Bloomington, Indiana Resident Selected to Judge at 150th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show12/29/2025 The Westminster Kennel Club has selected Bloomington, Indiana resident Mr. Douglas Johnson as the Sporting Group judge for the 150th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show presented by Purina Pro Plan. Group judging for the historic sesquicentennial event will be held on the evenings of February 2-3 at Madison Square Garden, with breed competitions taking place earlier in the day at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The Best in Show winner will be crowned at New York City’s iconic Madison Square Garden, the original home of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, on February 3 and will be judged by two-time Westminster Best in Show-winning breeder-owner-handler David Fitzpatrick. Tickets for all events at both Madison Square Garden and the Javits Center are on sale now through westminsterkennelclub.org.
The 150th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show judging panel represents a variety of excellence in the sport, featuring world-class breeders, leading handlers, and historic winners from all over the globe. For the complete judging panel, please visit westminsterkennelclub.org/judges. Mr. Douglas Johnson grew up surrounded by dogs, working at a veterinary clinic cleaning runs and walking dogs. One weekend, a Clumber Spaniel came to stay, and he found himself immediately taken with the unique breed. After some research, he found a local breeder and mentor who got him involved in showing dogs.
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The City of Bloomington Common Council’s Jack Hopkins Social Services Committee is now accepting applications for Bloomington residents to serve on the Committee in 2026. This is an opportunity to serve our community by ensuring that funding reaches the people and organizations who are directly meeting the city’s most pressing needs.
The Committee is composed of four members of the Common Council and three City residents with experience in social services, including grant administration, philanthropy, nonprofit organizations, and related fields. The three City residents will be recommended by the 2026 Committee Chair. The Committee will meet six times between January and June 2026, to set program guidelines, consider and evaluate applications from social service agencies, and ultimately make funding recommendations to the Common Council. Applications may be submitted through the Jack Hopkins Committee website. The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department has reopened the Rail Trail crossing of South Rogers St. with new safety and accessibility improvements. The formerly diagonal crossing has been reconstructed to allow trail users to cross South Rogers Street perpendicular to traffic just south of West Baywood Drive, shortening the amount of time needed to cross the road and improving sightlines for both drivers and trail users.
The Board of Park Commissioners approved a $212,280 contract with Milestone Contractors in September for this work, which also included widening and paving the trail on both sides of South Rogers Street. The project was planned to occur simultaneously with the installation of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) at the crossing by the Monroe County Highway Department. While the trail has reopened, several aspects of the project are still in progress, including the activation of the RRFBs, re-striping the crossing, the installation of a new streetlight, and turf restoration and stabilization. These items will be complete in early 2026. The Commission on the Status of Women is now accepting nominations for its 2026 annual awards, honoring local women and girls who are driving positive change, breaking barriers, and inspiring others in our community.
Award winners will be celebrated at the Women’s History Month Luncheon on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, with an event recognizing the outstanding leadership and contributions of women in Bloomington. The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. Nominations will be accepted for the following:
Below is a list of some available grants for businesses and non-profits in Bloomington. All grants can be found at Bloomington Civiform: https://civiform.bloomington.in.gov/programs.
Check your address to see if you are located in the Enterprise Zone - Bloomington GeoHub Map.
For more information or assistance applying, please contact Andrea de la Rosa at [email protected]. $250,000 Invested in Ten Nonprofits Strengthening Stability, Health, and Opportunity Across the RegionUnited Way of South Central Indiana (UWSCI) today announced the recipients of its 2026 Impact Grants, awarding a total of $250,000 to ten nonprofit organizations serving Brown, Greene, Lawrence, Monroe, Orange, and Owen counties. Each organization will receive a $25,000 grant to advance long-term stability and opportunity for ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families and individuals.
ALICE households earn above the federal poverty level but still struggle to afford essentials such as housing, food, childcare, and healthcare. These families are often one unexpected expense away from crisis. UWSCI’s Impact Grants support programs that address these realities head-on by strengthening stability, expanding access to essential services, and increasing pathways to economic mobility. “This group of nonprofits are doing incredible work to create pathways to stability for families across South Central Indiana,” said Randy Rogers, President & CEO of United Way of South Central Indiana. “These investments strengthen programs that help families access food, housing, healthcare, education, and the supports that make long-term progress possible. We’re proud to stand alongside these agencies as they open doors for more of our neighbors.” Did you know? Spring Mill Inn won Indiana Landmark's Renaissance Award for 2025 for its outstanding historical renovation!  The Future of Uplift, SEO & GEO in 2026 – Lunch & Learn Search is evolving fast as AI reshapes how people find businesses online. Join us for a Lunch & Learn focused on the future of SEO, AI-driven search, and GEO in 2026. We’ll share key insights, winning strategies, and our direction for the year ahead, with time for questions and discussion. 📅 January 7 | ⏰ 12:00–2:00 PM 📍 The Mill Bloomington – Classroom 🍽 Free lunch provided RSVP required.  As part of ongoing work to expand digital access for residents, free public Wi-Fi is now available at two additional locations: Seminary Park (100 W. 2nd St.) and Hopewell Commons (630 S. Morton St.), Bloomington’s newest park. Both sites offer service at speeds up to 100 megabits per second (Mbps), depending on where you’re located in the park.
The expansion advances the City’s Digital Opportunity Strategic Plan, which aims to ensure all residents have reliable internet access, devices, and the digital tools needed for full participation in civic and economic life. These are the first new public Wi-Fi additions since 2023 and join a growing network of free, community-oriented spaces and access points throughout the city. Residents can also connect at these Parks:
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