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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.

County, city leaders review draft interlocal agreement for convention center capital improvement board, set next meeting for Feb. 10

County, city leaders review draft interlocal agreement for convention center capital improvement board, set next meeting for Feb. 10

Several Bloomington and Monroe County officials met Monday evening to push ahead the $44-million convention center expansion project. They reviewed a draft interlocal agreement, circulated shortly before the meeting, that is intended to supplement statutory requirements for the eventual formation of a capital improvement board (CIB). The three county

Bloomington city council tees up new local law to regulate non-consensual vehicle towing

Bloomington city council tees up new local law to regulate non-consensual vehicle towing

If you leave your car in a private lot where you’re not allowed to park, you risk getting your vehicle towed at your own expense. That’s not really news—for Bloomington or any other place. What is new for Bloomington is a proposed ordinance to regulate companies that

Pitch for Bloomington city council standing committees seen by executive branch as a fastball

Pitch for Bloomington city council standing committees seen by executive branch as a fastball

“Is council a co-equal branch of government or isn’t it?” That’s a rhetorical question posed by Steve Volan, this year’s president of Bloomington’s city council, about the relationship between the council and the city’s administration. Volan asked the question during a contentious work session

Park board decision to keep public control of Bloomington farmers market includes restrictions on speech

Park board decision to keep public control of Bloomington farmers market includes restrictions on speech

A sign that reads “Welcome! to all, including people of color…” can’t be posted in a vendor stall at Bloomington’s public farmers market for the 2020 season. That’s the impact of one revision to the vendor handbook that was approved Thursday afternoon by Bloomington’s board of

Questions from Supreme Court justices point to heart of annexation law case involving Bloomington: Was the governor the right person to sue?

Questions from Supreme Court justices point to heart of annexation law case involving Bloomington: Was the governor the right person to sue?

In 2017, Bloomington filed suit against Indiana’s governor, Eric Holcomb, over a law enacted by the state legislature as a part of the biennial budget bill. As Bloomington’s city attorney, Mike Rouker, described the legislation on Thursday morning, during oral arguments in front of Indiana’s Supreme Court,

Bloomington city council punts question of standing committees to end of January

Bloomington city council punts question of standing committees to end of January

On Wednesday night, Bloomington’s city council began its year with an organizational meeting that featured a split vote. What generated some controversy at the start of the term was a proposal from newly named council president, Steve Volan, to use existing local code to establish several four-member standing

Bloomington still wants to take 222 Hats building, asks court for permission to file new action with different parking garage design

Bloomington still wants to take 222 Hats building, asks court for permission to file new action with different parking garage design

On December 20 last year, a Monroe County circuit court judge ruled that Bloomington could not use eminent domain to take the JuanSells.com building (222 Hats) in order to build a replacement garage on a larger footprint. The building is just south of the site where the 352-space