City of Bloomington solicits input for Building Trades Park master plan
Following a September public meeting to introduce several different design concepts for Building Trades Park, Parks and Recreation is collecting additional community input to develop a master plan to guide future enhancements to the park. Comments regarding park amenities and features to include in the master plan are being collected online through Oct. 20. If you require a printed version of the comment form, contact Bloomington Parks and Recreation at 812-349-3700.
Building Trades Park is located 619 W. Howe St., just north of the site of the former IU Health Bloomington Hospital. Beech Grove, Ind.-based landscape architecture firm Mader Design is leading the master plan process. View the design concepts presented at the Sept. 28 public meeting, or watch the recording of the meeting by CATS TV.
For more information about the Building Trades Park master plan process, or how to provide feedback,, contact Bloomington Parks and Recreation at 812-349-3700 or parks@bloomington.in.gov, or visit the Parks Project Update website.
U.S. Attorney’s Office partnering with Indiana Disability Rights to ensure early voting sites are accessible for all voters
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana (USAO) and Indiana Disability Rights (IDR) are partnering to survey the accessibility of early polling sites for 2023 General Election. The project, “Access the Vote,” uses survey results to inform County Clerks about individualized solutions to ensure their polling places are accessible to voters with disabilities.
IDR has conducted accessibility surveys, based on the United States Department of Justice’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Checklist for Polling Places, during early voting in several primary and general elections. The USAO’s participation provides needed additional personnel to survey more counties and helps to raise awareness of the Access the Vote project.
The ADA requires all aspects of in-person voting – both early and on Election Day – to comply with accessibility requirements, including those for accessible parking and the route of travel to the voting area. The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) mandates additional accessibility measures, such as the provision of a working accessible voting machine at each polling place. Using a combination of IDR and USAO staff, as well as trained community partners, Access the Vote identifies potential ADA and HAVA violations and opportunities to remedy them.
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s initiatives to protect Civil Rights, please visit our website.
ICYMI: Attorney General Todd Rokita takes strong stance in support of Israel
Within hours of the horrific attack on Israel, Attorney General Rokita on social media addressed the unprecedented terrorism that claimed the lives of innocent civilians:
“The attack on Israel is a direct result of America’s current weakness on the world stage. It started with Biden’s election, continued with his bungling of the Afghanistan exit, bowing to China, and most recently, giving $6 billion to Iran, who is sponsoring this war against Israel. Biden is weak to the world, but he overreaches into our own state sovereignty and the personal lives of Hoosiers daily. I will keep successfully fighting him off when it comes to our state. And I will keep fighting China, as promised. I call on the Governor to light up the Statehouse in white and blue in support of our brothers and sisters in Israel.”
This was quickly followed by a letter to Governor Holcomb advocating for lighting the Indiana Statehouse in blue and white in solidarity with Israel and noting the death of Mayor Ofir Libstein of the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council — who recently visited Indianapolis.
“Dear Governor Holcomb,
This weekend, the world watched in shock and horror as Hamas invaded Israel in the deadliest attack against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Iranian backed terrorists are targeting women, children, and other innocent civilians. A good friend to many in Indiana, Mayor Ofir Libstein of the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council, who recently visited Indianapolis to instill pride in Jewish youth, was among those murdered Saturday morning protecting his home and family. And recent reports show at least 9 American lives have been lost. This is an attack on democracy and our shared values.
Israel has been a longstanding ally of the United States, and Indiana specifically. Multiple Israeli companies have established themselves in Indiana, many of which are a result of your recent economic development efforts. Indiana leads the National Guard’s partnership in homeland defense cooperation with the Israeli Defense Force’s Home Front Command. And many of the Jewish faith call our state home because Hoosiers share their democratic values and a vision of a secure, free, and prosperous world.
Allies all over the world are using iconic landmarks to show their support for Israel. The Israeli Embassy has suggested illuminating Capitol Buildings in Blue and White, the colors of the Israeli flag. Lighting the Indiana State Capitol would not only be a meaningful gesture to our Jewish community in Indiana, but it would send a powerful message of unwavering support to our friends in the Middle East. Therefore, I add my voice to the many, no doubt who are requesting that you direct our relevant agencies to highlight our Statehouse – the most visible symbol and manifestation of our state government – in blue and white light, so it is clear during the evening hours that Indiana stands with Israel.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to hearing about any developments related to this matter.”
This Week in Hoosier History
1925 – Samuel Ralston dies at the age of 67. As the 28th Governor of Indiana, he began the state park system
For more local news . . . Check out our archived episodes of What’s Happenin’ and Talkin’ Sports with Nick Jenkinson