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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.

Hamilton on a third term as Bloomington mayor: “It’s tempting to run, but I just have decided not to.”

Hamilton on a third term as Bloomington mayor: “It’s tempting to run, but I just have decided not to.”

In a 4-minute YouTube video released around 4 p.m. on Thursday, Bloomington mayor Democrat John Hamilton announced he will not seek a third four-year term as mayor. That means there are, so far at least, just two declared candidates in the Democratic Party primary—Susan Sandberg and Kerry Thomson.

Bloomington sewer, stormwater rate increases get city council OK

Bloomington sewer, stormwater rate increases get city council OK

Approved by Bloomington’s city council on Wednesday night were increases to sewer (wastewater) and stormwater rates. Not affected are drinking water rates. Stormwater rates will increase from $5.95 a month to $7.50 a month for about a 26-percent increase. That works out to $18.60 more a

Johnson’s Creamery alley vacated by city council on 8–1 vote, BPW to see request for new alley next week

Johnson’s Creamery alley vacated by city council on 8–1 vote, BPW to see request for new alley next week

By an 8-to-1 tally, Bloomington’s city council voted Wednesday night to vacate an east-west alley that cuts across the old Johnson’s Creamery property off 7th Street and The B-Line Trail. Taken at face value, giving up that right-of-way clears the way for Peerless Development to construct a 51-unit

Meeting set for review of provisional ballots in 2022 general elections: District 62 House race margin could get bigger, smaller, stay the same

Meeting set for review of provisional ballots in 2022 general elections: District 62 House race margin could get bigger, smaller, stay the same

On Friday, at one minute after 12 p.m., at the Election Central building at Madison and 7th streets, Monroe County’s three-member election board will convene a meeting to review the provisional ballots cast in the Nov. 8 general election. Election officials have told The B Square that for

Parks board, city engineer: Collaboration, consultation, or supervision on trail closures?

Parks board, city engineer: Collaboration, consultation, or supervision on trail closures?

As currently drafted, a proposed new Bloomington parks policy would spell out how temporary and emergency closures of trails are implemented by the board of park commissioners—in “collaboration” with the city engineer. On Tuesday, at its regular monthly meeting, the adoption of that policy was tabled by the board.

Negative stamp on rezone for jail by Bloomington plan commission, could still win city council’s OK

Negative stamp on rezone for jail by Bloomington plan commission, could still win city council’s OK

The Monroe County government’s planned construction of a new jail on an 87-acre parcel in the southwest corner of Bloomington hit a snag on Monday night. By a 6–3 vote, Bloomington’s plan commission supported the planning staff’s recommendation to send a negative recommendation to the city

Sandberg sets tone for 2023 mayoral campaign with kickoff: “We should restore before we do more.”

Sandberg sets tone for 2023 mayoral campaign with kickoff: “We should restore before we do more.”

On Wednesday, the day after Election Day, current Bloomington city council president Susan Sandberg filed amended paperwork to convert her campaign organization from a mayoral exploratory committee to a campaign committee. And on Sunday afternoon, Sandberg, a Democrat, kicked off her campaign for mayor with a gathering of about 60