By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader https://www.illinoissunshine.org/committees/friends-of-scott-preston-25061/ Even with these donations, Preston has far less money than his opponent: You are going to want to sell your house without a realtor after this! (FYI they threw a ton of money to the elites during the last local election in Normal too) This will also prove […]
By: Diane Benjamin With Democrats in complete control of Illinois, they need to answer for what they did. Screeching about a women’s right to choose is only because they have nothing else to run on. Read below and then ask Sharon Chung where she stands! Your minor child can get an abortion without you knowing: […]
By: Diane Benjamin Keep in mind RC McBride is the WGLT General Manager. Media is expected to keep government in line, not be part of it. McBride is government as chairman of the Normal Planning Commission. He proves why Koos doesn’t reveal appointments in advance so the citizens have a heads up and can voice […]
If you can’t take your children out of Public School, you have rights! Put your child’s school on notice: https://drive.google.com/file/d/156iLYqm-dtswZnHDAfOJY8HeR5OHYH19/view Email and present it in person! See more at: https://courageisahabit.org/ . . . .
By: Diane Benjamin Nothing is new here. Normal has a long record of disregarding the wishes of citizens. I can’t possibly remember everything, but start with the most recent and work back. All of the below have stories on BlnNews.com, use Search if you want more information. A. Normal ignored the rights of citizens in […]
By: Diane Benjamin Corey Beirne teaches more than music to 600 Unit 5 students. He is also teaching transgender and LBGT+ ideology to ELEMENTARY STUDENTS. Beirne gave this speech in June of 2021 to the Unit 5 School Board, they must approve since he’s still there. (Unit 5 wants more money? For this?) Beirne mentions […]
By: Diane Benjamin The check I received has rebates for both income and property taxes. The amount is immaterial when compared to the Pritzker tax increases, renters don’t get property tax rebates even though property taxes are included in the rent they pay: https://www.illinoispolicy.org/pritzkers-record-24-tax-fee-hikes-taking-5-24-billion-more-from-illinoisans/ Remember Pritzker doubling the gas tax? Adding $50 to the price […]
By: Diane Benjamin Kording ruled Normal is an Incorporated Town. Normal now has to live the consequences of that decision. Illinois law does not provide a path for citizens to district Incorporated Towns. The citizens of Normal will continue to be treated like dogs by their government because they have no recourse other than voting. […]
By: Diane Benjamin I bet Tim is in Columbus Ohio attending the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Annual Conference. “With four days of learning, inspiration, and connection, attendees leave equipped with the tools and support they need to make their communities a better place to live, work, and play.” https://conference.icma.org/about/ In other words, learn new ways […]
By: Diane Benjamin Remember when Stan Nord was denied the right to participate remotely in an off-schedule Executive Session? https://blnnews.com/2022/09/09/village-of-normal-discriminates-against-stan-nord/ Stan wasn’t allowed to participate because it was an illegal meeting to discuss the referendum. Pam Reece knew Stan Nord was unavailable the day of the meeting, she scheduled it that day on purpose, then […]
By: Diane Benjamin Without Stan Nord present the Council meeting lasted a whole 8 minutes. The video is 9 minutes and 24 seconds, but the meeting doesn’t start at 0:00. Nothing was pulled from the consent agenda, Karyn Smith asked a few questions about the Water Main replacement that is WAY over what was budgeted. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Judge Kording will issue a ruling tomorrow via zoom between 1:30 and 2:00. Normal Taxpayers should be thrilled to know they paid Village Attorney Brian Day to sit in the audience for over 2 hours even though Normal is not a party to this case. The judge’s questions to both attorneys were […]
By: Diane Benjamin I received an email from a friend who’s son is in the medical field. If this is true it is dangerous! Ever have a procedure at a hospital and get billed by not only the hospital but other doctors? That is because they are contracted with the hospital, they don’t work for […]
Courtroom 5D 2:30 Pack the room!
By: Diane Benjamin David Shestokas has spent 87.5 hours so far because of the referendum challenge. All of the above know they are going to lose, therefore they should get the bill. To donate by check: Citizens for Districting Normal 21 Grandview Drive Normal, IL 61761-4071 Go Fund Me is available on the website https://betternormal-il.com/support-us. Note: […]
. . Democrats? This issue will become a political albatross around the necks of anyone who opposes it. People of all parties collected signatures and signed the petitions. Representation isn’t political! . . .
If somebody like Mark Peterson tells you nobody reads BlnNews, show them this. TODAY: The visitors are counted by IP address, so that number is exaggerated. The VIEWS aren’t.
By: Diane Benjamin If Normal is a Town, why is Angelia Huonker a City Clerk? If Normal is a Town why is Pam Reece a City Manager? Does it make them feel more important with a “City” title instead of Town? More fun: the packet for Monday night has a sliver of minutes from the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Even though law enforcement officials across Illinois are speaking out about this pro-criminal anti-police law the McLean County Democrats posted this on Facebook: This bill was passed in the middle of the night at the end of a lame duck session in January 2021. Conveniently is goes into effect after the November […]
By: Diane Benjamin A Zoom hearing was held this morning to hear the filing by the State’s Attorneys office representing County Clerk Kathy Michael. She is bound by Federal Law to mail ballots to service members 45 days before the election. She can’t print the ballots before the referendum issue is decided or risk having […]
By: Diane Benjamin At tonight’s meeting the County Board voted in what sounded unanimous for Erika Reynolds to fill out the rest of Don Knapp’s term. Erika is a current employee of the State’s Attorney’s office. Don Knapp has been appointed judge in the Circuit Court and is running unopposed in November for the same […]
Originally posted on BlnNews :
by: Diane Benjamin Recently I filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the City of Bloomington for all emails From or To every City employee regarding the Modified Ward System. I included Alderman Rob Fazzini’s personal emails in the request. Yes, they are subject to FOIA requests. I included 2…
By: Diane Benjamin The new restaurant was announced on Facebook: How much is Normal rebating? Since nothing happens in Uptown without incentives look for food and beverage tax rebates and maybe some free parking for customers in the garage. Review this story for details of what Normal wanted in this space back in 2016: https://blnnews.com/2022/04/19/kevin-mccarthy-re-writing-history/ […]
I was just informed Missouri has withdrawn from ERIC too. You have to read the story to understand why! By: Diane Benjamin See this story: https://www.wglt.org/politics-and-government/2022-09-13/voter-roll-purges-are-not-going-to-happen-in-illinois-a-state-election-official-says The story completely falls apart when they get to ERIC: Electronic Registration Information Center. States bought into this tiny group – 3 employees according to their tax returns – […]
By: Diane Benjamin Kathy Michael got the referendum court date moved to this Friday because early voting starts September 29th. (before any debates happen!) It will happen over Zoom so we can’t pack the court. Morning Giggles from League of Women Voters: The LWV decided as expected. When they picked Normal’s former City Manager as […]
By: Diane Benjamin Patrick Dullard thinks he has the right to stand against 2200 people who signed petitions to put the Districts referendum on the ballot. Of course he’s just a stooge Koos buddy. We have proof at least two “professional staff” people have been assisting him. Oh what a tangled web they weave . […]
By: Diane Benjamin The entire meeting video is over 3 hours, most of that was spent off camera in Executive Session. 3 videos you need to see, 2 are Public Comment the third is City Manager Tim Gleason. The first Public Comment was a lady who owns rental property. She didn’t receive rent because Pritzker […]
By: Diane Benjamin Packet for tonight: https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/cityblm/5a26b16f-a62d-11ec-8a90-0050569183fa-d854eb82-3702-4140-9de6-ac3a8e3f379d-1662676309.pdf Public Comment and Recognitions might take longer than the actual business part of the meeting. Everything is on the Consent Agenda and won’t be discussed unless an alderman pulls it. The longest part of the meeting won’t be public: I doubt releasing the minutes of Executive Sessions from […]
By: Diane Benjamin Notice a problem (or two)? Problem 1 The Normal Election Commission (board) is now immaterial since they issued their ruling on August 30th against the 2200 citizens who signed petitions. The Circuit Court is now in charge of deciding whether the referendum is on the ballot or not. Problem 2 Mark Peterson? […]
By: Diane Benjamin Remember this story? https://blnnews.com/2020/10/19/is-koos-profiting-from-lockdowns/ Does Amtrak want a director that openly taunts people who don’t agree with him? Yesterday Koos proved yet again he doesn’t tolerate people who disagree with him: https://blnnews.com/2022/09/09/village-of-normal-discriminates-against-stan-nord/ Mayor Chris Koos was one of the votes to not allow Trustee Stan Nord to participate in the Executive Session […]
By: Diane Benjamin Pam Reece knew Stan Nord had a prior commitment today, she scheduled the meeting anyway. He asked to participate remotely. Guess what happened! Chris Koos was there. Kevin McCarthy was there. Kathleen Lorenz was there. Karyn Smith was there. Scott Preston was there. Chemberly Harris was there. These clowns voted to NOT […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.illinoissunshine.org/committees/34779/ How much money does her opponent Scott Preston have? https://www.illinoissunshine.org/committees/25061/ Chung is well know for supporting criminals during her time on the McLean County Board. So who is supporting this police hater? The same people trying to get Amendment 1 passed by calling it a Worker’s Rights Amendment. It’s really a […]
By: Diane Benjamin Of course Bloomington could have held this retreat in a place that could be live streamed, they chose not to. The only way to know what happens is to attend. Some items in #4 should be public discussions, that’s why they aren’t.
By: Diane Benjamin Executive Sessions (secret meetings) are usually held after a regular Council meeting. Normal called a special meeting for today with no Council meeting: Even though there isn’t a law that says Council members can’t talk about what is going on after this meeting they probably won’t. They like secrets. Whatever is going […]
By: Diane Benjamin The only way to have free and fair elections is to vote in-person with a voter ID on a paper ballot. That is why none of the above happens in Illinois. One thing the left knows is the only thing that matters is winning elections, the right just plans to fight harder […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last time Chris Koos was nominated to the Amtrak Board he didn’t get a hearing. https://www.congress.gov/nomination/116th-congress/1915 The seat he is nominated for has been vacant for years, this time it only took 4 months to get a hearing: If Koos ever gets a vote in the Senate he won’t be quitting his […]
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