Indiana ends long running Public Health Emergency Order
After 2 long years, Governor Holcomb chose to not renew his monthly executive order, essentially ending the public health emergency in the state of Indiana. This was the measure which provided the authority to local counties to enact a more stringent effort to address such matters stemming from the spread of Coronavirus in their region, so Monroe County can simultaneously be free of locally enforced face covering mandates.
Additionally, Governor Holcomb signed into law a bill which limits Coronavirus vaccine mandates by private employers. This bill, which was passed 79-9 in the Indiana House of Representatives, includes language to maintain the increased federal funding Indiana receives for state Medicaid residents and additional funding for those in the state requiring food assistance.
5th seeded IUWBB advances in B1G Tournament, next up: 4th seeded Maryland
Indiana Women’s Basketball beat Rutgers 66-54 in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis Thursday afternoon. The Hoosiers are the 5th seed and will face 4th seed Maryland today at 2pm in the quarterfinals. Indiana is 20-7 overall and keeps their hopes alive for a #4 regional seed in the NCAA Tournament, which would mean games would be played at Assembly Hall, in Bloomington. This was the first meeting between the two teams in a long time, as Health and Safety Protocols cancelled their match-ups for the past 2 seasons.
Ali Patberg led the Hoosiers with 19 points, 15 of which came from beyond the arc, Grace Berger added 17, and Mackenzie Holmes scored 11 points. The Hoosiers were without Sophomore Forward Kiandra Browne who is sidelined with a reaggravated hip injury; Arielle Wisne provided 5 minutes off the bench to help in Browne’s absence. Nicole Cardano-Hillary had 9 points along with 5 steals and 2 assists. Aleska Gulbe scored 6 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter, and Chloe Moore-McNeil added 4 points for the Hoosiers. The Hoosiers shot 45% from the field, 6-15 from three-point range for 40%, and 16-21 from 76% from the foul line.
Next up, Indiana will face 4th seed Maryland at 2pm on Friday.
Bloomington’s Waldron Arts Center re-opens tonight with free event
The City of Bloomington will celebrate the reopening of the John Waldron Arts Center with a free event on Friday, March 4 from 5-8pm. The celebration will mark the opening of two exhibitions in the Waldron’s Visual Arts Galleries, Reclamation, featuring work by members of Bloomington Open Studios Tours and the Bloomington Photography Club, and Transformation featuring new work by local emerging artists Joii Cooper and Larissa Danielle. Bloomington-based folk-rock band The Barn Cats will also perform in the Waldron Galleries at 5pm.
Cardinal Stage’s newly commissioned play The Mountaintop will also be performed at 7:30pm. in the Waldron Auditorium. The Mountaintop is scheduled to run Thursday, March 3 through Sunday, March 20th. The show marks the first performance to take place in the Waldron since its closure in December 2020.
In addition to arts activities, City of Bloomington Deputy Mayor Don Griffin and Assistant Director for the Arts Holly Warren will share plans for the City’s management of the Waldron at 6 p.m.
Click here for more information
This Week in Hoosier History
1934 – John Dillinger escaped from the Crown Point jail. He stole Lake County Sheriff Lillian Holley’s car and headed for Chicago. In July, Dillinger was shot and killed by special agents as he left the Biograph Theater in Chicago.
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