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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 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

What candidates said in 3 minutes to make their best pitch to Monroe County voters

What candidates said in 3 minutes to make their best pitch to Monroe County voters

On Monday evening, several candidates for local and regional office made an appearance at a networking event hosted by the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce (GBCC) at The Mill, a co-working space north of city hall. Each candidate got a chance to deliver a quick three-minute stump speech.

Bloomington’s annual Life Chain demonstration precedes city budget decisions

Bloomington’s annual Life Chain demonstration precedes city budget decisions

On Sunday afternoon, a two-mile stretch of 3rd Street in Bloomington, from College Mall Road to College Avenue, was punctuated by clusters of people every block or so, holding signs reading “Stop Abortion Now,” “Abortion Kills Children,” or other similar statements. It was Bloomington’s edition of the National

With some grumbles, $30K approved by Monroe County commissioners for Bloomington Economic Development Corporation

With some grumbles, $30K approved by Monroe County commissioners for Bloomington Economic Development Corporation

At its Wednesday meeting two weeks ago (Sept. 21), Monroe County commissioners approved an agreement that makes a $30,000 contribution to the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC). The BEDC is a nonprofit that works to promote retention, development, and attraction of jobs. The $30,000 agreement with the BEDC

2023 Bloomington budget notebook: Built-in padding of 50 percent or more?

Why is the city of Bloomington allowing $1,400,000 for a single item in the 2023 budget that has for the last three full calendar years averaged about $990,000 in actual cost? That’s basically what city councilmember Matt Flaherty wanted to know last Wednesday night. Table: Prior

2023 Bloomington budget notebook: Trash talk, cart fees, general fund

2023 Bloomington budget notebook: Trash talk, cart fees, general fund

Some Bloomington residents could soon see significant increases in their trash collection fees. But trash cart fees are laid out in city code, separate from the city budget. So the city council’s upcoming decisions on the city’s 2023 budget will not affect trash collection fees. Any decision to

Initial talk: Bloomington city council balks on 2023 budget, likely looking for better employee pay before late October vote

Initial talk: Bloomington city council balks on 2023 budget, likely looking for better employee pay before late October vote

“Rather than have a transformative budget, I would like a budget that is fair and equitable to our city employees.” On Wednesday night, that’s how Bloomington city councilmember Dave Rollo summed up his thoughts on mayor John Hamilton’s proposed 2023 budget. Rollo’s choice of words was not