MCPL opens Teen Center and Digital Creativity Workstations
The Ground Floor and Ellettsville Teen Space at the Monroe County Public Library Downtown Bloomington and Ellettsville branches have reopened! Hours are Monday–Friday 3 PM–close and Saturday–Sunday Noon–6 PM. Additionally, the Level Up Digital Creativity workstations and Audio and Video Production studios may once again all be reserved.
The Ground Floor (at the Main Library) and Ellettsville Teen Space are great places for teens ages 12–19 to make, create, and hang out! These spaces facilitate teen leadership, creativity, collaborative work, quiet study, and recreation. They include DIY design studios, books, music, board games, video games, cozy spots, virtual reality, and more! Both spaces follow MCPL behavioral rules and photography policy for the safety and comfort of all users. Beginning in August 2021, the second Sunday from Noon–6 of each month will be open to all ages in The Ground Floor at the Main Library. The fourth Saturday from Noon–6 of each month will be open to all ages at the Ellettsville Teen Space.
IU sees record enrollment for Fall semester
Pursuit of an Indiana University education continues to grow within the state and across the globe, with the Bloomington campus projecting a record-breaking class of incoming students for fall semester. IU Bloomington has already received 10,700 enrollment deposits and over 9,000 housing deposits from admitted students, and the campus is predicting a class that sets new milestones in academic quality, diversity and affordability. Fall-semester classes at IU Bloomington begin Aug. 23. Official enrollment figures will be compiled and shared near the beginning of the fall semester. Some key milestones of interest for the incoming class include:
- Two new academic buildings to support increasingly popular paths of study in fields that are of global importance. The Luddy Center for Artificial Intelligence — dedicated June 23 and led by the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering — will focus on multidisciplinary research in advanced AI and machine-learning applications. The Health Sciences Building in the new Regional Academic Health Center will house the IU School of Medicine, School of Nursing, Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, and School of Social Work. Students will learn from and work directly with health care professionals and peers in an interdisciplinary setting that increases collaboration opportunities between schools and programs.
- Several new strategies to support the goals of interested students, including the adoption of a test-optional admissions policy. In this inaugural year, more than 40 percent of admitted students chose to not report test scores.
- A new scholarship approach that supported a record number of incoming students. IU Academic Scholarship offers for fall 2021 were up 50 percent at IU Bloomington, while accepted scholarship offers are currently up 56 percent over 2020. Both figures represent a record for the campus.
- A projected 19 percent increase in Pell Grant-eligible students, with about 1,650 in the beginner cohort. IU is committed to becoming more accessible to excellent students. The revised admissions and scholarship process this year will result in three times as many incoming freshmen who qualified for both Pell Grants and IU Academic Scholarships, compared to last year. Federal Pell Grants are awarded to undergraduate students demonstrating exceptional financial need.
- A record level of diverse student enrollment. The campus expects to welcome about 1,600 underrepresented students in this fall’s freshman class — a more than 5% increase over last year. The number of underrepresented beginner students who have accepted an IU Academic Scholarship has more than doubled in the past year.
ISP Arrests Bedford Woman for Dealing Methamphetamine
The Indiana State Police concluded a lengthy investigation of dealing methamphetamine by arresting Vanessa Hughes, 34 years old of Bedford, on Tuesday evening. The Indiana State Police Bloomington District ACES (Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Section) and ISP DES (Drug Enforcement Section) Detectives received information that Hughes was allegedly involved in the dealing and distribution of methamphetamine in Lawrence County. On July 6th, they had information that Hughes was traveling from Indianapolis with methamphetamine in a white Nissan Altima. DES detectives located the vehicle southbound and followed it toward Lawrence County.
During a traffic stop, Trp. Matt Hatchett arrived and deployed his canine, Axe, who gave a positive alert on the Nissan. A subsequent search revealed that Hughes, who was a front-seat passenger, was in possession of 60 grams of suspected methamphetamine that she tried to conceal in her pants. Other evidence of dealing was seized as well. Hughes was arrested and incarcerated at the Lawrence County Jail for Dealing Methamphetamine Over 10 Grams (Level 2 Felony) and Possession of Methamphetamine Over 28 Grams (Level 3 Felony). Sgt. Day praised the hard work and dedication of his squad members and the DES Detectives. Sgt. Day said, “This is just another example of great teamwork and a thorough investigation leading to the arrest of a woman supplying methamphetamine to those struggling with addiction.”
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.