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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.

Photos: Hawk checks in at Hyatt Place

Photos: Hawk checks in at Hyatt Place

On Earth Day this year, The B Square spotted a red-tailed hawk perched on top of the Monroe County courthouse. In the last three months, several more downtown hawk sightings have been made. These shots are from the Monday morning (Aug. 8, 2022). It was perched on the courthouse

COVID-19 update: Case numbers steady but hospitalizations up, more vaxxed patients than not

COVID-19 update: Case numbers steady but hospitalizations up, more vaxxed patients than not

Friday’s news conference of leaders in the Bloomington area is one indicator that the local spread of COVID-19 virus is up. It was the first such news conference since March, a time when IU Health south central region president Brian Shockney described a “sense of calm” after two

Bloomington’s initial convention center pitch: County transfers property, city pays debt, gets hotel tax

Bloomington’s initial convention center pitch: County transfers property, city pays debt, gets hotel tax

The initial potential term sheet that has been floated by the city of Bloomington for the acquisition of the Monroe County convention center is now public. The key points of the proposal include the transfer of the convention center at 3rd Street and College Avenue to the city of Bloomington—

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