Friday, July 18th, 2025

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Good morning, Bloomington. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 18th of July.
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Indiana University will host a Quantum AI and NLP Conference at the Indiana Memorial Union August 6–8— the three-day event will feature keynote talks by tech experts from NVIDIA, IBM Quantum, Microsoft and Quantinuum and welcomes local students, startups and businesses. The Bloomingtonian
- ➤ Indiana University Bloomington earned the Collegiate Purple Star of Indiana designation—recognizing its support for military-connected students—from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs. The university was one of 28 honorees to receive Tier 3 status for the 2024-25 academic year and will update its application next year to improve its rating. Indiana University
- ➤ Indiana University announced July 16 that School of Medicine dean Jay Hess, who began in 2013 and will serve until July 2026, is stepping down while UITS vice president Rob Lowden is leaving to take a similar position at Ohio State (IU will begin a nationwide search for both roles later this month). Indiana Daily Student
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ State Rep. Dave Hall was appointed to the Interim Study Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications while Rep. Bob Heaton will serve on the Interim Study Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance — both will hold hearings with the public and experts this summer and fall to guide policy ahead of the next legislative session. The Bloomingtonian
- ➤ The city plan commission will meet on Aug. 11 to review proposals for new rules on single-resident occupancy housing and a zoning change to allow commercial urban agriculture. The proposals come after city council actions and public comments and will need board of zoning appeals review for some projects—aiming to balance affordable housing with neighborhood safety. The B Square Bulletin
- ➤ Protesters marched through downtown Bloomington on July 17 as part of the 'Good Trouble Lives On' Day of Action to mark five years since civil rights leader John Lewis died and to oppose GOP senators’ vote to defund public media and federal programs. Organized by local groups, the crowd gathered at the Monroe County Courthouse and marched along North Walnut Street to the Charlotte Zietlow Justice Center — calling for a stand against cuts to civil rights protections. The Bloomingtonian
SHOP NEWS
- ➤ TODAY'S SPONSOR We never have to worry about dead batteries and missed calls thanks to this portable power bank that can charge up to five devices at once. The Buy
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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.
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BTownVBC Open Gyms
5:30-7 p.m. — Wilkinson Hall — No ticket required — Participate in skill-building drills with expert coaches before tryouts.
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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.
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BTownVBC Open Gyms
5:30-7 p.m. — Wilkinson Hall — No cost — Sharpen your volleyball skills with engaging drills before tryouts.
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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.
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Experimental Sound Evening: Rob Funkhouser, Vaguerriffic, Verity Pariah
7:30-10:30 p.m. — The Orbit Room — $10 plus food or drink purchase required — Explore diverse soundscapes from experimental artists in a vibrant all-ages setting.
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BTownVBC Open Gym Sessions
5:30-7 p.m. — Wilkinson Hall — Free entry — Get in some practice with BTownVBC coaches before school and club tryouts.
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Golfweek Hoosier Women's Amateur
A 54-hole stroke-play event — Jul 29 – Jul 31 — The Pfau Course — Registration required — Compete alongside talented female amateur and college golfers.
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BTownVBC Open Gyms
5:30-7 p.m. — Wilkinson Hall — No cost information available — Get ready for school and club tryouts with 90 minutes of engaging play and skill drills.
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Mid-Summer 5K Challenge
8-10 a.m. — Bloomington High School North — $15-$25 — Participate in a 5K run and walk benefiting the Bloomington High School North Cross Country Teams.
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