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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.

Pandemic update: Steady climb for Monroe County COVID-19 cases, CDC rubric says spread still low

Pandemic update: Steady climb for Monroe County COVID-19 cases, CDC rubric says spread still low

The number of daily COVID-19 cases recorded in Monroe County continues a steady climb. But guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) still peg the community spread of the virus at a “low” level—which is the lowest of its three categories (low, medium, and high). The rolling

Black Lives Matter B-town releases Democratic Party candidate assessments

Black Lives Matter B-town releases Democratic Party candidate assessments

Last Friday (April 22) Black Lives Matter B-town released its assessment of those Democratic Party primary candidates who responded to a 12-part survey that included more than 30 individual questions. Sent the questionnaire were Democratic Party primary candidates for the 9th District Congressional seat, area state representative seats, Monroe County

Local income tax increase: Decision delayed by Bloomington city council to May 4

Local income tax increase: Decision delayed by Bloomington city council to May 4

On Wednesday night, Bloomington’s city council voted 8–0 to postpone consideration of a countywide local income tax increase until its next regular meeting, which is scheduled for May 4. The vote to postpone came a few minutes after 9 p.m. That made for a meeting that lasted

Electronic meetings statute stops vote on $5.8M bond issuance by Bloomington parks board

Electronic meetings statute stops vote on $5.8M bond issuance by Bloomington parks board

The final approval of $5.8-million in general obligation bonds appeared on Tuesday’s agenda for Bloomington’s board of park commissioners. It did not get a vote, because only two of the four park commissioners were attending the meeting in person. A special meeting will be scheduled so that

Analysis: Bloomington city council to take up local income tax increase again this Wednesday

Analysis: Bloomington city council to take up local income tax increase again this Wednesday

The sole item on this Wednesday’s special meeting of the Bloomington city council is a proposal to increase the countywide income tax by 0.855 points, which would bring Monroe County’s total rate to 2.2 percent. Bloomington mayor John Hamilton re-floated the idea of a local income

Monroe County campaign finance: 4 races, 17 candidates, $115K

Monroe County campaign finance: 4 races, 17 candidates, $115K

Primary Election Day is May 3. One limited measure of how much support candidates have among voters is the amount and range of financial contributions to their campaigns so far. For the 2022 election season in the state of Indiana, pre-primary campaign finance forms were due at noon last Monday,

COVID-19 pandemic notebook: Cases have bumped up a bit, hospitalizations still low

COVID-19 pandemic notebook: Cases have bumped up a bit, hospitalizations still low

The number of COVID-19 cases in Monroe County was up last week, but they might be showing signs that they’re settling back down. That’s the word from the state’s Monday dashboard update, and confirmed to The B Square by Monroe County health administrator Penny Caudill. Hospitalizations are