Sign in Subscribe

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.

Proposed ordinance giving protections to houseless encampments gets a look from Bloomington human rights group

Proposed ordinance giving protections to houseless encampments gets a look from Bloomington human rights group

A proposed ordinance on encampments of houseless people in city parks got some scrutiny from Bloomington’s human rights commission at the group’s regular meeting on Monday. The commissioners voted 3–0 with two abstentions to endorse the proposed ordinance, with some caveats. The proposed law is set for

Bill that would regulate Indiana voting systems to ensure one-person-one-vote not seen as essential this session

Bill that would regulate Indiana voting systems to ensure one-person-one-vote not seen as essential this session

As the Indiana General Assembly passes its halfway mark, several bills have not met their required milestones to get further consideration. One of them was HB 1288, which deals with election security. It was sponsored by Representative Ryan Lauer, a Republican whose District 59 covers most of Bartholomew County, including

Downtown Bloomington water main break closes Walnut Street

Click to view slideshow. At around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, a water main break at 4th and Walnut streets in downtown Bloomington meant that roads were blocked off in both directions. At the time, city of Bloomington utilities estimated the repair would take at least four hours. Based

COVID-19 case numbers continue downward trend, vaccinations upward

COVID-19 case numbers continue downward trend, vaccinations upward

All the relevant infection numbers for COVID-19 in Monroe County and across the state of Indiana continue their downward trend. The IU Health and Monroe County vaccination clinics were closed on Monday and Tuesday due to the heavy snowfall, but are making up cancelled appointments. Brian Shockney, president of

Bloomington city council makes procedural debate out of prep for deliberations on homeless encampment ordinance

Bloomington city council makes procedural debate out of prep for deliberations on homeless encampment ordinance

A proposed new Bloomington law that would provide some protections to encampments of houseless people has been referred to the city council’s committee of the whole. On Wednesday night, after the proposed law’s first reading, the city council decided that its committee of the whole will meet next

Century Village gets rezoned on 7–2 vote as Bloomington city council debates question: Who is saying college students are not people?

Century Village gets rezoned on 7–2 vote as Bloomington city council debates question: Who is saying college students are not people?

A rezoning for a 10-acre parcel of land on the east edge of town, at the intersection of SR-46 (3rd Street) and SR-446, has been approved by Bloomington’s city council. The council’s approved rezoning, which had been unanimously recommended by the plan commission, changed a

Approaching $600K: Monroe County’s federal grant relief awards to local businesses, nonprofits

Approaching $600K: Monroe County’s federal grant relief awards to local businesses, nonprofits

At its regular Wednesday meeting, Monroe County’s three-member board of commissioners approved four more federal COVID-19 pandemic relief grants to area businesses or nonprofits. That ratcheted the total amount awarded towards $600,000. The money that Monroe County has been distributing to businesses and government entities comes