By: Diane Benjamin How often is Michele Anderson in her office? Nobody knows because she is rarely seen at the Government Center. The McLean County Veterans Assistance Commission is established by law and not subject to the same policies and guidelines other County Departments are. The do have their own County website page: https://mcleancountyil.gov/98/Veterans-Assistance The […]
By: Diane Benjamin I sent a FOIA request to the District office yesterday. It was answered the SAME DAY! Now, if the District wants REAL transparency, start recording and posting School Board Meetings instead of holding meetings in a small room that barely allows citizens to attend. How much did the glossy magazine cost? The […]
By: Diane Benjamin Five things: 1) See 54:12 – Molly Ward is still upset that she lost the ability to offer amendments or changes at Council meetings. At least several months ago that chaos was cancelled. The new policy is changes have to be made by noon the day of meetings. A change was made […]
By: Diane Benjamin A comment was made on line from a local far leftist about Rivian a couple months ago. He claimed Rivian is an emerging technology and therefore deserves government subsidies. In other words, he believes government is entitled to use your tax dollars to pick winners and losers. What Constitution, laws, or commons […]
By: Diane Benjamin . Agenda: https://bloomingtonil.portal.civicclerk.com/event/4119/files/agenda/15011 Regular Agenda – 2 items: 1) Consideration and Action on a Resolution Approving a Contract with Teska Associates, Inc., for the West Bloomington Quality of Life Road Map (RFP #2027-03), in the Amount of $99,700, as requested by the Community Impact & Enhancement Department. This agreement with Teska looks […]
By: Diane Benjamin This clip if from the presentation representatives from the YWCA made to the Normal Township Board. If you missed the previous story: https://blnnews.com/2026/08/22/normal-township-8-19-26-board-meeting-part-2-ywca/ Unless you watched the whole presentation, you didn’t see this. Even if you did watch it you might have missed this SHORT clip. The speaker is telling a story […]
By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington wants people to report storm damage. If the County does, a drone will be required to see it. Some corn fields show damage like this one: . The extent of this damage can’t be seen from the road. Many other fields have standing corn along the road but you can see […]
By: Diane Benjamin Staff from the YWCA are making presentations to local governments all over Bloomington-Normal about the “childcare crisis”. The Board got handouts, nobody in the crowd did. Lights were not turned off during the presentation so filming the screen was mostly a waste of time. One note from early in the presentation: DCFS […]
By: Diane Benjamin It appears assessed property values will be increasing between 5 and 6% again. Local governments are salivating at the amount of money that will available to them. They will be setting their Tax Levy soon. That is the amount of money they want to collect in property taxes. ANY amount over what […]
h/t a reader Paid by McLean County Democratic Central Committee: https://illinoissunshine.org/committees/159/ By: Diane Benjamin A couple of past stories: https://blnnews.com/2026/08/01/day-care-drama/ https://blnnews.com/2023/03/05/it-wasnt-corey-beirne/ . All of the spending on the 2026-2027 political campaigns isn’t available yet because the 2026 election is still months away and 2027 isn’t until early next year. https://illinoissunshine.org/ has some current and all […]
By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader Callahan was the driver on Raab Road who crashed into a power pole and was arrested for DUI, speeding more than 35 mph over the speed limit, reckless driving, and improper lane usage. Of course the power was out in that area; maybe a reader can comment on how […]
By: Diane Benjamin This meeting was back to being broadcast over zoom. Instead of watching a zoom call that may or may not work, I attended in person and filmed it myself. Remember the official video isn’t saved or posted anywhere. This is one item approved Tuesday night: https://normaltownship.org/index.php/food-replacement-program/ Check out the requirements to get […]
By: Diane Benjamin A lawsuit has been filed against the City of Bloomington for the actions of the Assistant Police Chief. The City must consider this legitimate enough to put Paul Williams on Administrative leave. This was filed in Federal Court by a Chicago law firm. Pages 2-4 outline the allegations:
By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader This was sent to me: . There is a local effort to fund daycare with taxpayer money because of the daycare closings. Government created the problem and now wants to solve it. More on that one soon. Meanwhile: Fact: Only a socialist expects you to pay other people’s bills. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Did you know JB just put another $65 million in his campaign warchest? Illinois does have a KING who buys representation! . Did you know Pritzker skipped a stop in Bloomington-Normal to view storm damage on his way north to the burbs? https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/Pritzker-State Fair to the suburbs Is Pritzker’s warchest funding the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington wants residents to report storm damage at the top of their website: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/ Staff is trying to find out if the area qualifies for federal disaster relief or low interest loans. The emergency declaration was extended to 30 days. Many City departments were and are working together to help citizens. Calls […]
By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington has a “special” meeting tonight after canceling last Monday because a quorum wasn’t going to attend: https://bloomingtonil.portal.civicclerk.com/event/4395/files/agenda/14997 Weather and Roads will be featured before this:
By: Diane Benjamin The video below is part of the 7/21/26 Normal Township Board meeting. The ARC report proceeded this. If you missed this story showing public commenters weren’t happy about the firing of long time employees at the ARC, see it now: https://blnnews.com/2026/07/29/whats-going-on-at-the-arc/ The Director, Elicssha Sanders, was promoted to that job in April. […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Bloomington Indiana population is 85,000. The Bloomington Illinois population is 78,680. . 2000 Zillow apartment listings in Bloomington In: https://www.zillow.com/bloomington-in/rentals 266 Zillow apartment listings in Bloomington Il: https://www.zillow.com/bloomington-il/rentals Prices are higher in Illinois because of short supply. The answer to the housing shortage isn’t government. They created the problem, they can’t […]
By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader The tax levy is the total amount each government board wants to collect the following year. This amount is usually set in late fall. Boards do not set the tax rate but they know about what it will be based on the amount of money they want to collect. […]
By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader Below is a screenshot from Corey Beirne’s campaign website: https://corey4mcboard.com . Know why Corey said “tax rates” instead of “taxes”? Because he voted to raise your property taxes last year! Let’s look at part of a property tax bill in his district: Paid in 2026: . Paid in 2025: […]
By: Diane Benjamin Review the details here if you forgot: https://blnnews.com/2024/11/02/whats-the-real-ty-carlton-story/ . I looked the case up yesterday to see where it is. It looks like all the preliminary actions will be out of the way soon. The case was filed TWO YEARS ago this month. . The case pertains to employment discrimination. If you […]
By: Diane Benjamin This is a video clip from the 7/21/26 Normal Township meeting. Krystle Able is reporting on the ARC, including a failed fire inspection. She mentions “Colin” is fixing things and installing new cameras: . I submitted a FOIA for how much Colin has been paid this year and his full name: . […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Tri-Valley School District sent a classy new magazine to all property taxpayers in the district. It is on line too. See it here: https://www.journeytwelve.com/vikingvoyage I read every story, student stories show a lot about opportunities in the district. But one story shows government ideology at its worse: Built With Intention. TV […]
If the Bloomington City Council can cancel meetings at will, I can take a day off.
By: Diane Benjamin 1) The State of Illinois budget is “balanced” on the backs of local taxpayers. https://mayorscaucus.org/legislative-priorities/restoring-lgdf-revenues/ Budgets aren’t cut. Local government raise taxes instead. This contributes to Illinois being the highest taxed State in the country. Congrats. 2) If Pritzker signs this bill, Normal Township will raise your taxes: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2026-08-05/change-could-give-illinois-townships-more-ways-to-help-people-who-are-financially-struggling The Karl Marx […]
By: Diane Benjamin All of these prices come from https://www.gasbuddy.com/gasprices/ These are all the cheapest gas prices in each State, the local price isn’t close to Rock Island. The cheapest price in McLean County is Sam’s Club at $3.99. Who you vote for matters, unless you like being fleeced.
By: Diane Benjamin This is a case of: Tell me who you vote for without saying who you vote for. The re-invent Veterans Parkway Plan: https://mcplan.org/plans-and-programs/transportation-planning/veteranspkwy Quote: The most critical employment and commercial corridor in the region, Veterans Parkway is also the most dangerous road in Bloomington-Normal. In 2024, the McLean County Regional Planning Commission […]
By: Diane Benjamin 1) Below is the solar RED Light added to the Stop Signs at Route 9 and Leroy-Lexington blacktop: . The first time I saw it it was solid red, when I saw it again it was flashing red. Will drivers finally notice it now and quit killing people by running the it? […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://library.municode.com/il/springfield/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIIAD_CH30GEPR Quote from the Springfield City Code: Elected officers. The city’s elected officers shall consist of ten aldermen to be nominated and elected from ten single-member districts on a nonpartisan basis, and a mayor, city treasurer, and a city clerk to be nominated and elected at large on a nonpartisan basis. Elections shall […]
By: Diane Benjamin Connect Transit didn’t report their loss for June because 6/30/26 is their year-end. They always delay that reporting. https://connect-transit.com/file/4510/2026%2007%2028_BoT%20Meeting%20Packet.pdf It doesn’t matter how thick the bus wrap is to cover the windows. We still know those huge buses are empty and confirmed by what Connect reports monthly: . . For June 2026: […]
I was going to tell you tomorrow – The Rest Of The Story. Local GOP did a good job though. No, they didn’t lead the effort.
By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader Redacted email response from the McLean County Trial Court Administrator – William Scanlon: . Why is any County employee adding a message to every email? Why would anyone quote an anti-capitalism libertarian socialist? It’s a nice quote, the meaning behind it isn’t what should be conveyed on government email. […]
By: Diane Benjamin What is the New Americans Initiative? It isn’t the people who love open borders spending their own money. It’s every taxpayer in Illinois: . I don’t know if the Illinois Department of Human Services provided the money below or if they spent even more with other nonprofits. Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and […]
Diana Hauman has resigned from the Bloomington Election Commission Board to avoid getting kicked off for cause. Evidently being a partisan hack isn’t what Judge Foley thought she was appointing.
By: Diane Benjamin . . .are known by the company you keep? Keep reading: . . .
By: Diane Benjamin Elections in Bloomington aren’t nonpartisan because the violators during the last local election faced no consequences. If your kids swipe cookies with no consequences, do they keep swiping cookies? Duh. The City Code needs changed since it pretends candidates are nonpartisan. Pretending is over. Cody Hendricks, Jenna Kearns, and Abby Scott made […]
