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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.

New position OK’d for jail cleaning, Monroe County councilors talk making (versus keeping) the peace

New position OK’d for jail cleaning, Monroe County councilors talk making (versus keeping) the peace

A new position at Monroe County’s jail has been created to support new sheriff Ruben Marté’s effort to make the jail clean and sanitary, and to keep it that way. At their regular Tuesday meeting, county councilors voted unanimously in favor of creating a new job called “jail

Proposed ALM mural denied by Bloomington board of public works as conflicting with new art policy

Proposed ALM mural denied by Bloomington board of public works as conflicting with new art policy

For now at least, a proposed mural that says “All Lives Matter” will not be painted on Kirkwood Avenue just west of Indiana Avenue in downtown Bloomington. Bloomington’s three-member board of public works has unanimously denied a special events application from Turning Point USA at Indiana University, to paint

Building material or debris? Bloomington wants order to enter owner’s property, remove “garbage”

Building material or debris? Bloomington wants order to enter owner’s property, remove “garbage”

Joe Davis is a self-described “unconventional guy.” But the city of Bloomington wants him to take a more conventional approach to the appearance of his residential property at 530 Washington St. The city contends that it’s not just a matter of appearance. The housing and neighborhood development (HAND) department

Street mural: Bloomington attorney says application should be denied, because it contains speech

Street mural: Bloomington attorney says application should be denied, because it contains speech

It looks like the table is now being set for the next phase in a pending federal lawsuit against the city of Bloomington. An application to paint a mural on Kirkwood Avenue with the phrase “All Lives Matter” appears on the Bloomington board of public works agenda for Tuesday, March

Column: Bloomington’s next mayor should routinely field questions in public from residents, press

Column: Bloomington’s next mayor should routinely field questions in public from residents, press

Should the mayor of Bloomington hold a monthly news conference, where any resident or member of the press can ask a question on any topic? Incumbent mayor John Hamilton does not appear to think it’s very important to make himself available like that. No such news conference has been

Parking notebook: Fully staffed enforcement crews mean more tickets in downtown Bloomington

Parking notebook: Fully staffed enforcement crews mean more tickets in downtown Bloomington

Anecdotally, the number of parking tickets visible on windshields in downtown Bloomington over the last couple of months has increased. It’s not just a gut feel. Based on data provided by the Bloomington city clerk’s office, in January of this year 4,550 parking citations were issued by

A decision to withdraw: Democratic Party city council candidate under investigation over residency

A decision to withdraw: Democratic Party city council candidate under investigation over residency

“David [Wolfe Bender] has decided to withdraw his candidacy for Bloomington Common Council District 6.” That’s the opening line of a letter received by Monroe County’s election board from Bender’s attorney, Manny Herceg, with the Taft-Jaffe law firm. An Indiana University student, Bender is the sole Democrat