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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.

Election board creates study committee: Monroe County could replace precinct polls with vote centers

Election board creates study committee: Monroe County could replace precinct polls with vote centers

At its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, Monroe County’s election board took a small but important step towards the adoption of so-called vote centers as the locations where people cast their ballots. The board voted to establish a study committee for vote centers, but left the details to be

Capital improvement board created, convention center expansion takes small step forward

Capital improvement board created, convention center expansion takes small step forward

A seven-member capital improvement board (CIB) has finally been created to provide the governance for a long-planned expansion of the Monroe Convention Center. The unanimous vote by the three county commissioners to create the CIB came at their regular Wednesday meeting. Their vote was greeted with a rare round of

June 29 windstorm: Expert calls for standard report on Monroe County management response

June 29 windstorm: Expert calls for standard report on Monroe County management response

The severe windstorm that blew through Monroe County a week ago was the topic of a staff report, as well as expert comment from the public mic, at Wednesday’s regular meeting of Monroe County commissioners. Last Thursday’s storm was what meteorologists call a derecho (say deh-REY-cho)—a severe

Photos: Bloomington Fourth of July Parade 2023

Photos: Bloomington Fourth of July Parade 2023

(More photos below.) A red-tailed hawk kept watch over the route A red-tailed hawk previewed the parade course Bloomington Fourth of July Parade (July 4, 2023)

Photos: Three cheers for the red-tailed hawk, the great white egret and the blue heron

Photos: Three cheers for the red-tailed hawk, the great white egret and the blue heron

These local Bloomington birds were photographed over the course of the last year. Fourth of July parade flyover Three birds Photographically frozen in flight One red, one blue, one white Hawk, heron and great egret They could not know they made a flag And if they did, they would not

Justice committee tackles question of how best to help reentry process: Hire more staff at jail, or increase funding to community nonprofits?

Justice committee tackles question of how best to help reentry process: Hire more staff at jail, or increase funding to community nonprofits?

At a Monday committee meeting, a general consensus seemed to emerge: More money needs to be spent on programs for people who are incarcerated at Monroe County’s jail, so that after release, the path back to their communities is easier. Chairing Monday’s session of the Monroe County council’

Bloomington mayoral hopeful falls 14 signatures short of ballot qualification, will challenge count

Bloomington mayoral hopeful falls 14 signatures short of ballot qualification, will challenge count

Even though a crucial deadline has now passed, it’s still not certain if another candidate will appear on the Nov. 7 ballot for Bloomington mayor, besides the Democratic Party’s nominee, Kerry Thomson. At a minute before noon on Friday (June 30), Joe Davis arrived at Monroe County’s