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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.

Joint meeting of Monroe County electeds to mull criminal justice report: “The jail facility is failing …”

Joint meeting of Monroe County electeds to mull criminal justice report: “The jail facility is failing …”

That’s one of several blunt assessments in a criminal justice and incarceration study dated June 20, 2021, which was released by Monroe County commissioners on Monday night. The study was conducted under contract by RJS Justice Services, with lead consultant Kenneth Ray. Monroe County’s jail is located on

Post-flood recovery: Monday signing of local disaster declaration part of Monroe County’s two-pronged approach to aid, officials caution against high hopes

Post-flood recovery: Monday signing of local disaster declaration part of Monroe County’s two-pronged approach to aid, officials caution against high hopes

On Monday, Monroe County board of commissioners president Julie Thomas signed a declaration of local disaster, because of weekend flooding that hit downtown Bloomington and other areas of the county. The disaster declaration will appear for ratification on the three-member board’s regular meeting agenda on Wednesday. A declaration

Bloomington police: Man dies in flood, was driver of car swept up in rushing waters

Bloomington police: Man dies in flood, was driver of car swept up in rushing waters

In a press release issued early Sunday afternoon, Bloomington’s police department announced a search team discovered the body of a man who was reported missing, after the car he was driving was swept up in floodwaters on Friday night. The man was identified in the press release as Colten

Post-flood work starts for Bloomington government, businesses

Post-flood work starts for Bloomington government, businesses

Between 5 and 7 inches of rain fell on Bloomington on Friday night through early Saturday. That meant thigh- to waist-deep water pooled on Kirkwood Avenue before flowing southward. In the mid-morning hours on Saturday, business owners along Kirkwood were starting the work of clean up and damage

Photos: Kirkwood Flood of 2021

Photos: Kirkwood Flood of 2021

Click to view slideshow. Around 3 inches of rain fell on the Bloomington area starting around 10:45 through half past midnight on June 19. The thunderstorm knocked out power for around 6,000 Duke Energy customers, including a swatch of 1,500 customers east of the downtown square. The

Column: Meetings better for in-person attendees, if a remote connection is provided

Column: Meetings better for in-person attendees, if a remote connection is provided

I attended an in-person government meeting on Tuesday, but logged in to the remote Zoom connection anyway. And I’m glad I did. Why? I was able to hear and see better than I could have, by just sitting there listening and looking, without being logged in to Zoom.

Required occupancy affidavits for renters OK’d by Bloomington city council, but city’s HAND department won’t maintain records

Required occupancy affidavits for renters OK’d by Bloomington city council, but city’s HAND department won’t maintain records

On a 5–3 vote on Wednesday night, Bloomington’s city council approved a new local law that requires landlords to sign and maintain an affidavit that lists the occupants of their rental properties. The basic law applies just to those buildings with four or fewer rental units. Tenants also