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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.

April 20, 2026: Earth Day, political poll, $7.59M price for College Square

April 20, 2026: Earth Day, political poll, $7.59M price for College Square

This edition includes reports on Bloomington’s Earth Day and Eco-Heroes art winners, Monroe County property transfers, a $7.59M minimum offering for the College Square site, a political text poll about Mayor Kerry Thomson, and a proposed CIB-RDC land swap tied to a convention center host hotel.

Photos: Earth Day, Eco-Heroes

Photos: Earth Day, Eco-Heroes

At Bloomington’s Earth Day celebration Saturday at Switchyard Park, visitors helped build a sprawling sand mandala, adding colored sand by the cupful, handful, or grain-by-grain. Winners of the city’s Eco-Heroes Art Contest displayed their work inspired by this year’s theme, “Our Nature at Night.”

Sunday Funnies: Hawk v. Fish

Sunday Funnies: Hawk v. Fish

Hawk says: On my front bicycle wheel, one of those thin metal rods that connect the hub to the rim was busted. I took my bicycle to the shop. The mechanic just said, "I cannot comment! I cannot comment!" And started laughing. So weird. What explanation did Fish give?

Bloomington sets $7.59M minimum for College Square as hotel plans remain unsettled

Bloomington sets $7.59M minimum for College Square as hotel plans remain unsettled

Bloomington’s redevelopment commission will consider a public offering Monday (April 20) for the 2-acre College Square site, with a $7.59 million minimum price. The move comes as the CIB seeks a 30-day pause to negotiate a land swap tied to a convention center host hotel proposal.

4th Street & Walnut Street (Landlocked Music)

4th Street & Walnut Street (Landlocked Music)

(More photos with item!) Molly Tuttle plays a miniset as a teaser for her show at the Bluebird tonight. It's also a celebration of Record Store Day here at Landlocked Music. She performed three songs: “Highway Knows,” “Goodbye Little Miss Sunshine,” and “San Joaquin.”

Kirkwood Avenue & Washington Street (Clash Gallery)

Kirkwood Avenue & Washington Street (Clash Gallery)

(Video included!) Jack Kelly (fiddle) and Liv LaFluv (guitar) busk in front of Clash Gallery. They are newly arrived in Bloomington from California. Kelly’s grandparents met at IU, raised his mom in Chicago, and she later moved to Belfast where she met Jack’s dad.

Political poll on Bloomington mayor, Hopewell South, other city issues circulates by text

Political poll on Bloomington mayor, Hopewell South, other city issues circulates by text

A text-message poll circulating to Bloomington area residents asks about mayor Kerry Thomson’s job performance, and views on city government. When asked, Thomson did not explicitly confirm that she or her campaign commissioned the survey.