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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.

Column: A true story about transit in Monroe County—it’s not about a change in the map

Column: A true story about transit in Monroe County—it’s not about a change in the map

Stories about public transportation can be fun. But only if they’re true. This past Wednesday afternoon, Bloomington Transit, the city’s public bus system, convened a “transit summit” at the Monroe Convention Center. It was attended by around 60 people, which included elected and appointed officials, as well as

2 murders at same encampment prompts clearance by Bloomington mayor

2 murders at same encampment prompts clearance by Bloomington mayor

Starting around 11 a.m. on Thursday (Jan. 25), staff from at least four city of Bloomington departments worked to clear a long-established encampment from a wooded stretch of city-owned property behind Wheeler Mission. Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson was at the site on Thursday wearing work clothes. She spoke with

Monroe County sheriff notifies officials of jail population spike, seeks $30K for overflow facilities

Monroe County sheriff notifies officials of jail population spike, seeks $30K for overflow facilities

On Monday, Jan. 22, the Monroe County jail population hit a peak of 275, when there were only 239 secure beds available. That’s according to an email message sent to several county officials the following day, by Monroe County sheriff Ruben Marté. Before the spike, the population had been

Miller-Showers Park roundup: Gateway redesign, cold water rescue training, dredging, hawks, herons

Miller-Showers Park roundup: Gateway redesign, cold water rescue training, dredging, hawks, herons

It’s just a nine-acre wedge, nestled between College Avenue and Walnut Street, north of 17th Street. But over the last couple of days, Bloomington’s Miller-Showers Park has been the center of city government focus from more than one angle. On Sunday morning at the park, the fire department

Tenants of building to be remodeled for Bloomington police, fire: Some resistant to early move out

Tenants of building to be remodeled for Bloomington police, fire: Some resistant to early move out

There was a lot of business that got transacted on Monday, at the first meeting of the year for Bloomington’s redevelopment commission (RDC). But there was one big takeaway: A plan to renovate Showers West, to create a home for fire administration and police operations, looks like it will

Statewide Asian American equity and justice group launches in Bloomington, one year after bus attack

Statewide Asian American equity and justice group launches in Bloomington, one year after bus attack

On Jan. 11, 2023, an Indiana University student was stabbed as she rode a Bloomington Transit bus, because she looked Asian. From the city council dais this past Wednesday, District 5 representative Shruti Rana mentioned the incident, calling last week “a poignant one for our city, in that it marks

Smooth sailing at Dems caucus for county treasurer, Smith picked to fill McClellan’s spot, cascade begins

Smooth sailing at Dems caucus for county treasurer, Smith picked to fill McClellan’s spot, cascade begins

Monroe County’s new treasurer is Cathy Smith. Smith was the easy choice for the roughly five dozen Democratic Party precinct chairs who gathered in the Nat U. Hill room of the Monroe County courthouse on Saturday (Jan. 20). That’s because she was the only choice to fill the