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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 city council’s OK of $324K for new sidewalks comes with discussion of additional funding sources

Bloomington city council’s OK of $324K for new sidewalks comes with discussion of additional funding sources

This year’s annual approval of the city council’s sidewalk committee report came at last Wednesday’s city council meeting. The report included $324,000 in funding for six different projects. The half dozen projects included: two sidewalk construction projects, two sidewalk design projects, and two traffic calming or

2020 Local Primaries: District 60 house, county council now contested in primary, general

2020 Local Primaries: District 60 house, county council now contested in primary, general

A handful of primary candidate declarations were filed this past week, for state-level offices as well as some in Monroe County. A candidate from each party was added to the race for the state house District 60 seat, currently held by Peggy Mayfield, a Republican. Mayfield will be joined

Square Beacon Benchmark | January 2020 a small step towards proof: Readers will support handcrafted local news

Square Beacon Benchmark | January 2020 a small step towards proof: Readers will support handcrafted local news

Fair warning: This is a pitch to support The Square Beacon with a monthly pledge. If you’ve been meaning to pledge, but just haven’t gotten around to it, please choose this moment to do it: Subscribe now! Thank you to everyone who has already pledged. I live in

Indiana Court of Appeals rules 2–1: Bloomington’s definition of fraternity delegated undue authority to Indiana University

Indiana Court of Appeals rules 2–1: Bloomington’s definition of fraternity delegated undue authority to Indiana University

In a ruling issued Thursday, a three-judge panel from the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled 2–1 to uphold a lower court ruling: The definition of a fraternity or sorority in Bloomington’s zoning code violates the US Constitution because it delegates to Indiana University the city’s authority

Bloomington council president on local redistricting reform: “The commission has to be in place by 2021. It’s not far off.”

Bloomington council president on local redistricting reform: “The commission has to be in place by 2021. It’s not far off.”

With its six city council districts, Bloomington is not unique among Indiana cities. But by year’s end it could be the only Indiana city that has a local commission established to handle the redrawing of council district boundaries. This year’s city council president, Steve Volan, told The Square

Monroe county council on course to pay $1.25 million for land to develop limestone heritage tourist, educational destination

Monroe county council on course to pay $1.25 million for land to develop limestone heritage tourist, educational destination

As soon as Monroe County councilors approve the purchase agreements that have been drawn up, a total of $1.25 million will be paid by the county to three different land owners to create a site where the history of the area’s limestone heritage is documented. Quarry holes are

Question of standing committees delayed until late February by Bloomington’s city council, uncertain future next week for local towing law

Question of standing committees delayed until late February by Bloomington’s city council, uncertain future next week for local towing law

On Wednesday night, Bloomington’s city council voted unanimously to postpone, until Feb. 19, council president Steve Volan’s resolution on establishing several council standing committees. The unanimous vote on the postponement went smoother than the subsequent discussion of the council’s schedule for next week. That’s when an