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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.

Bloomington committee makes first round of rejections for record-breaking social services funding requests, federal COVID-19 relief funds could be tapped

Bloomington committee makes first round of rejections for record-breaking social services funding requests, federal COVID-19 relief funds could be tapped

On Monday night, a committee made up of four city councilmembers and two Bloomington residents met to review requests for funding from 37 social services groups. On Monday, the Jack Hopkins social services funding committee rejected seven of the applications outright, for various reasons. But a significant gap remains between

Monroe County on path for second $200K-installment of COVID-19 business relief using food and beverage tax proceeds

Monroe County on path for second $200K-installment of COVID-19 business relief using food and beverage tax proceeds

At a Tuesday afternoon meeting, the food and beverage tax advisory commission (FABTAC) recommended another $200,000 for Monroe County officials to allocate to tourism-related businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. That brings to $400,000 the total recommended by the FABTAC for the county’

Column: Turning budget compost, instead of planting seeds, hoping they’ll grow

Column: Turning budget compost, instead of planting seeds, hoping they’ll grow

I would like to bore you to death with some thoughts on Bloomington’s budget planning for 2021. Before we get to the boring part, I’ll report on a field trip I took on Monday to the south part of town. The banner hanging on the deer fence of

Mayor on 2021 Bloomington budget: “I do believe in a countercyclical government, so keep your ears open for that.”

Mayor on 2021 Bloomington budget: “I do believe in a countercyclical government, so keep your ears open for that.”

Bloomington’s city council held its 2021 “budget advance” meeting last Wednesday. The meeting is an annual chance for councilmembers to tell the administration what their priorities are for the coming year. Sidewalks, bike lanes, food security, and leaf pickup were among the specific topics that councilmembers discussed. The general

A closer look at some COVID-19 trends behind re-opening Indiana: Monroe County in statewide context

A closer look at some COVID-19 trends behind re-opening Indiana: Monroe County in statewide context

When Bloomington’s mayor, John Hamilton, gave his state of the city address on Feb. 20, just 15 cases of the COVID-19 virus were confirmed nationwide, none of them in the Hoosier state. Now two and a half months later, 1,132 residents of Indiana have died of COVID-

Court of appeals: Illegally parked car is an “emergency situation” under Indiana law

Court of appeals: Illegally parked car is an “emergency situation” under Indiana law

A ruling issued by Indiana’s court of appeals this past week says that if a car without a permit is parked in a private permit-only lot, a towing company can tow the illegally parked car without waiting 24 hours, even if it’s the only car parked in

Monroe goes slow: COVID-19 measures stay in place for two more weeks, as other parts of the state start opening on May 4

Monroe goes slow: COVID-19 measures stay in place for two more weeks, as other parts of the state start opening on May 4

In a COVID-19 public health order signed by Monroe County’s health officer Thomas Sharp on Friday, a stay-at-home directive was put in place for Monroe County’s residents that lasts until May 15. Other features of Friday’s Monroe County order include a prohibition on restaurant