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Dave Askins

Dave Askins

Bloomington, Indiana

Dave Askins is editor and publisher of The B Square Bulletin. A Hoosier native with a background in math and linguistics, he previously co-founded the Ann Arbor Chronicle with his wife, Mary Morgan.

Monroe County adds $35K for encampment cleanup, $50K for patrols, $162K for housing

Monroe County adds $35K for encampment cleanup, $50K for patrols, $162K for housing

Monroe County commissioners approved more spending tied to homelessness Thursday: $35,000 for Powerline Camp cleanup, up to $50,000 for security patrols, and $162,379 for Heading Home’s direct-to-housing initiative

The Almost Daily Bulletin

Sept. 24, 2026: New local income tax framework, $1M for Beacon, convention center updates

This edition includes reports on new members joining two convention boards, $1 million in county government support for Beacon’s shelter project, new details on the boil-water advisory, and talks over how Monroe County’s new local income tax structure could work.

Courthouse square

Courthouse square

(With video!) Testing of the light show to be projected on the Monroe County courthouse dome for Lotus World Music & Arts Festival, which is Oct. 1–4 this year. Blockhouse Studios is handling the projections. This weekend it will be promoting the local college football game.

New members join CIB, CVC as Bloomington convention center approaches operational handoff

New members join CIB, CVC as Bloomington convention center approaches operational handoff

Two Monroe County convention-related boards added members this month as the convention center expansion nears completion. The CIB also approved up to $296,000 in added limestone-support costs, while the CVC reviewed the shift to CIB oversight and new bookings for the expanded center.

Monroe County council adds $1M in support for Beacon Center to proposed 2027 budget, after $4M financing setback

Monroe County council adds $1M in support for Beacon Center to proposed 2027 budget, after $4M financing setback

Monroe County’s proposed 2027 budget now includes $1 million in ED LIT money for Beacon Inc.’s planned West 3rd Street housing and shelter complex, helping fill a $4 million financing gap that forced the nonprofit to split construction into two phases.

9th Street & Morton Street (Election Central)

9th Street & Morton Street (Election Central)

(With video!) Part of a test deck is run through one of the half dozen voting machines subjected to a logic and accuracy test. Preparation of the test deck required hand-marking 5,000 ballots.

CBU fills in some details behind countywide boil-water advisory, including 1.06 NTU reading

CBU fills in some details behind countywide boil-water advisory, including 1.06 NTU reading

A power outage and equipment failures at Bloomington’s water plant led to a brief turbidity violation and countywide boil-water advisory. The measurement showing levels too high came about 5 p.m. Saturday, and fell below the limit by 6 p.m. It was not announced to the public until 12:04 a.m. Sunday.