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.

Column: Bloomington’s city council should increase Jack Hopkins social services budget for 2021

Column: Bloomington’s city council should increase Jack Hopkins social services budget for 2021

The headline to this column could provoke a reflexive response from longtime Bloomington city councilmembers. As a matter of law, they’ll say, it’s not up to them, but rather the mayor to increase the budget for Jack Hopkins social services. From a legal point of view, I think

Monroe County’s new COVID-19 health order on reopening: Will local officials eat their own cooking?

Monroe County’s new COVID-19 health order on reopening: Will local officials eat their own cooking?

A new COVID-19 health order issued on Thursday by Monroe County’s health officer Thomas Sharp goes into effect starting Saturday, May 16. In broad strokes, it puts the county in Stage 2 of Indiana governor Eric Holcomb’s “Back on Track” plan announced on May 1, with a

Monroe County gets masks, sanitizer from state for election workers as more than 4.3K people have already voted by mail

Monroe County gets masks, sanitizer from state for election workers as more than 4.3K people have already voted by mail

Secretary of state Connie Lawson said on Friday that the state received the personal protection equipment (PPE) that it had ordered for election workers, using $7.5 million of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding. National Guard troops had started delivering masks, sanitizer, gloves and microfiber towels

Bloomington council committee digs into road funding to weigh repaving of College Mall Road against other transportation goals

Bloomington council committee digs into road funding to weigh repaving of College Mall Road against other transportation goals

A Wednesday meeting of the Bloomington city council’s four-member transportation committee has set up the full council for a possible animated discussion next week. On the council’s May 20 agenda will be an item related to funding for the repaving of College Mall Road between 3rd Street

Lawsuit now filed by Monroe County, other plaintiffs over proposed logging, burning in Hoosier National Forest

Lawsuit now filed by Monroe County, other plaintiffs over proposed logging, burning in Hoosier National Forest

A lawsuit filed by Monroe County officials in federal district court on Wednesday claims that the US Forest Service violated the National Environmental Protection Act and the National Forest Management Act in its adoption of a plan to log, burn and apply herbicide to sections of the Hoosier National Forest

“You are safest at home,” says Monroe County’s health administrator, but science plus art means re-opening start

“You are safest at home,” says Monroe County’s health administrator, but science plus art means re-opening start

Monroe County’s health administrator Penny Caudill said Wednesday that last week’s local health emergency order on COVID-19 would likely be replaced at week’s end with one that allows barbershops and hair salons to re-open and restaurants to offer dine-in service, starting Saturday, May 16.

Monroe County’s council revisits spending decisions, OKs hires despite freeze, gets news of extra income tax revenue

Monroe County’s council revisits spending decisions, OKs hires despite freeze, gets news of extra income tax revenue

The Monroe County council’s nearly four-hour meeting on Tuesday was capped off with a presentation from councilor Geoff McKim, who relayed some good financial news. Monroe County will receive about $1.4 million in supplemental local income tax (LIT) revenue for its general fund this year. That will