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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.

Analysis: Bloomington’s living wage to hit $16.22 an hour in 2025, but work like video services is left out

Analysis: Bloomington’s living wage to hit $16.22 an hour in 2025, but work like video services is left out

In 2025, Bloomington’s “living wage” will reach $16.22 an hour. Of that $16.22, up to $2.43 can be in the form of health insurance offered to a covered employee. The increase in 2025 will boost Bloomington’s living wage by $0.47 an hour (about 3

Monroe County sheriff seeks dismissal of Indiana AG action on immigration policy, calls lawsuit ‘baseless’

Monroe County sheriff seeks dismissal of Indiana AG action on immigration policy, calls lawsuit ‘baseless’

This past Wednesday (Sept. 4), Monroe County sheriff Ruben Marté filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit that was brought by Indiana attorney general Todd Rokita, over the sheriff’s policy for dealing with immigration status. The policy applies to “immigration and/or citizenship status of suspects, offenders, witness(es)

Displaced again, homeless camp residents address Bloomington city council, mayor at public mic

Displaced again, homeless camp residents address Bloomington city council, mayor at public mic

On Wednesday, two weeks after Bloomington officials cleared a homeless encampment south of town, some of the residents who lived there addressed a meeting of the city council, which was also attended by the mayor. At least a dozen people, who either lived in a displaced encampment, or were there

Convention center expansion takes steps ahead with sharp words from 2 Bloomington councilmembers

Convention center expansion takes steps ahead with sharp words from 2 Bloomington councilmembers

On Wednesday, the planned expansion of the Monroe Convention Center was the focus of two important meetings. In the afternoon, Monroe County’s capital improvement board (CIB) heard presentations from three different hoteliers who responded to a request for proposals (RFP) to develop a hotel in connection with the convention

Bloomington mayor, city council try to tackle 2025 budget tensions ahead of Sept. 25 hearing

Bloomington mayor, city council try to tackle 2025 budget tensions ahead of Sept. 25 hearing

The city of Bloomington’s 2025 budget could get approved on the same schedule that currently appears on the calendar—with a city council vote on adoption set for Oct. 9, after a public hearing on Sept. 25. That’s based on the back-and-forth that came on Wednesday between Bloomington

Bloomington poised for public offering of Hopewell South land, security extended, fences reconfigured

Bloomington poised for public offering of Hopewell South land, security extended, fences reconfigured

At its regular Monday meeting, Bloomington’s redevelopment commission (RDC) took care of three relatively low-cost items related to the Hopewell project, as it prepares to consider a public offering for some of the land. Those relatively low-cost items involved security patrols, a security fencing reconfiguration, and an electrical contract

Analysis: Will Bloomington’s city council, mayor mend discord in time to adopt the 2025 budget?

Analysis: Will Bloomington’s city council, mayor mend discord in time to adopt the 2025 budget?

Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson’s formal presentation to the city council of the city’s 2025 budget will be made in about three weeks, on Sept. 25. The vote on the budget is currently scheduled for Oct. 9. It is the first city budget for Thomson, who was sworn into