two public meetings was held Oct. 28 at City Hall for feedback on new design proposals. One proposal would leave both streets one-way and the other would change the design to two ways. Both would add safety infrastructure. The proposals would also impact the square, changing the number of metered parking spaces and adding bike paths. With around 150 crashes a year in the area included in the project, the city is looking to address speeding, narrow sidewalks and inadequate pedestrian networks. An online feedback form can be filled out until Dec. 1. For more information, go to idsnews.com.
N: In sports, former IU Indianapolis head men’s basketball coach Paul Corsaro notified the university on Oct. 29 that he plans to take legal action for “wrongful termination.” He was hired in March 2024 and improved the team’s wins by four in his first season. However, a month following the end of the season, university officials received a letter from an attorney alleging misconduct by Corsaro. The letter was on behalf of six former IU Indy players. A final report was issued on May 9, 2025, by the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel. Corsaro claims that IU had insufficient evidence of misconduct to fire him. Only two allegations — that Corsaro cursed during practice and “that he bumped a single player during a practice” — were substantiated in the report, according to a letter from Corsaro’s attorney to IU. Corsaro has said in the letter he has “suffered severe reputational damages, emotional and mental distress damages, and other monetary damages” due to his termination.
