United Way program saves South Central Indiana taxpayers hundreds of thousands in fees and boosts financial stability across the regionUnited Way of South Central Indiana is pleased to share the success and community impact of its 2025 Free Community Tax Service. This vital financial stability initiative brought back more than $1 million in tax refunds and credits to residents across the region.
This year, 78 IRS-certified volunteers helped file 851 federal tax returns, saving taxpayers an estimated $212,750 in preparation fees and returning $1,047,364 in federal refunds and credits. Many households reported using their refunds for essential needs such as food, clothing, transportation, medical care, and savings. “The Free Community Tax Service is about more than just numbers—it’s about empowering our neighbors,” said Randy Rogers, President & CEO of United Way of South Central Indiana. “These refunds can be life-changing for individuals and families living paycheck to paycheck. We’re grateful to the volunteers and partners who made this impact possible.”
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The City of Bloomington’s Department of Economic & Sustainable Development is pleased to announce the launch of the 2025 Small Business Safety & Cleanliness Grant, a funding opportunity designed to support local businesses in enhancing their commercial properties' safety, hygiene, and appearance.
With $85,000 in funding available this fiscal year, the program aims to promote safer and more inviting business environments citywide. Individual businesses may apply for grants of up to $5,000 for physical improvements that deter crime, prevent vandalism, improve sanitation and upgrade their spaces' visual appeal or functionality. “Bloomington’s small businesses are at the heart of our community. This program gives them tools to invest in their spaces—not just for their customers, but for their employees and neighbors as well,” said Andrea de la Rosa, Assistant Director for Small Business Development. Innovative map helps visitors who are blind or have low vision navigate the park independentlyParks and Recreation on June 13 will unveil the city park system’s first tactile map at Switchyard Park, marking a major step forward in making city parks more accessible and inclusive.
Mayor Kerry Thomson will join members of the Council for Community Accessibility, and staff from Parks and Recreation, to introduce the new map at noon on June 13. All are invited to attend. The map will be installed next to the Pavilion and the B-Line Trail. Designed to assist visitors who are blind or have low vision, the durable outdoor map features raised textures, braille labels, and color contrast to help users navigate key areas of the 65-acre park.  Join us at Comfort Keepers as we celebrate the National Day of Joy — a special time to reflect on what brings happiness into our lives and to recognize the incredible caregivers who spread joy every day.
🗓 Date: Wednesday, June 25th 🕒 Time: 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm 📍 Location: Comfort Keepers 4334 W. 3rd Street Bloomington - enter in the back entrance. Enjoy light refreshments, engage in meaningful networking, and take part in uplifting conversations centered around JOY, the importance of caregiving, and the power of community. We warmly welcome you to share your stories, experiences, and insights in senior care. Your voice and perspective matter — and we’d love to learn more about the impact you make. Let’s come together to honor the caregivers among us and celebrate the joy they bring to others. The Bloomington Police Department (BPD) welcomed eleven newly sworn officers on Monday, the largest group sworn in at one time in at least 35 years. The unprecedented milestone reflects recent efforts by the City to strengthen public safety staffing and retention.
“We’ve seen a direct impact from the support this administration has provided through take-home vehicles, updated tools, and pay that reflects the demands of the job. These are the things that help us recruit and retain the best,” said Police Chief Michael Diekhoff. Of the eleven officers sworn in, six are already certified to serve in Indiana. Five have transferred to Bloomington from other law enforcement agencies, including the South Bend Police Department, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Martin County Sheriff’s Office, and Indiana University Police Department. One officer who previously served BPD for 21.5 years came out of retirement to rejoin the force.  All are invited! The 6th Annual Fourth and Rogers Block Party is back to celebrate the neighborhood! The Block Party includes new Gallery Walk art exhibits at Pictura Gallery/FAR Center for Contemporary Arts, Bloomington Fine Arts Supply and I Fell. West 4th Street will be closed for a block on either side of Rogers Street with plentiful art, food, music, and fun for all ages.
Family friendly art and activities provided by: Bloomingfoods, Bloomington Stitchery, Canopy Bloomington, Cherry Canary Vintage, Cicada Cinema, Girls Inc, Hideout Press, Hilary Cannon Anderson - Teaching Artist, Icarus Photography, Jazzercise Bloomington, Lotus Education and Arts Foundation, Morgenstern Books, People’s Market, Rock Paper Scissors, Roses Midwest, Wonderlab and more! The Joint Hypersonics Transition, in collaboration with Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division (NSWC Crane) is proud to announce the 14 winning teams of the second annual "Hypersonic Horizons: The High Speed Video Challenge," The competition awarded a total of $32,000 to high school and undergraduate students who demonstrated exceptional innovation and technical acumen in addressing hypersonic challenges.
"We are committed to fostering the next generation of STEM professionals, and the Hypersonic Horizons challenge is a shining example of how we can inspire young minds to tackle complex technological hurdles," said Dr. Lori M. Stiglitz, the JHTO Workforce Development Lead. "The creativity demonstrated by these students is a testament to the bright future of hypersonics research and development." This year's challenge saw student teams delve into two critical areas of hypersonic technology:
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