Month: March 2024

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Victory for parents in Illinois – for now

By: Diane Benjamin From Awake Illinois: The attempt by Rep. Anne Stava Murray and the Rules Committee to separate you from your children by labeling you a child abuser for not “affirming” whatever your child dreams up has failed: (HB4876) Read the Awake Illinois release here: https://www.awakeil.com/so/08Ow5zUR0?languageTag=en&cid=3b7fba15-9618-40cc-a0f2-62e8c26fd1d0 If you aren’t on their email list SIGN […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Gleason chooses Decatur?!?

Reported by WAND in Decatur: https://www.wandtv.com/news/tim-gleason-set-to-return-as-decatur-city-manager/article_8d4f69a8-ed38-11ee-85c2-8b0f4f2d2f4c.html After spending the last six years in Bloomington, Tim Gleason is poised to return to his former role of Decatur City Manager. Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe announced that the council intends on hiring Gleason during a news conference on Thursday. Current City Manager, Scot Wrighton, announced his plans to […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

For the economically challenged

By: Diane Benjamin . They won’t be getting tips. California raised minimum wage to $20 an hour for fast food workers. Below are articles detailing the results: (hint: higher prices, layoffs, automation) https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/california-s-20-minimum-wage-is-killing-thousands-of-jobs/ar-BB1kE8gS https://ijr.com/california-fast-food-chains-fire-workers-20-minimum-wage-kicks https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2024-03-27/fast-food-minimum-wage Economics 101 should be required in high school. Raising the minimum wage hurts more people than helps. Next a real […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Media Literacy is required teaching in Illinois High Schools

By: Diane Benjamin NPR story: https://www.npr.org/2022/09/14/1122895362/illinois-now-requires-media-literacy-instruction-in-its-high-school-curriculum Parents have a problem because “media literacy” depends on who constructs the curriculum and who teaches it. Anybody think “media literacy” includes all sides of issues? If you need proof see this story written by a Normal Community senior for the school paper: https://nchsinkspot.com/uncategorized/2023/11/14/floridas-threats-to-ap-psychology-should-scare-you-but-dont-let-them-psych-you-out/ The story has many errors, […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

It is illegal to feed birds in downtown Bloomington

By: Diane Benjamin I’ve seen this one listed on Silly Law websites for years, I finally took the time to see if it is real. It is: https://ecode360.com/34404548 The top highlight is Chestnut, the bottom is Oakland. . Right below the bird feeding law is a barking dog law. Since laws are merely suggestions, good […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington wants you to know:

In case you can’t read it, the email is from Bloomington’s Communications Manager Katherine Murphy: (copied) Wanted to make sure you had the updated link for last night’s meeting. A major tech problem happened just before the meeting started and we did our best to get the meeting on the stream but only had one […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Were those tears Tom Crumpler?

By: Diane Benjamin Alderman Tom Crumpler gave an impassioned speech pertaining to the plight of illegals and local housing. Of course his version is “migrants”. He based his comments on this WGLT story: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-03-22/it-is-difficult-right-now-housing-coalition-cites-ongoing-challenges-in-bloomington-normal A couple of points that are evidently way over Tom’s head: “Migrants” are abused long before they illegally enter the country. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Was Bloomington’s DEI hiring showing last night?

By: Diane Benjamin From the City of Bloomington website: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/departments/human-resources That statement means the BEST person applying for a job isn’t the one that gets hired. Bloomington chooses employees based on race, gender, etc. Going woke isn’t going to bankrupt them like many companies before them – they can always get more money from you! […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

O’Neil Aquatics Center to open – a year late

By: Diane Benjamin The O’Neil Park Aquatics Center was discussed in depth at the October 15, 2021 Committee of the Whole meeting. Every council member is now gone except for one: Discussion about a water park begins in the minutes on PDF page 6: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/21017/636854797697530000 The cost was estimated at $10,000,000. It probably went much […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Public Hearing on Bloomington’s Budget tonight

By: Diane Benjamin See the Budget Books here: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/departments/finance/annual-budget All you need to know is: Start reading Budget Book 1 PDF page 30: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showdocument?id=29341 Lots of demographic data is included. Private sector businesses wouldn’t make decisions with out of date data like what is presented. It’s hard to claim there is a housing shortage when […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

BCPA event reports – too many shows and not enough attendees!

By: Diane Benjamin BCPA event reports: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/government/advanced-components/documents/-folder-2097#docan2735_6873_64 Note the attendance at each show. Loss: $4,091.79 Profit: $21,933.02 Loss: $3,861.88 This one isn’t on the BCPA calendar: https://www.artsblooming.org/events/all-events-list-view/-toggle-allpast Loss: $18.56 This one took place on 2/8 – not 2/7 Loss: $6,468.96 Profit: $2,525.50 Embarrassing loss: $5,130.61

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Unit 5 passes Strategic Plan without making it available to parents first

By: Diane Benjamin Unit 5 has a link on their website for strategic plans, the plan they passed last night isn’t on it: https://www.unit5.org/cms/lib/IL01905100/Centricity/Domain/2992/District%20Strategic%20Plan.pdf There isn’t a link to the plan in the agenda either, just a line item with no explanation: See 9a https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1482?meeting=627064 See the discussion with slides begins at 28:00: https://vimeo.com/event/3825867 Supposedly […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

New Illinois: Fifth Constitutional Convention

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/newillinois/1194049# Thu Apr 4, 2024 5:45 PM – Sat Apr 6, 2024 5:00 PM The Chateau Hotel & Conference Center, 61704 The Fifth Constitutional Convention for New Illinois will be held at the Chateau Hotel and Conference Center, 1621 Jumer Drive, Bloomington, Illinois. The Friday evening dinner will be followed by speakers Robin Miller, activist on the central Illinois pipeline issue, and Bill Bergman, Loyola […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

2 more things on yesterday’s election

By: Diane Benjamin George Wendt will not be on the McLean County Board after the November election. He was soundly defeated in Bloomington and the County: Brian Loeffler received a total of 1,318 votes, George Wendt received 677. Proving that election can be bought, Regan Deering funded a large part of her campaign herself. It […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

County primary results

By: Diane Benjamin The unofficial results the County prints don’t have the detail Bloomington does. https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/DocumentCenter/View/27439/Unofficial-Summary-Report_all_precincts 11,187 out of 59,375 registered voters bothered to vote. (18.84%) 7,842 voted Republican 3296 voted Democrat 5 voted libertarian, again with no candidates on the ballot 44 voted nonpartisan 6 voted blank Trump received 5,947 votes (76.89%) Biden received […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

It’s still a waste of money to have TWO election authorities!

By: Diane Benjamin The people of McLean County must love wasting money. There is no need for Bloomington to have their own election office that can’t be held accountable by voters when the County Clerk, who can be fired by voters, is capable of running all elections. In Bloomington 7805 people out of 55,242 registered […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Do I have to report the Bloomington City Council meeting last night?

By: Diane Benjamin I don’t want to, so you will get a brief recap. Summary: Officials think they are on a roll. You will be thinking Coliseum fleece instead. See 1:55 A good number of the far left showed up at public comment to talk about affordable housing and why starting a business is hard. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Tonight: Bloomington discusses the two biggest wastes of your money!

By: Diane Benjamin For a change next year’s budget isn’t on the agenda. https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/cityblm/4a76bdde-5bc1-11ee-ae13-0050569183fa-791fe512-602c-4d20-98c8-ecdbbed39134-1710528364.pdf These two fleeces are on the agenda, of course nobody will admit the obvious. Is Bloomington going to build a downtown wall to keep tent city out of view? Will anyone ask how many electric buses are working now? Who exactly […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

EV Townhall a bust

By: Diane Benjamin A whopping 30 people attended the EV Townhall! If that isn’t funny enough, read WGLT’s article about the event: https://tinyurl.com/EV-Townhall 10 people were on the panel for the 30 attendees. Of course claims were made about EV’s and Climate Change. Facts are immaterial. Get some: https://climateataglance.com/climate-at-a-glance-natural-vs-human-contributions-to-greenhouse-gases-and-global-average-temperatures/ The article got really funny with […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Stepping Stones and the County Board

By: Diane Benjamin The YWCA is obviously a leftist organization. Proof is their national website: https://www.ywca.org/who-we-are It’s easy to tell when leftists need other people’s money, a conga line of speakers show up to provide “their” facts. In the case of Stepping Stones it was 6. The Stepping Stones program lost federal grant money but […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Attn Eastern and Southeastern Mclean County

By: Diane Benjamin If you haven’t submitted a speed test of your internet – do it TODAY. https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/2029/Internet-Speed-Test The State of Illinois thinks you have great speeds – you don’t. The testing results are due Monday so it is imperative to act now. We won’t get really highspeed fiber in the country unless it is […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Compassion isn’t lawlessness

By: Diane Benjamin Any response from District 87? https://blnnews.com/2024/03/12/d87-fire-this-bloomington-fireman/ You thought your kids matter at school? Tent City continues to grow, it has spread to the old Pantagraph building. On Monday the Bloomington City Council will hear plans for the downtown streetscape. Maybe they can “tent” multiple blocks! It will be glorious!

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

See renderings of the new County animal shelter

By: Diane Benjamin The County Board saw a computer rendering of the new Animal Control building last night. It will be 15 miles south of Bloomington. The video shows the inside layout too. One thing not included is outdoor runs for the animals. Farnsworth designed the building with the budget they had, outdoor runs will […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

A story you need to see

By: Diane Benjamin Last night George Wendt presented a commendation at the County Board meeting to a new FIFTEEN YEAR Old Eagle Scout. Most recipients are around 17, but that’s not the story. Jonathan Kunkes Eagle Scout project was a portable classroom for Pepper Ridge Elementary in honor of his sister who died at age […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Inflation, Available Apartments, and government

By: Diane Benjamin Inflation has stolen close to 20% of your buying power – just since 2021: . Inflation will continue unless government policies change. Facts: https://www.bidenomics.com/ According to GasBuddy, the cheapest local gas is at Huck’s on West Oakland – $3.39. Three years ago gas was more than $1 less a gallon. https://www.gasbuddy.com/go/gas-prices-2021-year-in-review According […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

County meets tonight + Elections

By: Diane Benjamin The Rules Committee didn’t bother to meet to correct the stunt Democrats played in February, so the Public Comment policy is still illegal and not on the Agenda tonight to fix. In case you forgot: https://blnnews.com/2024/02/16/county-must-see-public-comments/ Elections: This primary election will prove Illinois’ voting season is a complete waste of money. Turnout […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Stepping Stones at YWCA wants $100,000

By: Diane Benjamin Meetings of the McLean County Behavior Health Coordinating Council have been suspended. See this story: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-03-08/bhcc-meetings-suspended-indefinitely-as-its-reportedly-not-fulfilling-its-mission Excerpt from the article: . That isn’t stopping BHCC from wanting to hand $100,000 to Stepping Stones at the YWCA. I have no problem with that program. I do have a problem with handing them money […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

That bus being towed wasn’t electric

By: Diane Benjamin I mentioned in this story a reader told me he/she witnessed an electric Connect Transit bus being towed: https://blnnews.com/2024/03/04/two-things-i-wish-i-had-pics-of/ It turns out it wasn’t an electric bus. Obtained by FOIA: Connect Transit is forced to use OLD buses because the new electric fleet is junk. In case you can’t read that email, […]