Politics

IU faculty member Isak Nti Asare speaks in front of a crowd. Isak Nti Asare announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Indiana’s 9th congressional district, according to a press release from his campaign Thursday.

IU faculty member announces candidacy for Indiana’s 9th congressional district

Dec 16, 2021 8:46 pm

Isak Nti Asare will be the first African-American to represent the district if elected.

A view of downtown Bloomington is seen from the Seventh and Walnut Street Parking Garage. Plans to annex certain areas around Bloomington could be halted as early as February 2022.

Bloomington faces substantial opposition to its annexation efforts

Dec 8, 2021 5:14 pm

Bloomington may see a successful remonstrance for many of its areas proposed for annexation.

A police officer stands guard June 15, 2017, on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Justice Amy Coney Barrett turned down an emergency relief request from IU students to block the university's vaccine mandate, which will remain in place.

OPINION: The Mississippi 15-week abortion ban should be ruled unconstitutional

Dec 7, 2021 10:18 am

The Mississippi law does not include exceptions for sexual assault or incest.

The Bloomington City Hall building is seen Dec. 15, 2019, at 401 N. Morton St. The Bloomington City Council voted to prohibit the sale of cats and dogs from local pet shops Wednesday.

Bloomington City Council will prohibit local pet stores selling of dogs, cats

Dec 1, 2021 9:56 pm

Two local pet stores have until Jan. 1, 2023, to adjust to this change.

The Bloomington City Hall building is seen Dec. 15, 2019, at 401 N. Morton St. The Bloomington City Council debated placing restrictions on local pet shops to prohibit the sale of cats and dogs Nov 17.

Bloomington City Council poised to stop dog, cat sales in pet shops

Nov 17, 2021 11:40 pm

Two local pet stores would be affected by the proposed change.

IU history professor Alex Lichtenstein and students from IU and the University of Pretoria pose for a photo in October 2019 at Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Park in Ruleville, Mississippi. Lichtenstein will lead students through a tour of historic monuments in the Civil Rights Movement from May 29 to June 4, 2022.

IU history professor chaperones Civil Rights tour with students from IU, Serbia

Nov 7, 2021 5:32 pm

IU students will go on the same route as the Freedom Riders in 1961.

The sun casts shadows along the pavement as it sets on Nov. 2, 2021, on East Seventh Street. Representatives from around the world, including IU experts, faculty and students are currently gathered in Glasgow, Scotland, for the United Nations’ 26th Conference of the Parties, or COP26.

IU experts, students in Scotland for COP26 to fight climate change

Nov 3, 2021 4:51 pm

Members of the IU community are at the world’s biggest conference on climate change.

The Monroe County Government Center is located at 501 N. Morton St. Eric Spoonmore announced his resignation in a press release Monday.

Monroe County Council member Eric Spoonmore to resign at end of month

Nov 1, 2021 4:08 pm

He was named the President and CEO of the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce.

The Bloomington City Hall building is seen Dec. 15, 2019, at 401 N. Morton St. The city council approved multiple ordinances Wednesday night to advance the Mayor’s 2022 budget proposal.

City council approves 2022 budget after months of deliberation

Oct 27, 2021 9:53 pm

BPD officer salaries will be finalized in collective bargaining agreements over the next few weeks.

Belongings of people experiencing homelessness lie in the grass on Monday at Seminary Park. The Bloomington City Council approved a rezoning petition to allow Wheeler Mission to expand their offerings to people experiencing homelessness Wednesday.

City council approves Wheeler Mission property rezoning

Oct 20, 2021 11:29 pm

The Department of Economic and Sustainable Development gaves updates regarding city climate action.

Members of the unhoused community gather until the doors of A Friend’s Place open at 5:15 p.m. on Jan. 30, 2021. Monroe County Perry Township Trustee Dan Combs sued Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton and the City of Bloomington last week in his continued search for records of Bloomington's homelessness policy, according to an Indiana Public Media article.

Trustee files lawsuit against City of Bloomington for homelessness records

Oct 20, 2021 4:43 pm

A Perry Township Trustee has not received the requested records after several attempts.

The Bloomington City Hall building is seen Dec. 15, 2019, at 401 N. Morton St. The council passed a new rule Wednesday to limit the duration of city council meetings to five-and-a-half hours or until midnight, whichever comes first.

City council places limits on meeting times, introduces zoning amendment

Oct 7, 2021 12:27 am

Councilmembers agreed continuing meetings past midnight do more harm than good.

Downtown Bloomington is seen in June2021 from the 7th and Walnut Street Parking Garage. Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton said the 2020 U.S. Census inaccurately counted the city’s population.

Mayor John Hamilton says census count inaccurate, could have ‘millions of dollars in impact’

Oct 5, 2021 4:42 pm

The U.S. Census Bureau reports 2020 Bloomington population is roughly 6,500 lower than initial estimates.

The Bloomington Police Department is located at 220 E. Third Street. The Bloomington City Council debated increases for BPD officers and other city employees Wednesday.

Bloomington City Council inches closer to agreement on police, fire salary increases

Sep 30, 2021 1:24 am

Council members continued debating police salaries, hiring and retention issues.

The proposed annexation areas for the City of Bloomington as of April 22, 2021. The city council approved multiple areas for annexation Wednesday evening.

Bloomington City Council annexes remaining seven areas, omitting area 7

Sep 23, 2021 1:52 am

The city council finished annexation deliberation Wednesday night.

Early voters wait in line to cast their vote Oct. 6, 2020, at 401 W. Seventh St. Five Bloomington organizations will have voter registration drives Sept. 28.

Five Monroe County organizations to offer in-person voter registration drives Sept. 28

Sep 23, 2021 1:49 am

National Voter Registration Day is Sept. 28.

State Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, speaks at the Hoosiers for a Commonsense Health Plan on Jan. 9, 2013, at the Monroe County Public Library. Pierce criticized Indiana's Republican-drawn redistricting maps Monday.

Indiana Democratic Rep. Matt Pierce criticizes Republican-drawn congressional maps

Sep 20, 2021 5:15 pm

The map was recently adopted by a committee in the Indiana House of Representatives.

A street sign for Jordan Avenue is seen April 22, 2021. A City of Bloomington task force approved renaming Jordan Avenue to Eagleson Avenue Monday.

City of Bloomington to rename Jordan Avenue after important African American family

Sep 15, 2021 5:53 pm

The street will be called Eagleson Avenue beginning Feb. 1, 2022.

The Indiana General Assembly announced proposed U.S. House and Indiana State House districts for the next decade on Sept. 14, 2021. Bloomington and Monroe County would remain in IN-9 under the proposed map.

Indiana Republicans announce U.S. House redistricting drafts, Monroe County stays in IN-9

Sep 14, 2021 1:10 pm

Indiana’s 9th District now does not include Morgan County and shifts to include southeastern Indiana.

Afghan evacuees arrive in Indianapolis Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, as 1st Cavalry Division soldiers watch. Hoosiers will host the Afghans at Camp Atterbury, near Edinburgh, as they begin their safe resettlement to the United States. The division soldiers along with Indiana National Guard soldiers will provide transportation, temporary housing, medical screening and logistics support as part of Operation Allies Welcome.

OPINION: Senator Mike Braun’s comments regarding refugee resettlement in Indiana are unjustified

Sep 13, 2021 8:41 pm

Senator Mike Braun mischaracterized Afghan refugees as they arrived in Indiana.