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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.

Bloomington’s municipal workers turn out for city council meeting, labor negotiations continue

Bloomington’s municipal workers turn out for city council meeting, labor negotiations continue

A couple dozen members of the AFSCME Local 2487 attended Bloomington’s Wednesday city council meeting, to highlight for councilmembers their ongoing collective bargaining negotiations with mayor John Hamilton’s administration—without getting into details of those talks. As Local 2487 president Bradley Rushton put it, “I cannot discuss any

Bloomington utilities could be “coming home” to old site, as Miller Drive center is “bursting at the seams”

Bloomington utilities could be “coming home” to old site, as Miller Drive center is “bursting at the seams”

At the Aug. 1 meeting of Bloomington’s utilities service board (USB), utilities director Vic Kelson told USB members that the current Miller Drive service center is “bursting at the seams.” That was not new information to the board—because city of Bloomington utilities already has a master plan for

Bloomington wants to buy Monroe County convention center for expansion, no numbers given

Bloomington wants to buy Monroe County convention center for expansion, no numbers given

The city of Bloomington is now interested in purchasing Monroe County’s convention center and possibly other land from the county government, in order to pursue the expansion of the facility. That’s the message that was conveyed to county commissioners during public comment at the start of their Wednesday

Bloomington area budget prep: Income tax revenues for 2023 projected up 13%, property tax levy up 5%

Bloomington area budget prep: Income tax revenues for 2023 projected up 13%, property tax levy up 5%

Indiana’s state budget agency has released its estimated county-by-county local income tax (LIT) distributions for 2023, which are numbers local governmental units will use for 2023 budget planning. For the certified shares category, Monroe County (across all government units) is projected to see about a 13-percent increase—from $34,

Wastewater COVID-19 testing: Google affiliate to pay Bloomington utilities for samples

Wastewater COVID-19 testing: Google affiliate to pay Bloomington utilities for samples

For the next year, city of Bloomington utilities (CBU) will be getting $150 per sample of wastewater that it sends to Verily Life Science for COVID-19 testing. Bloomington’s utilities service board (USB) approved the arrangement at its regular meeting on Monday. Under the agreement, CBU will be sending three

Redistricting notebook: How do current Bloomington city council districts split up neighborhoods?

Redistricting notebook: How do current Bloomington city council districts split up neighborhoods?

A second meeting of Bloomington’s redistricting commission was held last Monday (July 25). The meeting included a look at some maps drawn by the public and one map created by a commissioner. Deliberations were light on substantive issues, and did not offer much insight into the factors that commissioners

Advice for students: Bloomington is for the birds

Advice for students: Bloomington is for the birds

As a local government reporter, it is not hard to justify writing about the fancy birds that hang out in Bloomington’s public parks. The birds at public parks are a part of my regular beat, because public parks are run by local government. Local government officials can look to