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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.

COVID-19 update: Availability of vaccine still key barrier to shots in arms; declining case numbers boost morale

COVID-19 update: Availability of vaccine still key barrier to shots in arms; declining case numbers boost morale

The main barrier to COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Monroe County, as well as other parts of the state and country, continues to be the availability of the vaccine. As many 1,000 additional doses of vaccine a day could be distributed by Indiana University, according to IU’s assistant

Advisory group OKs food and beverage tax money for convention center debt

Advisory group OKs food and beverage tax money for convention center debt

On Thursday, Monroe County commissioners cleared a key hurdle for using part of the county government’s share of the 1-percent food and beverage tax, to pay for debt on the convention center and the center’s management expenses. By the end of its hour-long meeting, the seven-

Lower grant award from feds sends Bloomington back to drawing board for tech center

Lower grant award from feds sends Bloomington back to drawing board for tech center

In December 2020, Bloomington’s economic and sustainability department heard from the federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) that it would likely be receiving a $3.53 million grant to support the construction of a technology center in the Trades District. The city has been collaborating with the Bloomington Economic Development

New Bloomington shelter already half full on first night: 26 total guests, not counting 3 pets

New Bloomington shelter already half full on first night: 26 total guests, not counting 3 pets

On Tuesday, Beacon, Inc. opened a new, 49-bed temporary winter shelter for the houseless, in the warehouse space across the B-Line Trail from Switchyard Park’s pickleball courts. At Wednesday morning’s regular meeting of Monroe County commissioners, Beacon, Inc.’s executive director Forrest Gilmore updated the three

Pandemic continues to crush public transit ridership, Bloomington doing extra bus stop improvements

Pandemic continues to crush public transit ridership, Bloomington doing extra bus stop improvements

The grim news out of Bloomington Transit’s Tuesday board meeting was not a surprise. The 53,187 bus trips taken on fixed-route service in December 2020 amounted to just 20 percent of the 263,828 trips taken in 2019. That continued the depressed trend that started after Indiana

IU official on planned Bloomington water rate increase: “This is a rate shock to Indiana University.”

IU official on planned Bloomington water rate increase: “This is a rate shock to Indiana University.”

At its Tuesday meeting, Bloomington’s seven-member utilities service board (USB) voted unanimously, with one abstention, to recommend a proposal to the city council that water rates be increased starting in 2022. Abstaining was USB member Jason Banach. He’s a former city councilmember who represented District 2 from

Houseless advocates march from Seminary Park to People’s Park to protest clearance from public spaces

Houseless advocates march from Seminary Park to People’s Park to protest clearance from public spaces

The clearance of an encampment at Bloomington’s Seminary Park in early December and again last week prompted on Monday the second protest in as many nights. Protesters want the Bloomington’s mayor, John Hamilton, to allow encampments of houseless people to persist in public parks. They point to Centers