City Launches “1,000 Households Who Mulch” Challenge
In a report to the Bloomington City Council Wednesday evening, the City’s Director of Innovation Devta Kidd announced an expansion of a 2020 pilot program designed to evaluate and improve the City’s leaf collection system. The 1,000 Households Who Mulch Challenge seeks 1,000 Bloomington households to commit to mulching and composting most of the leaves on their property and opting for a new on-demand vacuum-based leaf collection only if needed at the very end of the leafing season. The Challenge expands a 2020 pilot in which 22 households worked with an interdepartmental group led by the Office of Innovation and the Department of Public Works to reimagine the City’s leaf management system in better alignment with the City’s goals for environmental and economic sustainability. The pilot demonstrated that mulching and composting most leaves on-site can eliminate or reduce the need for leaf collection by vacuum truck. To learn more about innovative tools, processes, and collaborations that have improved the delivery of City services, please visit the Innovation Success Stories page on the City website or watch the Innovation Celebration.
Big Ten Women’s Basketball Announces Opponents for 2021-22
The Big Ten Conference announced single play and two-play conference opponents for the 2021-22 season. After a 20-game schedule last season, the conference will go back to an 18-game format for the upcoming season. Each team will play five opponents twice, four opponents only at home and four opponents only on the road. Times, dates and TV designations for the matchups will be announced at a later time. Head coach Teri Moren enters her eighth season at the helm of the program after leading the Hoosiers to one of its most successful seasons including a 21-6 overall record and set a new program high with 16 wins in league play last season. IU advanced to its first NCAA Elite Eight in 2020-21 and will return all five starters from that campaign.
2021-22 Big Ten Conference Opponents
- Home & Away – Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Nebraska, Purdue
- Home Only – Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Penn State
- Away Only – Michigan, Ohio State, Rutgers, Wisconsin
City of Bloomington to celebrate Juneteenth on Monday, June 21st
In recognition of the new federal holiday establishing June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day, Mayor John Hamilton has announced that the City of Bloomington will close its offices on Monday, June 21st. City employees who are not scheduled in essential capacities will not be expected to report for work, and will receive holiday pay for the day. The City’s sanitation schedule will not be delayed. Juneteenth is not on the 2021 City of Bloomington holiday calendar, but in addition to observing the new holiday on Monday, the administration will present a resolution to Council for its official adoption as a holiday in 2022. Juneteenth is the first federal holiday established since Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in 1983. This annual, national celebration of freedom was signed into legislation by President Joe Biden, and will be observed by the federal government immediately with a holiday for federal workers, programs, and facilities on Friday, June 18th. Juneteenth is now commemorated annually on the anniversary of the June 19, 1865 announcement by Union Army General Gordon Granger, declaring freedom from slavery in Texas.