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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.

Column: Sidewalk question deserves more concrete answer from mayoral hopefuls

Column: Sidewalk question deserves more concrete answer from mayoral hopefuls

“Will your administration end the policy that individual homeowners have to pay for sidewalk repair?” That was the final question asked at a March 30 forum for Bloomington mayoral hopefuls. Moderating the forum was Paul Helmke, who was a three-term mayor of Fort Wayne, and is a professor of

New twist in District 6 Bloomington city council residency question: Bender fires attorney, says he wants to tell his story

New twist in District 6 Bloomington city council residency question: Bender fires attorney, says he wants to tell his story

In a letter received by Monroe County’s legal department on Thursday (April 6), David Wolfe Bender says he does not plan to resign as the Democratic Party’s nominee for Bloomington’s District 6 city council seat after the May 2 primary. That’s a course reversal for the

Confrontation over transparency of jail architect selection shows continued rocky relations between Monroe County commissioners, sheriff’s office

Confrontation over transparency of jail architect selection shows continued rocky relations between Monroe County commissioners, sheriff’s office

At a work session held on Wednesday, Monroe County commissioners and chief sheriff’s deputy Phil Parker did not mince words when they took up the topic of transparency in connection with the selection of DLZ as the design-build firm for a new county jail. Making a recommendation for

Bloomington puts first installment of opioid settlement money toward downtown outreach, matching grant for substance abuse treatment

Bloomington puts first installment of opioid settlement money toward downtown outreach, matching grant for substance abuse treatment

At its Tuesday meeting, Bloomington’s city council approved the appropriation of $391,906—to address substance abuse, outreach to the houseless community, and other programs to be determined by the city’s community and family resources department (CFRD). The money came from the proceeds of a global settlement in

Early voting for May 2, 2023 municipal primary starts, traditions observed

Early voting for May 2, 2023 municipal primary starts, traditions observed

On Tuesday morning at 8 o’clock sharp, Monroe County clerk Nicole Browne opened the door to the election operations center at 4th and Walnut streets and called out: “Hear ye, hear ye, the polls are now open!” That’s how in-person early voting kicked off this year for

Democratic Party’s mayoral candidates talk annexation, encampments, Lower Cascades closing

Democratic Party’s mayoral candidates talk annexation, encampments, Lower Cascades closing

For 90 minutes on Monday night at Tri-North Middle School, the three candidates for the Democratic Party’s nomination for mayor of Bloomington fielded questions at a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County. Seated from left to right on the stage of the

Parts of Bloomington’s Kirkwood Avenue open for peds and dining, closed to cars now through Oct. 1

Parts of Bloomington’s Kirkwood Avenue open for peds and dining, closed to cars now through Oct. 1

On Monday morning, yellow bollards were set in place to block off sections of Kirkwood Avenue in downtown Bloomington. It’s the fourth year that the city council has approved some kind of seasonal closure to car traffic for the east-west street, so that restaurants can have access to