Bloomington Council doubles down on controversial resolution
Bloomington City Council override(d) a Mayoral veto during their Wednesday night meeting with a unanimous vote (9-0). The measure was relating to a resolution which was passed last month relating to City Council’s non-binding resolution in support of a cease-fire to the military conflict in the Gaza strip in the Middle East.
If you’re wondering what Bloomington, Indiana City Council has to do with international public policy, you would not be alone. Mayor Kerry Thomson vetoed the measure in an attempt to send a message to the Council, to stick to business at hand, as there is much on the plate for our elected Council to accomplish . . . efforts needed to impact local quality of life.
But the Council moved to achieve a political power move, overriding the veto for a controversial resolution.
Demanding that Israel stop defending themselves in an effort to destroy the terrorist regime of Hamas, which launched the current war against Israel and all Jewish people of the world on October 7, 2023, is widely considered an act of Anti-Semitism, as it attempts to interfere with the rights of self-determination to the people of the Jewish State.
The original vote that first passed the resolution brought out a rash of hateful comments directed toward Jewish here in Bloomington, as well as abroad. This was an outcome that members of Council were warned about, prior to introducing the matter, which not only is prejudicial, but consists of factually incorrect data,
Additionally, the resolution refuses to acknowledge that the terrorist dictatorship of Hamas not only began this war in a violation of a cease fire on October 7th, but has refused to accept terms of a new cease fire.
Additionally, the Bloomington City Council did not feel the need, in their self-involvement of world affairs, to include a request for Hamas to return any of the remaining 134 stolen people, which have been held captive for 208 days.
Kerry Thomson’s veto of a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza so that humanitarian aid can be delivered.
Council president Isabel Piedmont-Smith led off the meeting reading aloud an open letter to Whitten, signed by eight of nine councilmembers. The letter demanded among other things that the university rescind its quickly enacted new policy, that prohibits tents during the daytime in connection with Dunn Meadow protests.
Ivy Tech Community College and Conexus Indiana to accelerate smart manufacturing technology adoption statewide
Ivy Tech Community College and Conexus Indiana today announced the details of a new collaboration aimed at increasing the number of advanced manufacturing firms across the state that have integrated digital technologies such as the Internet of Things, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and machine learning in their operations and manufacturing processes. The partnership calls for the creation of new skills training courses that Ivy Tech will pilot for employers seeking to develop specialized talent that can drive digital adoption and technology change in advanced manufacturing.
A 2022 report from Conexus Indiana found that half of all advanced manufacturing firms in Indiana plan to adopt technologies that provide flexibility, improve quality, facilitate innovation and offer a collaborative mix between labor and automation – including cobots, sensor technology and the Internet of Things – by 2027. But finding local talent with the digital skills needed to support this transition presents a significant barrier: just 52% of Indiana firms have a dedicated Industry 4.0 team or leader in place, the same report found.
As Indiana’s workforce engine and a national leader in smart manufacturing education and training, Ivy Tech will develop high-quality curricula with the goal of preparing more Hoosiers for high-wage, high-demand careers in advanced manufacturing. Ivy Tech will draw on existing academic offerings within the College’s Smart Manufacturing and Digital Integration program, including its Advanced Automation and Robotics Technology department, to design the courses, which will be delivered by the College’s Ivy+ Career Link team. Students will benefit from varying program lengths – from one- to two-day workshops to multi-week courses offering in-person, virtual and hybrid learning options.
Ivy Tech and Conexus Indiana will also engage advanced manufacturing firms to inform curriculum development and market the pilot to current and prospective employees. Ivy Tech will conduct site visits and issue surveys to ensure pilot courses are aligned with employer needs. Courses anticipated for summer 2024 pilot include Supervisory Leadership for Industry 4.0, Programmable Logic Controls Applied Applications and Introduction to Artificial Intelligence.
Indiana’s manufacturers account for more than 26% of the state’s total economic output and employ more than 17% of its workforce, according to the National Association of Manufacturers. Since 2020, the State of Indiana has supported 526 tech-enabled investments in smart manufacturing across the state through the Manufacturing Readiness Grants program. The program – managed by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, the Next Level Manufacturing Institute and Conexus Indiana – has awarded $57 million in grants to firms in 79 counties. Companies that adopted smart manufacturing technology through the program created an average of five new jobs and anticipated wages to grow on average $196,000 per project.
Advanced manufacturing firms interested in learning more about smart manufacturing digital skills training and opportunities to engage Ivy Tech may reach out to Leighton Johnson, assistant vice president for employer connections, via email at Ljohnson796@ivytech.edu.
2024 Cosmic Songwriter Festival
The Cosmic Songwriter Festival is a live music festival taking place in Bloomington, Indiana from Wednesday, May 15th through Saturday, May 18th. This is year two of the multi-venue music festival emerging from Bloomington’s popular monthly Cosmic Songwriters Club, featuring musical artists sharing the stage to perform original songs in an intimate, listening-room environment.
All venues are located in downtown Bloomington, Indiana.
- Wednesday, May 15 – 7pm – Orbit Room at 107 N. College Avenue
- Thursday, May 16 – 7pm – The Bluebird at 216 N. Walnut Street
- Friday, May 17 – 7pm – Blockhouse Bar at 205 S. College Avenue
- Saturday, May 18 – 7pm – Buskirk Chumley Theater at 114 E. Kirkwood Avenue
24 musical artists are paired up and performing at four venues/showcases over four days.
Orbit Room:
- Spectator Bird & Caleb Stine (headliners)
- Rodeola & Kay Krull
- Chris Dollar & Chris Sutton
The Bluebird:
- Gabe Lee & Emily Nenni (headliners)
- Austin Lucas & Dandelioness
- Jeremy Pinnell & Hank Ruff
Blockhouse Bar:
- Melissa Carper & Tre Burt (headliners)
- Chicago Farmer & The Hammer & The Hatchet
- TV Mike & Derrick & Olivia
Buskirk-Chumley Theater:
- Oliver Wood & Carrie Newcomer (headliners)
- Blue Cactus & Kassi Valazza
- Oso Blues & The Monon Troubadours
Cargill Meat Solutions recalls ground beef products due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination
Cargill Meat Solutions, a Hazleton, Pa., establishment, is recalling approximately 16,243 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The raw ground beef items were produced on April 26-27, 2024. The following products are subject to recall [view labels]:
- 2.25-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing “93% LEAN 7% FAT ALL NATURAL LEAN GROUND BEEF” with lot code 117 and establishment number “EST. 86P” printed on the back of the label.
- 1.33-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing four “PRIME RIB BEEF STEAK BURGERS PATTIES” with lot code 118 and establishment number “EST. 86P” printed on the back of the label.
- 2.25-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing “85% LEAN 15% FAT ALL NATURAL ANGUS PREMIUM GROUND BEEF” with lot code 117 and establishment number “EST. 86P” printed on the back of the label.
- 2.25-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing “80% LEAN 20% FAT ALL NATURAL GROUND BEEF CHUCK” with lot code 118 and establishment number “EST. 86P” printed on the back of the label.
- 1.33-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing four “80% LEAN 20% FAT ALL NATURAL GROUND BEEF CHUCK PATTIES” with lot code 118 and establishment number “EST. 86P” printed on the back of the label.
- 1.33-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing four “90% LEAN 10% FAT ALL NATURAL GROUND BEEF SIRLOIN PATTIES” with lot code 118 and establishment number “EST. 86P” printed on the back of the label.
The products subject to recall all bear the USDA mark of inspection on the front of the product label, and establishment number “EST. 86P” printed on the back of the product label. These items were shipped to Walmart retail locations nationwide.
The establishment reported the issue to FSIS after they identified that previously segregated product had been inadvertently utilized in the production of ground beef. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.
This Week in Hoosier History
1996 – The Indiana High School Athletic Association voted to move to multi-class sports. The decision disappointed coaches, players, and fans who had formed a group called “Friends of Hoosier Hysteria” in an effort to save the traditional single-class basketball tourney.
For more local news . . . Check out our archived episodes of What’s Happenin’ and Talkin’ Sports with Nick Jenkinson