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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’s city council OKs electric bus appropriation, money for county fire protection

Bloomington’s city council OKs electric bus appropriation, money for county fire protection

A special meeting of Bloomington’s city council on Wednesday wrapped up in about a half hour, as the council dispatched the two agenda items without controversy. One item was to approve a $1.13 million appropriation in this year’s (2019) budget for the grants won by Bloomington Transit

City council 2020 budget talks look towards ending leaf collection, increasing trash data

City council 2020 budget talks look towards ending leaf collection, increasing trash data

The city’s director of public works, Adam Wason, stood at the podium for three hours at Thursday’s 2020 departmental budget hearings held by the Bloomington city council. He had to present budget proposals for seven different divisions in his department: admin ($1,918,580), animal care and control

Council Preview Aug. 28, 2019: Buses, fire allocations from public safety income tax

Council Preview Aug. 28, 2019: Buses, fire allocations from public safety income tax

Two agenda items appear for a second reading and final vote on the Bloomington’s city council’s agenda for Wednesday. One is an appropriation ordinance for Bloomington Transit buses—BT won some competitive federal grants totaling $900,000. That makes the ordinance amount about $1.13 million because of

From the public speaking podium to the ear of the rules committee: Floor amendments

From the public speaking podium to the ear of the rules committee: Floor amendments

Carol Thompson took a turn at the public podium during the Bloomington city council’s meeting on the night of Aug. 14. She objected to some legislation the council had approved the week before, which regulated electric scooters. Besides her lack of enthusiasm for one amendment, which under certain conditions

Democratic Party mulls how to say: Bloomington’s District 3 city council race features exactly one Democrat

Democratic Party mulls how to say: Bloomington’s District 3 city council race features exactly one Democrat

Three candidates appear on November’s general election ballot for the seat representing Bloomington’s District 3 on the nine-member city council. One is the Democratic Party nominee, Ron Smith. The other two are independent candidates—Marty Spechler and Nick Kappas. If Spechler or Kappas is elected, it would

Press release: Bloomington proposes 3-percent sewer rate increase inside city, 15-percent outside

In a press release issued Monday afternoon (Aug. 26), City of Bloomington Utilities announced it is requesting a rate increase for sewer customers. According to the press release, the 3-percent proposed rate increase for a customer inside the city works out to 72 cents more per month. For an

2020 budget prompts Bloomington city council thoughts on climate change: From definitional questions to golf courses

2020 budget prompts Bloomington city council thoughts on climate change: From definitional questions to golf courses

Wednesday’s departmental budget hearings in front of Bloomington’s city council returned to a couple of themes from Monday’s session on the budget overview. On Monday, councilmember Dave Rollo asked questions about the city’s preparedness for a looming economic downturn. And Isabel Piedmont-Smith questioned whether the