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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.

Through July: Monroe County, Bloomington government meetings mostly electronic, as jabs slow, positive COVID-19 numbers stay stubborn

Through July: Monroe County, Bloomington government meetings mostly electronic, as jabs slow, positive COVID-19 numbers stay stubborn

A key reason that Indiana governor Eric Holcomb this week issued another extension of his emergency health order is the low vaccination rate among state residents. The order itself says: “Critically, only 48.1 percent of eligible Hoosiers are fully vaccinated and Indiana ranks 38th of the 50 states with

Songbird deaths still a mystery, as state, local experts advise: Don’t promote bird gatherings

Songbird deaths still a mystery, as state, local experts advise: Don’t promote bird gatherings

The word on Wednesday from Indiana’s department of natural resources (DNR) was that tests on dead songbirds, now reported in 50 of Indiana’s 92 counties, are still not conclusive. So state officials still don’t know whether the phenomenon is being caused by a disease or a toxin.

Video produced opposing Bloomington’s planned “island” annexation: “We definitely don’t want to pay higher taxes.”

Video produced opposing Bloomington’s planned “island” annexation: “We definitely don’t want to pay higher taxes.”

If Bloomington’s planned annexation is successful, the city will add to its population an estimated 14,000 people, several cows, a pig or two, and at least one chicken, whose “eyes don’t work any more.” For the hen’s owner, Susan Brackney, the longer phrase in place of

911 dispatchers: One-third of Bloomington-Monroe County positions vacant, 9% pay bump urged

911 dispatchers: One-third of Bloomington-Monroe County positions vacant, 9% pay bump urged

At Tuesday morning’s meeting of Bloomington and Monroe County’s five-member central dispatch policy board, assistant fire chief Jayme Washel reacted to a statement by dispatch director Amy Hensley, that the center has 11 vacant dispatcher positions. “I don’t know for sure, but 11 sounds like an awful

Monroe County, Bloomington opt out of state’s opioid settlement structure

Monroe County, Bloomington opt out of state’s opioid settlement structure

In the last couple of weeks, Monroe County and Bloomington have opted out of the state of Indiana’s process for allocation of opioid settlement money. It’s the allocation that might come, if a global settlement is made in a class action lawsuit that has been filed against several

Column: Sarah Cassidy gives “Small Town” a place in People’s Park Thursday concert series

Column: Sarah Cassidy gives “Small Town” a place in People’s Park Thursday concert series

Last Thursday at Kirkwood Avenue and Dunn Street, a driver, who had paused at the four-way stop, yelled out his open car window: “Party on, Wayne!” The greeting was directed towards Sarah Cassidy, who was between songs with her band. She was performing at People’s Park as part of

2008 versus 2021: Last weekend’s Kirkwood flooding not due to clogged storm drains, CBU reports

2008 versus 2021: Last weekend’s Kirkwood flooding not due to clogged storm drains, CBU reports

When waist-deep water filled the intersection of Dunn Street and Kirkwood Avenue last weekend, it reminded some Bloomington residents of similar flooding in June of 2008. In 2008, the city of Bloomington utilities (CBU) blamed the high water in part on clogged storm drains. A June 10, 2008 news account