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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.

A look ahead at some Monroe County offices up for election in 2022

A look ahead at some Monroe County offices up for election in 2022

In 2021, voters enjoyed their regular respite from local political races, which comes in the year following a presidential election. In 2022, voters will be choosing several positions in Monroe County government. The positions include four different seats on the county council, three circuit judges, one county commissioner, as well

COVID-19 pandemic notebook: Surge means orange for Monroe County

COVID-19 pandemic notebook: Surge means orange for Monroe County

Based on numbers reported Monday, Wednesday’s update to the state of Indiana’s COVID-19 dashboard map will show Monroe County as orange. That’s because the county will have the next-to-worst score on the dual-metric system used by the state to color-code the map. For the week ending Sunday,

IU Health moves operations to new hospital, first baby already delivered

IU Health moves operations to new hospital, first baby already delivered

In a news release issued mid-afternoon on Sunday, IU Health announced that the first baby had been born at its new hospital, which is located off the SR 46 bypass on the east side of town. The news release states: “Parents Naomi and Miguel Ramirez welcomed their child Nahla shortly

So-called ‘islands’ making strong effort against Bloomington annexations, as Jan. 6 deadline looms

So-called ‘islands’ making strong effort against Bloomington annexations, as Jan. 6 deadline looms

After Bloomington’s city council voted in late September to annex seven separate territories into the city, and the required newspaper notification was published, that started a 90-day period for property owners to remonstrate. Remonstration means signing an official petition in opposition to annexation. The 90-day window for submitting a

Post-Thanksgiving pandemic surge continues in Monroe County: “Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate!”

Post-Thanksgiving pandemic surge continues in Monroe County: “Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate!”

Indiana University health officer Aaron Carroll’s message on Friday wrapped up like this: “The best thing we can all keep doing is vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate!” Carroll was speaking at Friday’s biweekly press conference on COVID-19 pandemic response held by local city and county leaders. Vaccination locations are listed

Monroe County’s new job grid gives raises to most, leaves salary sore point for commissioners on Spoonmore’s last day of service

Monroe County’s new job grid gives raises to most, leaves salary sore point for commissioners on Spoonmore’s last day of service

On Tuesday, his last night of service on the county council, Eric Spoonmore called the group’s adoption of a new job classification grid “momentous for Monroe County government.” The new job grid means an increase in compensation for most county employees. In his closing remarks, Spoonmore said, “This council

No more pet store sale of dogs or cats in Bloomington, starting Jan. 1, 2023

No more pet store sale of dogs or cats in Bloomington, starting Jan. 1, 2023

On an 8–0 vote on Wednesday, Bloomington’s city council passed an ordinance that bans the sale of cats and dogs by retail pet stores. That means Bloomington joins some other Indiana localities that have passed ordinances prohibiting the sale of cats and dogs by pet stores, which include: