Good morning, Bloomington.

Bloomington will host Innovation Week Nov.

4-7 to boost its innovation ecosystem as local entrepreneurs, tech firms and community partners gather in The Trades District — a hub created with local investment. The event will offer programming tracks to forge partnerships, support new ventures and drive local business growth.

Yesterday, the Lotus World Music & Arts Festival opened in downtown Bloomington with an opening concert at 7 p.m. at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater featuring the Krista Detor Band and Terrance Simien.

The festival will run through Sunday and includes a visual art exhibit at the John Waldron Arts Center that is open each night from 6 p.m. to midnight.

Comedian Jiaoying Summers will headline The Comedy Attic on Oct.

3 and Oct. 4 as part of her 'What Specie Are You?' tour—she was named one of Variety’s 10 comics to watch for 2025 and will share her personal story as a Chinese immigrant to empower local audiences.

Monroe County Community School Corporation board received updates on school attendance and health at its Tuesday meeting on Sept.

23, approving routine bond resolutions and a hearing on the 2026 budget set for Oct. 28. Assistant superintendent Harmon explained new Indiana rules on chronic absences and shared that the district won a USDA gold award for school meals + increased its number of registered nurses to improve student care.

A federal judge halted the Houston South Project in Hoosier National Forest on September 18th after ruling that the USFS did not meet NEPA requirements—local groups warned that the plan could risk Lake Monroe’s water quality.

The pause stops logging, prescribed burning, and other activities until the court decides on a remedy.

The City of Bloomington Utilities will replace a damaged fire hydrant on South Sare Rd. between East Moores Pike and East Cathcart Street, with work starting at 9 a.m. Monday, September 29 — expected to finish by 2 p.m. that day.

A temporary lane restriction will be in place for safety as motorists are advised to drive carefully.

Bloomington's planned Hopewell neighborhood faces rising costs after city officials discovered three underground fuel tanks that increased cleanup expenses by $63,000 & environmental contamination.

City workers are also battling vandalism at Hopewell Commons and plan to extend early morning patrols on the B-Line Trail & South Rogers streets to protect the area.

Indiana safety Louis Moore won a Texas court ruling on Wednesday that lets him play the rest of the season—he played the first four games while his legal fight over the NCAA rule continued.

Moore leads the team with 23 tackles and two interceptions, and they will soon travel to Iowa.

After posting 288 rushing yards in a big win over Illinois on Sept.

20, Indiana football will test its offensive line and backfield against Iowa at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Iowa—renowned for allowing only 60.8 rushing yards per game—will pose a tough challenge for the Hoosiers.

Indiana volleyball beat Northwestern 3-1 in their first Big Ten game as miscommunications hurt the team in the second set—errors that they later overcame to win the match.

The Hoosiers will host Washington on Saturday and work to improve before tougher conference games begin.

Bloomington area high school football teams have shown mixed results this season as Edgewood bolstered its comeback with a strong defense and North built momentum after an overwhelming win, while South kept its high scoring and teams like Eastern and Owen Valley work to improve — with the IHSAA playoff draw set to be revealed on Oct. 12.

The Brook & The Bluff Concert

8:00-9:30 p.m. — The Bluebird — Tickets available — Experience expertly crafted songs and sublime musicianship from Nashville-based band The Brook & The Bluff.

American Aquarium Live Concert

8-10 p.m. — The Bluebird — Ticketed event — Experience the commitment of American Aquarium as they showcase their latest album.

S. Carey Live Concert

8-10 p.m. — The Bishop Bar — Ticketed event — Experience the soothing sounds of S. Carey in an intimate Bloomington venue.

Paint the Town Pink

2-8 p.m. — Switchyard Park — Free entry — Celebrate breast cancer awareness with a month-long community initiative featuring local support services and activities.

Bloomington IN Wool & Fiber Festival

Fri 9 a.m. – Sat 4 p.m. — Monroe County Fairgrounds — Free entry — Celebrate creativity with vendors showcasing wool and fiber arts at this delightful festival.

Hoosiers Outrun Cancer 5K

5K Run/Walk — Assembly Hall, Bloomington, IN — Registration fees vary — Participate in one of Indiana's oldest and largest runs to support cancer programs.

Developing Capable Young People Training Program

10 PM — Renwick Village Center Holding — Openings available — Program aimed at empowering parents and professionals to positively influence youth in the community.

Southern Culture on the Skids Concert

8:00–11:30 PM — The Bishop Bar — 18+ event — Experience a legendary band with their unique blend of rock, surf, and country for a foot-stomping night.

Orbit #7: Mama Said String Band and Ditch Tea Steepers

5:30-8:30 p.m. — The Orbit Room — $17 — Enjoy an evening of grassroots tunes from Mama Said String Band and Ditch Tea Steepers.

Orbit's 7th Anniversary Celebration

6:30-10:30 p.m. — The Orbit Room — $17 — Celebrate Orbit's 7th anniversary with great live performances from local favorites.