Good morning, Bloomington.

Bloomington Public Library launches its Library of Things collection with over 80 objects available for test drives from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the community room; patrons can begin borrowing items next week for up to one week.

The ParkLands Foundation named Craig Lutes as its new executive director to lead conservation efforts aimed at preserving natural lands in the Mackinaw River Basin (McLean and Woodford counties).

He will also oversee partnerships on watershed health, sustainable land management and environmental education.

Officials have ruled out a natural gas leak from Nicor as the cause of a house explosion and fire at the Hoefer family home on Old Peoria Court in rural Bloomington that left three people critically injured; firefighters worked to contain flames that also damaged two nearby homes.

A panel discussion on data centers weighed their economic and environmental impacts, taking place Wednesday at the Bloomington Center for Performing Arts — experts and community members considered both benefits and uncertainties.

Heartland Community College will host a free panel called When We Incarcerate Mothers, We Sentence Children on Thursday, Sept.

3 at its Astroth Community Education Center — the event includes a speaking panel from the Illinois Prison Project and a lunch-and-learn session for community members seeking re-entry and mental health resources.

State and federal emergency management officials will visit McLean County next week to assess storm and flood damage.

Agencies including the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration will begin an assessment on Tuesday, Sept. 1 — though their visit does not ensure a disaster declaration.