Indiana Attorney General challenges injunction allowing 10 year-old biological male to play girls sports
The Indiana Attorney General’s has filed with a federal appeals court to overturn a judge’s preliminary injunction against the recent Indiana law ensuring that only biological males and females are allowed to play their designated school sports. The order came after a specific suit from the family of a 10 year-old biological boy wanting to continue to play girls’ softball. Indianapolis US District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson ruled based on a “strong likelihood” that the Indiana law violates Title 9 protections. The ruling only applies to the the specific student whose family filed suit.
Indiana receives federal approval to continue extending postpartum Medicaid coverage to one year
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration received approval from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to continue its practice of extending postpartum coverage for Hoosiers receiving Medicaid during pregnancy from 60 days to one year. Indiana has been providing this extended coverage since April; today’s federal announcement will allow it to continue. Previously, postpartum Medicaid coverage ended after 60 days. In May, Indiana’s Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning asked CMS for approval to extend the postpartum coverage period for traditional Medicaid, Healthy Indiana Plan Maternity and Hoosier Healthwise members. This will apply to all who received maternity care from Medicaid since April 1. The CMS approval authorizes the extended coverage for Medicaid-eligible individuals for a five-year period, through March 31, 2027. This policy was included in HEA 1140-2022, the bill passed by the Indiana General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Eric J. Holcomb on March 14, 2022.
The postpartum coverage period is available to any individual who meets one of the following criteria:
- Becomes pregnant while already enrolled in traditional Medicaid, HIP or Hoosier Healthwise
- Applies and is eligible for Medicaid while pregnant
- Applies for Medicaid after the child is born and was both pregnant and eligible in the month of application or one of the three months prior to the application month.
Go Bloomington Launched with event at City Hall
Last week, Bloomington City Hall hosted a public gathering to launch Go Bloomington, a program that supports mobility options that are alternatives to single occupancy vehicles with the goals of reducing carbon emissions, calming traffic congestion, and improving parking availability. Residents can learn more about Go Bloomington, connect with people interested in carpooling, and find other transportation alternatives that meet their needs at gobloomington.org. The website provides a layered map that allows users to access Bloomington Transit and Indiana University Campus Bus routes with real-time bus locations. Map layers also show the shortest routes for walking, biking, or where e-bikes and e-scooters are located.
During the launch event, a Bloomington Transit bus, demonstrations of the new Lime e-bikes available for rent around the city, and the opportunity to try out Veo sit-down scooters were made available to observe along with a vanpool vehicle from Commute with Enterprise. For a limited time and in celebration of GO Bloomington’s launch you can rent a Lime scooter or e-bike for $1 off per ride with promo code: GOBLOOMINGTON.
Status of Bloomington infrastructure improvement projects
Griffy Lake Boathouse
The Griffy Lake boathouse has transitioned to reduced hours of operation. During the month of September, the boathouse is open daily from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. for watercraft rentals and the purchase of launch permits for personal watercraft. For more information, call the Griffy Lake boathouse during open hours at 812-349-3732, or email griffy.boathouse@bloomington.in.gov.
Seminary Park
New energy-efficient LED, dark-sky friendly light poles were installed in Seminary Park this week and will be programmed in the coming weeks. The lights are controlled by automatic timers and provide lighting for the interior of Seminary Park.
Lower Cascades Park
Contractors were on site at Lower Cascades Park last week planting the last of the trees required to mitigate the 23 trees removed as part of the Lower Cascades Park Phase 5 Trail and Streambank Stabilization Project. More than 115 new trees have been planted in Lower Cascades Park and surrounding areas since May 2022.
Hidden River Pathway Project
The two-year downtown stormwater infrastructure reconstruction project to address flooding during rain events continues. Contractor Milestone is completing the new culvert under Grant St between Kirkwood and 4th and into the alley south of Grant. Grant continues to be closed from 4th to Kirkwood. The alley on the east side of Grant, between Trinity Church and Longfei Restaurant, will remain closed. The City will continue to coordinate with other construction and road projects as they reconstruct 1,829 feet of culverts to protect downtown area residential and commercial buildings. This project is on track to be finished by the February 2023 deadline. For more information about the project visit: bloomington.in.gov/utilities/hidden-river.
Businesses on 4th and Grant are still open as this project continues around them. They welcome customers and taking the time to visit them may afford residents an opportunity to see what’s happening with this project. Businesses in the impacted area include The Venue, Siam House, Little Tibet, Burma Garden, Korea Restaurant, Oak, My Thai, DO Asian Fusion, Dat’s, B-Town Gyros, Healthy Hoosiers, Bali Cafe, Storm Real Estate, Longfei, Parlor Donuts, Soma Coffeehouse, and Taste of India.
PUBLIC WORKS
Public Works Street Division completed street milling on W 12th Street from Monroe to Lindbergh and is scheduled to resurface the week of September 12th. Also, next week the Division is scheduled to start street milling on N Summit Street from 12th to 13th.
Hopewell Phase 1 East
The project completed the demolition of eight buildings on the site with three buildings remaining. Material haul off for disposal and recycling will continue for the next few weeks. The next building scheduled for demolition is 635 Rogers Street. The Hopewell Phase 1 East project site is bounded by 2nd Street to the north, 1st Street to the south, B-Line to the east, and Rogers Street to the west. Additional information about the project and the contractor can be found at the following links: https://bton.in/mRp~I, hopewellbloomington.org & renascentinc.com/
IU Poplars Building Demolition
Due to the current demolition phase of the Indiana University Poplars Building on 7th Street, west of campus, N Grant Street will be closed between E 6th and E 7th from September 6th to September 20th. The sidewalks adjacent to the building will also be closed during each of these closures. Closures will be 24 hours a day.
Crestmont Area Traffic Calming Project
The Crestmont traffic calming project is beginning with the City Street Department ADA curb ramp replacement, and milling and paving 12th and 13th Street. Installation of speed cushions and signs by the contractor will begin in the coming weeks. Traffic calming devices on 12th Street (Lindbergh to Monroe) and 13th Street (Illinois to Summit) were prioritized through the City’s Resident-Led Process of the Traffic Calming and Greenways Program (TCGP). Additional information about the project and the contractor can be found at: https://bton.in/6nWTt.
Crosswalk Project
The City’s crosswalk improvement project at the intersections of 3rd and Grant Street, 11th Street and Blair Avenue, and Patterson and Isaac Drive has reached substantial completion. Improvements include marked crosswalks, accessible curb ramps, warning signs, flashing beacons, a median refuge island, curb bulb-outs, and other traffic calming features. Pavement Marking installation is in progress at all three intersections this week, and residents may encounter temporary traffic control at each intersection. Additional information about this project can be found at bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/crosswalks.
14th Street (The Standard)
As a part of the ongoing construction associated with the redevelopment of the property on the south side of the street, 14th Street between Dunn and Washington will transition to one-way (westbound only) traffic starting September 8th and lasting through January 31, 2023. On-street parking along the north side of 14th Street will remain unchanged.
This Week in Hoosier History
1836 – A celebration took place in Brookville for the breaking of ground for the Whitewater Canal. When work stopped in 1847, the canal stretched 76 miles from Lawrenceburg to Hagerstown.
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