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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.

First rezone hearing for potential new jail highlights employment center versus institutional use

First rezone hearing for potential new jail highlights employment center versus institutional use

On Monday, a lot of ground got covered at the Bloomington plan commission’s first hearing about a rezone request from Monroe County government. The rezone is needed if a new jail is to be built in the southwest corner of the city. But one topic emerged as a big

Traffic notebook: Added stops at Maxwell-Sheridan to be weighed by Bloomington city council

Traffic notebook: Added stops at Maxwell-Sheridan to be weighed by Bloomington city council

Probably at its regular meeting next week (Oct. 19), Bloomington’s city council will give a first reading to an ordinance that would make the intersection at Maxwell Lane and Sheridan Drive an all-way stop. Currently it’s a two-way stop, which requires traffic on Sheridan to stop

Convention center notebook: What’s the deal with the food and beverage tax advisory commission?

Convention center notebook: What’s the deal with the food and beverage tax advisory commission?

With an announcement on Friday from the mayor’s office, Bloomington appears to be charting its own course, independent of any deal with Monroe County government, to “to expand the space available for conventions and other large gatherings in Bloomington.” Key to the city’s effort—just as it would

Rezone request for potential county jail property to be heard by Bloomington plan commission

Rezone request for potential county jail property to be heard by Bloomington plan commission

Should an 87-acre parcel in the southwest corner of Bloomington be rezoned so that a new Monroe County jail can be built there? That’s the question that Bloomington plan commissioners will start tackling at their regular meeting on Monday (Oct. 10). Instead of voting at that meeting on

Bloomington effectively declares dead any deal to work with Monroe County on convention center

Bloomington effectively declares dead any deal to work with Monroe County on convention center

On Friday, in a social media post, the Bloomington’s office of the mayor appears to have abandoned any further pursuit of a collaboration with Monroe County government on the expansion of the county’s convention center. The statement reads, “Despite hoping to reach an agreement on moving the project

Now settled: New district boundaries for Bloomington city council 2023 elections

Now settled: New district boundaries for Bloomington city council 2023 elections

The new boundaries for the six Bloomington city council districts are now settled for the 2023 city elections. On a 5–4 vote at a special meeting on Thursday, the city council adopted a map that was recommended by a five-member redistricting advisory commission. The inclusion of two “central”

Bloomington west side encampment: County commissioners approve $24,500 for displacement

Bloomington west side encampment: County commissioners approve $24,500 for displacement

An encampment on public property owned by Monroe County government, but inside Bloomington city limits, will be cleared no later than Thursday. That’s part of the information provided in a $24,500 clean-up contract approved by county commissioners on Wednesday morning. The general area of the property is