Dave Askins

In two weeks, the parking meter turns 84 years old. The first one was installed in Oklahoma City on July 16, 1935. Three decades later, the same invention that discourages motorists from making greedy use of public space made possible the release of “Cool Hand Luke.” The film starred Paul

Note: Beacon Benchmark columns are a way for the B Square Beacon’s writer to give readers some regular behind-the-scenes insight into this website, which aims to serve some of the news and information needs of Bloomington, Indiana.   Yesterday marked what I hope will be the start of

At Monroe County’s election headquarters at the intersection of 7th and Madison streets, election supervisor Karen Wheeler spoke with The Beacon around quarter to noon on Monday. Up to then, she said, no independent candidates for Bloomington mayor had turned in the minimum 522 signatures to qualify for the

Green signs with white lettering along 6th Street, east of Washington in downtown Bloomington, alert motorists to the meter-enforcement hours: Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. A close look at any of the signs reveals the “8” to be a small patch—it was

The Comedy Attic’s packed house on Wednesday night missed the first round of the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate debates held the same evening. But they were treated to even funnier routines by 10 competitors in this summer’s Bloomington Comedy Festival. The audience voted six of the 10

Wednesday morning, a pontoon pilot approached the Lake Monroe causeway—it’s where SR 446 crosses the reservoir, leaving a gap at the south end for boaters to navigate under the road. But the captain reversed his engine, brought his craft about, then idled, floating maybe 30 yards west of