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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.

Hint of potential upward trend for Monroe County COVID-19 cases as local officials look towards ramping up vaccinations

Hint of potential upward trend for Monroe County COVID-19 cases as local officials look towards ramping up vaccinations

On Friday, the reports of a continued trend of low case numbers for COVID-19 included customary words of caution about continued vigilance from local officials in Monroe County. But remarks by local officials at Friday’s weekly press conference on pandemic response also included a hint of concern about possible

Convention and visitors group eyes 2021 recovery, helped by food and beverage money

Convention and visitors group eyes 2021 recovery, helped by food and beverage money

On Thursday, convention and visitors commissioner Mike Campbell delivered to his colleagues an update on Monroe County’s innkeeper’s tax revenues. The news was not as bad as over the summer. Another bright spot on Thursday for the five-member convention and visitors commission (CVC) related to a different revenue

Bloomington city council OKs water rate increase, IU to try intervention with state regulators

Bloomington city council OKs water rate increase, IU to try intervention with state regulators

At its Wednesday meeting, Bloomington’s city council approved a water rate increase for city of Bloomington utilities (CBU) customers. The water rate increase will come in two phases, in 2022 and 2024. Residential customers will pay a total of 22 percent more over the course of four years. Other

Bloomington Transit mulls ending pandemic-based fare-free rides

Bloomington Transit mulls ending pandemic-based fare-free rides

At Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Bloomington Transit (BT) board, the continuation of COVID-19 protocols, including fare-free, rear-door boarding for all bus passengers, was confirmed for another month. It could be the last time the board votes to approve the protocols, without a date for resumption of regular service.

Kirkwood closures won’t include half block in front of CVS pandemic vaccination clinic

Kirkwood closures won’t include half block in front of CVS pandemic vaccination clinic

Starting Thursday next week, Kirkwood Avenue’s yellow bollards will reappear, blocking off isolated segments of the east-west downtown Bloomington street. That’s the result of action taken at the regular Tuesday meeting of the three-member Bloomington board of public works. Like similar decisions made last summer and fall, the

Racial, ethnic differences in Monroe County COVID-19 vaccination rates smaller when age considered

Racial, ethnic differences in Monroe County COVID-19 vaccination rates smaller when age considered

Based on the raw numbers, Monroe County, Indiana, shows an apparent racial and ethnic disparity in COVID-19 vaccination rates. That disparity starts to shrink, but not necessarily disappear, if the analysis accounts for differences in age distribution for different racial or ethnic groups in the county. Reacting to potential racial

Change is the order of the day at Bloomington RDC as Griffin resigns to become deputy mayor

Change is the order of the day at Bloomington RDC as Griffin resigns to become deputy mayor

The president of Bloomington’s redevelopment commission, Don Griffin, delivered an expected announcement at the group’s regular Monday night meeting: “At this time, I’d like to tender my resignation from the RDC, folks!” The announcement came early in the 15-minute meeting. So assistant city attorney Larry Allen checked