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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.

Amid “absurdity” Bloomington’s city council OKs mixed-use development on Pete Ellis Drive with 344 bedrooms, 19K square feet of commercial space

Amid “absurdity” Bloomington’s city council OKs mixed-use development on Pete Ellis Drive with 344 bedrooms, 19K square feet of commercial space

In a unanimous vote on Wednesday night, Bloomington’s city council approved a planned unit development (PUD) for the empty lot on the north side of the Longview Avenue, between Pete Ellis Drive and 7th Street. The new zoning will allow for construction of a single four-story building with

Bloomington public safety report: 2019 was “tough year” with a few bright spots

Bloomington public safety report: 2019 was “tough year” with a few bright spots

On Tuesday morning, Bloomington officials presented the city’s 2020 public safety report, a summary of activity and outcomes for the 2019 calendar year. Bloomington’s mayor, John Hamilton, introduced the three presenters: police chief Mike Diekhoff; community and family resources director Beverly Calender-Anderson; and fire chief Jason Moore.

Opinion: It’s time to rethink closed door caucuses for Indiana city councils

Opinion: It’s time to rethink closed door caucuses for Indiana city councils

A 1980 article in the Valparaiso University Law Review states that the political party caucus exemption in the Open Door Law (ODL) here in the state of Indiana is “a major potential weakness in the act, and is virtually impossible to police.” The same article mentions that there have been

Bloomington files notice of appeal on rulings in 4th Street parking garage eminent domain case

Bloomington files notice of appeal on rulings in 4th Street parking garage eminent domain case

In a filing made last Friday, Jan. 31, Bloomington gave notice of an appeal of rulings made against the city in the 222 Hats eminent domain case involving the replacement of the 4th Street parking garage. The notice of appeal indicates the city is appealing both rulings by Monroe County

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

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