Good morning, Bloomington.

A 23-year-old man from Bloomington died when a large fireworks mortar exploded at 10:30 p.m. on July 5 in northwestern Monroe County near Stinesville—witnesses said he ignored warnings from friends to be cautious.

Bloom Magazine will mark its 20th year with the August/September issue in Bloomington.

It started in November 2005 with its first issue in August 2006 and has grown to a team (including Cassaundra Huskey, Rodney Margison, and Sydney Zulich) that has earned numerous awards.

Pillar Arts Alliance Center is relocating to a larger space at College Mall with a soft opening this summer and a grand opening early fall while continuing its Fountain Square location in downtown Bloomington.

The expanded venue will host more artists and events—doubling live act capacity and offering extra gallery space, officials said.

At a special session on June 30, the City of Bloomington Redevelopment Commission rejected proposals for Hopewell South and set a new course for a community-centered housing project on the former IU Health site—aiming to deliver diverse, attainable homes.

Officials said Flintlock LAB will help build a framework that includes affordable and market-rate options as the City adapts to rising construction costs.

City of Bloomington Utilities released its annual drinking water quality report for 2024, showing that our water met all federal safety standards.

The report details 13 contaminants detected — over 70 others were not found—and additional data is available on the city’s Open Data Portal.

The Indiana University Police Academy has partnered with Deaf ASL faculty to add sign language and Deaf culture training—featuring a video of key signs such as "Deaf?", "stop", and "help"—to help new recruits communicate better with Deaf community members.

The state-approved course will improve communication during police stops and help de-escalate conflicts.

The B Square reported new property transfers in Monroe County from June 20 to July 1 using data from the Beacon GIS system.

The report shows sales ranging from $0 to over $1 million—these transfers will now be updated every other Sunday.

Trans-Miss Amateur Golf Championship

July 8th-11th — The Pfau Course — Entry may vary — Experience one of the longest-running amateur golf tournaments in the U.S. on a beautiful Midwestern course.

12th Jim Richter Mandolin Camp for Rest of Us

8:55 p.m. — Grant Street Inn — Registration required via email — Embrace the joy of mandolin playing at this engaging camp.

Picnic in the Park 2025

5:30-7:30 p.m. — Marci Jane Lewis Park — Free entry — Enjoy great food, networking, and fun at the annual community picnic with door prizes.

Neurodegeneration Teacher Training

8 a.m. – 5 p.m. — IU Health Bloomington Hospital — Registration required — Gain a comprehensive 20-hour dementia curriculum to support educators and the community.

Girls Overnight Camp

Jul 18-20 — Sembower Field — Meals included — Enjoy two nights of fun, games, and training at this enriching camp experience.

Hairbangers Ball

9:00 – 10:30 PM — The Bluebird — Check venue for entry — Rock out with iconic 80s hits from Guns N’ Roses, Mötley Crüe, and more.

BTownVBC Open Gyms

5:30-7 p.m. — Wilkinson Hall — No ticket required — Participate in skill-building drills with expert coaches before tryouts.

BTownVBC Open Gyms

5:30-7 p.m. — Wilkinson Hall — No tickets required — Improve your volleyball skills with practice drills before school and club tryouts.

BTownVBC Open Gyms

5:30-7 p.m. — Wilkinson Hall — No cost — Sharpen your volleyball skills with engaging drills before tryouts.

Live Music: Thomas Dollbaum at The Orbit Room

6-9 p.m. — The Orbit Room — $17 — Experience a night of original music with Thomas Dollbaum and friends in a vibrant venue.