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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.

IU to “stay the course” on vaccine requirement for fall, points to $10M savings compared to mitigation testing

IU to “stay the course” on vaccine requirement for fall, points to $10M savings compared to mitigation testing

Indiana University “certainly made the papers this week.” That was a remark from IU’s media relations director Chuck Carney, as he turned over the mic to the university’s vice president for strategic partnerships, Kirk White, during Friday’s weekly press conference with local leaders on pandemic response. But

Extension of governor’s health emergency means Monroe County, Bloomington local government meetings can stay electronic through June

Extension of governor’s health emergency means Monroe County, Bloomington local government meetings can stay electronic through June

On Friday, Indiana governor Eric Holcomb issued a new emergency health order that extends through June 30 the current one, which was set to expire at the end of May. That means many local governing bodies in Monroe County and Bloomington will continue for the next month to hold their

Occupancy affidavits for smaller rental properties mulled by Bloomington city council

Occupancy affidavits for smaller rental properties mulled by Bloomington city council

Owners of Bloomington rental properties with four or fewer units might have to start submitting “a fully executed occupancy affidavit” to the city’s housing and neighborhood development (HAND) department. Under a new ordinance proposed by the city’s administration, owners and tenants alike would need to sign statements about

Bloomington city council adopts resolution on electronic meetings policy, frustrated by lack of timing device for speakers

Bloomington city council adopts resolution on electronic meetings policy, frustrated by lack of timing device for speakers

At a special session on Wednesday, Bloomington’s city council adopted a resolution on a policy that will allow a subset of councilmembers to continue to attend meetings using electronic communication, instead of attending in person. The policy adopted by the city council comes as Indiana governor Eric Holcomb’s

Update on good trends for juvenile detention alternatives program heard by Monroe County council

Update on good trends for juvenile detention alternatives program heard by Monroe County council

At a Tuesday work session, Monroe County councilors took the necessary steps to ensure $55,000 in funding can be used to support programs that give youth some alternatives to detention. The specific steps that were given a unanimous vote by the seven-member council involved the creation of some new

Bloomington utilities board welcomes familiar face, gets quick update on rate case

Bloomington utilities board welcomes familiar face, gets quick update on rate case

At its regular meeting on Monday, Bloomington’s seven-member utilities service board (USB) welcomed Kirk White, who was appointed by mayor John Hamilton to fill Jason Banach’s seat. The board also got a brief update on the city’s proposal to increase Bloomington’s water rates, which is currently

Hey, Wait a Minute | Milking meeting minutes from 2017 for all they’re worth—sounds like fun

Hey, Wait a Minute | Milking meeting minutes from 2017 for all they’re worth—sounds like fun

Note: “Hey, Wait a Minute” is an occasional B Square Beacon series that highlights meeting minutes and other documentation of local government meetings in the Bloomington, Indiana area. At last Wednesday’s Bloomington city council meeting, city clerk Nicole Bolden got a thank-you from councilmember Susan Sandberg. Sandberg had asked