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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.

First meeting of new board gets momentum restarted for Monroe Convention Center expansion

First meeting of new board gets momentum restarted for Monroe Convention Center expansion

In early July, Monroe County commissioners used a state statute to create a seven-member capital improvement board (CIB) to govern the expansion of the Monroe Convention Center. About three months later, on Wednesday morning, the first six appointees of the CIB convened an initial meeting in the Finch Room of

2024 budget notebook: Monroe County council looks to do more for lower-paid workers

2024 budget notebook: Monroe County council looks to do more for lower-paid workers

At its work session on Tuesday night, the Monroe County council took up some leftover issues from its deliberations on the 2024 budget—salaries towards the upper end of the scale, as well as those at the lower end. Towards the higher end of county compensation, though not at the

$8M in construction bids awarded for Bloomington technology center, more to come

$8M in construction bids awarded for Bloomington technology center, more to come

Ahead of the scheduled ceremonial groundbreaking on Thursday, about $8 million in construction contracts have been awarded to build a technology center in Bloomington’s Trades District, which is part of a certified technology park in the downtown. It was Bloomington’s redevelopment commission (RDC) that approved the construction contracts,

Analysis: Bloomington OKs public offering of Hopewell land with apparent mistake in description

Analysis: Bloomington OKs public offering of Hopewell land with apparent mistake in description

At its regular Monday meeting, Bloomington’s redevelopment commission (RDC) approved a public offering of property south of 1st Street opposite the location of the former IU Health hospital. Responding to a question raised by The B Square, about the accuracy of the textual description of the three separate pieces

Life Chain demonstration against abortion gives Bloomington annual test of its ‘digital divide’

Life Chain demonstration against abortion gives Bloomington annual test of its ‘digital divide’

On Sunday, the reaction to the annual Life Chain demonstration against abortion, from motorists along Bloomington’s 3rd Street, could be measured in the difference between the digits of the human hand—a thumb turned up in approval, versus the middle finger turned skyward in scorn. That’s what one

Monroe County pay raises: Final discussions appear mostly done, but not for elected official salaries

Monroe County pay raises: Final discussions appear mostly done, but not for elected official salaries

About four hours into a meeting last Tuesday, Monroe County council president Kate Wiltz was looking to wrap up a topic that was leftover from discussions of the 2024 budget—pay increases for elected officials. The elected positions under discussion are: auditor, assessor, clerk, coroner, commissioners, county councilors, recorder, surveyor,

Bloomington still looking for annexation trial to start sooner, not later

Bloomington still looking for annexation trial to start sooner, not later

The city of Bloomington is now executing a two-pronged approach to overcoming a setback in early September, in its effort to get a standard annexation trial moving ahead. In early September, special judge Nathan Nikirk put off a standard judicial review of the Area 1A and Area 1B annexations, which