🌱 How Bloomington students — and you — can take IU’s free AI course
Greetings Bloomington! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How Bloomington students — and you — can take IU’s free AI course
- How one Bloomington family is chasing glory at the 75th Little 500
- Want a say at the Bloomington Farmers’ Market Information Alley?
Today's riddle: What did the inventor of the knock-knock joke win? 🤔 (Answer below!)
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- Friday: Very warm, with a high of 84 and low of 65 degrees.
- Saturday: A gusty t-storm in the a.m., temps: high: 68, low: 37.
- Sunday: Breezy in the afternoon, with a high of 59 and low of 32 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• IU opens its free generative AI course to anyone worldwide (iu.edu) — Indiana University in Bloomington is opening its popular GenAI 101 course to anyone worldwide for free, while also revising its core curriculum to add new AI and IT classes for IU students in Bloomington and Indianapolis. The self-paced online program teaches practical skills like prompt engineering, fact-checking AI output, and ethical use, and is part of a broader push to keep Hoosiers competitive in an AI-driven job market. 
• 75th Little 500 brings strong family ties to historic race (wthr.com) — IU’s iconic Little 500 bicycle races return to Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington next week, with alumni, women’s, and men’s events packed into three days. This year’s 75th running highlights family traditions like the Lemme siblings, who are balancing intense training, final races as seniors, and passing skills to younger riders.
• Monroe County Democrats seek volunteers for Information Alley at Farmers' Market (wbiw.com) — Monroe County Democrats are recruiting volunteers now to staff their Information Alley booth at the Bloomington Farmers’ Market throughout the summer, with morning and late-morning shifts available. If you’d like to chat with neighbors, share concerns, and support local civic engagement at Showers Common, you can sign up by emailing hq@monroedems.org or texting 812-340-4523.
📸 Around Bloomington
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
Bloomington
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
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IU Soul Revue Spring Concert
Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E Kirkwood Ave, Bloomington
11:30 am
Saturday April 25
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
📣 Bloomington Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
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PSI /PCI Visual Cylinder Inspection Training
Southern Indiana SCUBA , 6500 S Empire Rd , Bloomington
9:00 am -
Tuimbeni Presents An Evening with African and African Diaspora Musicians
Lotus Firebay , 105 S Rogers Street , Bloomington
6:30 pm -
Reimagining Opera for Kids
Monroe County Public Library - Ellettsville Branch , 600 W Temperance St , Ellettsville
11:00 am -
Rainbow Rollers: Open Game Night – April 2026
Spencer Pride commUnity center , 17 E Franklin St , Spencer
4:00 pm -
Rainbow Sunday Circle – April 2026
Spencer Pride commUnity center , 17 E Franklin St , Spencer
3:00 pm -
Exodus Refugee Presents: Refugee 101 at Lotus
Lotus Firebay , 105 S Rogers Street , Bloomington
6:00 pm -
Iris Youth Group: Share Your Talent
Spencer Pride commUnity center , 17 E Franklin St , Spencer
4:30 pm -
Community Fiber Group
Monroe County Public Library - Ellettsville Branch , 600 W Temperance St , Ellettsville
12:00 pm -
MCCSC's Healthapalooza
Bloomington High School South , 1965 S. Walnut Street , Bloomington
6:00 pm -
Math Builders: Tutoring Session
Spencer Pride commUnity center , 17 E Franklin St , Spencer
10:00 am -
Jewelry Workshop
Monroe County Public Library - Ellettsville Branch , 600 W Temperance St , Ellettsville
3:30 pm
Friday April 17
Saturday April 18
Sunday April 19
Tuesday April 21
Wednesday April 22
Thursday April 23
Saturday April 25
Monday April 27
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Saturday fun at Switchyard Park.
Earth Day Celebration Visit the Art for Earth Bloomington at the City of Bloomington’s Earth Day Celebration. The Celebration is free, and will… (Nextdoor Hoosier Acres) - Lost Parakeet
Hello Neighbors, at 4:30 this afternoon, my Parakeet escaped our house and headed for the sky. She is white and blue and has a red bracelet on her… (Nextdoor East Grimes Lane)
- Brothers Bar & Grill posted a job opening for Restaurant Cook - Brothers Bar & Grill, Bloomington, IN in Bloomington. Apply here.
- Power Play Distributors posted a job opening for Route Sales Representative - Bloomington Ind - Hourly $19 to $22 plus Commission, potential earnings $55,000 to $65,000 in Bloomington. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Bloomington here.
🗞 Nearby News
Ellettsville
- Indiana football and Cignetti take the field for practice, see photos (heraldtimesonline.com)
Oolitic
- From Bloomington to the Big Stage: Heisman Hero Fernando Mendoza lands Esquire cover (wbiw.com)
- Govenor Mike Braun signs Nuclear Energy Letter of Intent with Eli Lilly and Company (wbiw.com)
- MESA to host workshop on sexual violence prevention in New Albany (wbiw.com)
Martinsville
- Cunningham signs, Fever fill out roster for 2026 season (tribtown.com)
- Adjusted test scores show Monroe County schools lead region in SAT readiness (tmnews.com)
Ok Bloomington! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: The NO-BELL prize (Thank you Gina M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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