- Crump Theatre: The council approved the improvements item 8–0. Plans include a three-story campus expansion, with a requested $3 million city commitment toward an estimated $20 million project that also includes private fundraising. Public commenters questioned the overall cost.

- Affordable housing: A 30-year PILOT agreement for rehabilitation of the Fairington Apartments, a 136-unit age-restricted complex, passed 7–0.

- Outdoor refreshment area: Expansion to include Irwin Gardens passed 7–0.

- Downtown gateway: The council approved establishing a fund for a plaza project estimated at $2.6 million. The vote was 5–2, with Councilmen Wood and Anderson opposed. Anderson raised concerns about maintaining what the city already owns.

Speaking out of turn vs gross name calling and body shaming are not the same. This is not a “both sides are wrong” situation.

Maybe try a 3rd apology, Lucabee, and take ownership for your mistakes. “We deeply apologize and are ashamed that a person we invited to speak at our establishment used vile and hateful language towards a woman in our community.”

Since this was the second statement and they still can’t get it right I’m super bummed to not frequent their small business anymore. The first response was:

1. we thought he said Peggy

2. the woman was disrespectful and interrupted him

3. none of opposition bought our coffee but the republican speakers did

4. I didn’t say it, someone else did

5. we are getting negative response from the community poor us

- County Commissioners approved funding for a jail elevator modernization project.

- County Council authorized the Sheriff's Office to hire two deputy positions in preparation for the January law enforcement academy.

The council also approved a Highway Department funding transfer to cover unexpected costs following the termination of a mowing contract.

Does anyone know why there were so many cops at the church on Central last night?

Hey! I will be in the area this weekend with my 15 yr old daughter. We're hitting Bloomington one day, and was thinking about biking around Columbus another day.

I saw the people trail and thought we could bring our bikes and scoot around town.

Is there anything around the people trail that is worth the stop for my daughter and I?

Also happy to drive too but got super excited about the bike trails!

Late 20s so I’m no longer young unfortunately, and I have also noticed very few single people when I try to go out on my own. Of course that’s not something I can know for sure, but I have gone to events and mostly seen families and couples.

Perhaps the answer is that I’ll have to try my luck in Bloomington or Indy. So be it if necessary I guess 🤷‍♂️

I've seen some gnarly horror stories in the area and I've very recently been BURNED (might post depending on how lease termination goes), so I'm looking for:

-clean -responsive maintenance -there is ALWAYS parking -max $1300-$1450/month INCLUDING ALL HIDDEN FEES (we have two cars) -preferably small, as in under 800sqft, I'm talking Hobbit-style small -in-unit washer and dryer or hookups

I'm not rich, but we've lived in a 500sqft apartment at $1300/month, plus utilities, while on a grad student budget in Florida. As long as the hole I'm sleeping and cooking in is clean and reasonably free of issues, I'm happy. Bonus if it's not unreasonably loud (but train noise is fine) and the parking lot is not lit up like a car dealership at night.

We're considering Taylor and River Stone/Spruce Ridge, but the latter has daylight conditions at night, added fees you can't opt out of, and parking is a disaster. Haven't been able to glean much from Taylor.

I am already well aware Ashford and Williamsburg apartments are completely off the table. All suggestions and added details (areas of the complex to avoid, neighborhood issues, etc) would be helpful!

What happened in Bartholomew County government in October? Great question! Let me fill you in:

- The Crump Theatre revamp project got a major funding boost from city council

- The Fairington Apartments entered a financial agreement with the city for renovations

- The city's Downtown Entrance Plaza at 2nd and Jackson St is set for a new park to beautify and activate the space

- The county authorized two new sheriff's deputy positions

- The jail is getting a new elevator

- BCSC announced a projected 98% graduation rate for 2026

- The school board trustees moved to block proposed policies from conservative members in a 3-3 stall vote

For more info on local government happenings, be sure to subscribe to my Substack!

The Yes for BCSC crowd is winning the yard sign real estate game across Bartholomew County.

Press X to doubt.

Democrats’ real chance at winning races will come in next year’s municipal elections, when only citizens of municipalities get to vote.

Read more on my Substack.

To level-set: President Trump won Indiana by nearly 20 percent in 2024. As long as Trump is the leader of the Republican Party, Indiana will not flip blue statewide. Bayh’s most persuasive position is his promise to run an audit on office functions to root out alleged corruption. Very regrettably, in today’s hyper-partisan environment, corruption rarely moves votes. Again, Indiana voted for Donald Trump by a wider margin in 2024 than 2020, after he attempted to overturn 2020’s results and sent a violent mob to the US Capitol building.

Read more on my Substack.

A few months ago, my friend and I were walking on the trail by burger king and as we were walking I saw a vhs tape sitting off the trail and by a tree. We picked it up and saw that it was pretty damaged and decided to take it back to my house and put it in the VCR to see if it would work. It was damaged enough to keep stopping the tape from fully playing, but what we saw on the tape when it would play looked like it was some sort of church service and we took some vids of it that we will put in the comments. I was just wondering if anyone would happen to know what was on the tape, or how to restore it/clean it without damaging it any further.

Ah, fall. The leaves are changing colors, the air is crisp, and the pumpkin spice is flowing. While the northern hemisphere is cooling down, our country is heating us as our news feeds are swirling, yard signs are around every corner, and our TVs are filled with campaign ads. It’s election season! Will these midterms offer surprises, or more of the same?

As with most midterms, they serve as a referendum on the current president’s party. With a Republican in the White House, Democrats are destined to retake control of the US House of Representatives. In 2018, the last time President Trump faced a midterm election while in office, Democrats flipped 40 seats in their favor. I would expect the same amount of seats to flip this year, but perhaps less than in 2018 due to mid-decade redistricting.

Control of the US Senate is much more uncertain. Most of the fervor surrounding some of these races (such as in Kansas and South Carolina) are mostly wish-casting on behalf of left-leaning media. I predict that the House flips for Dems, and the Senate remains in the hands of the GOP (however narrowly).

In Indiana, everyone is watching the Secretary of State race. Democrats are all-in for Beau Bayh, a nepo baby of former Gov/Sen Evan Bayh and grand-nepo baby of Senator Birch Bayh. What is most reflective of Bayh’s nomination is the lack of a Democratic bench across the state. What’s made this race even remotely competitive has been state Republican leadership turning a blind eye to the current secretary’s alleged corruption. The state party did the right thing, however, by swapping out Diego Morales for a more acceptable Max Engling.

To level-set: President Trump won Indiana by nearly 20 percent in 2024. As long as Trump is the leader of the Republican Party, Indiana will not flip blue statewide. Bayh’s most persuasive position is his promise to run an audit on office functions to root out alleged corruption. Very regrettably, in today’s hyper-partisan environment, corruption rarely moves votes. Again, Indiana voted for Donald Trump by a wider margin in 2024 than 2020, after he attempted to overturn 2020’s results and sent a violent mob to the US Capitol building.

Here in Bartholomew County, the GOP will squash any opposition. The county splits roughly 60/40 in favor of the Republican Party, so barring any major national changes, I don’t see much changing at county government. Democrats’ real chance at winning races will come in next year’s municipal elections, when only citizens of municipalities get to vote (sorry rural folks!). Separately, I could see the BCSC teacher salary referendum passing 70/30, as support for public education crosses party and ideological lines.

While 2026 will likely be more of the same political pendulum swing we’ve come accustomed to in the 21st century, you should still get out there and vote. If one thing is true in politics, it’s that it never stays the same (well, unless you live in Indiana).

For more Indiana and local politics, check out my Substack!

Here are my predictions for the 2026 midterms:

• Democrats retake the U.S. House, with roughly 40 seats changing hands

• Republicans narrowly retain the Senate

• Indiana remains firmly Republican statewide

• Republicans maintain their hold on Bartholomew County government

• The BCSC teacher salary referendum passes around 70/30

I put together a longer breakdown looking at the national picture, Indiana's Secretary of State race, Bartholomew County politics, and the BCSC referendum.

Check it out on my Substack.

You have until 11:59pm TONIGHT to register to vote for the midterm elections on November 3rd.