Go solar? 😂

By: Diane Benjamin Our roof has hail damage, luckily we don’t have solar panels This is what hail does to an entire field of solar panels. County Board members may want to watch this video before approving any more: https://www.facebook.com/reel/944478347165945 The panels are full of chemicals that can contaminate the groundwater.

Are companies close to NOT hiring college grads?

By: Diane Benjamin Green Top hasn’t met their fundraising goal even with $20,000 from one donor and $5,000 from another. A few people gave $1,000, most of the others are $100 or less: https://www.gofundme.com/f/keep-local-organic-food-in-our-community Some ISU students want their own Green Top but can’t find anyone wanting to participate. Uptown is a food desert according […]

ISU kids want SPECIAL consideration

By: Diane Benjamin Maybe the voting age should be reconsidered. Illinois has FORTY DAYS of early voting, obviously this makes people doubt the validity of elections, but the ISU kids are now demanding election day off so they can vote because 40 days isn’t nearly enough: Citizenship requires responsibility. The polls open at 6:00 am. […]

Dan Brady

By: Diane Benjamin Long time readers know I have been really hard on Dan Brady. The main reason was because he was in leadership of the Republican Party in Springfield and I saw him do ZERO to stop the Democrat supermajority from railroading destructive legislation. One thing Dan did do really well as a State […]

Don’t Forget: Geese are an endangered species

By: Diane Benjamin Geese are so endangered they have to reserve their own parking spaces now. Probably listed as endangered by the same people who told you the polar ice cap would be gone decades ago.

Property taxes are the voters fault

By: Diane Benjamin Actually they are the fault of everyone who DOESN’T bother to vote in local elections. I’m seeing a lot of unhappy people who opened their property tax bill. Look at who is taxing you. It’s local! Not voting in local elections makes it really easy to install big government types who have […]

One more day: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

By: Diane Benjamin Details: https://blnnews.com/2024/04/24/replica-of-tomb-of-the-unknown-soldier-tomorrow/ I stopped by the Doubletree yesterday: Viewing starts at noon today. This is history. Go and find out why it was erected. If you don’t know what is on the back side go and find out! Hint:

Fire at Rivian

h/t a reader There was yet another fire at Rivian Thursday morning. One side of the plant was evacuated. The fire was big enough to need a large emergency response. I hear 3 fire engines and 3 rescue squads. This is NOT the first plant fire!

Get your Property Tax bill?

By: Diane Benjamin I got mine today. 🤑 I looked up some random properties to see how bad the tax increases are. Bloomington: Net taxable value for 2023 is $55,521, taxes increased $213.28 from last year (Dist 87) Net taxable value for 2023 is $136,131, taxes increase $382.70 from last year (Unit 5) Normal: Net […]

Roll your eyes: Connect Transit

By: Diane Benjamin A reader sent this pic yesterday. The driver was across 2 lanes for a long time on College Ave: At the 4/23 Board meeting Connect Transit General Manager David Braun stated that if the electric grid ever went down they wouldn’t be able to charge their electric buses. Hey David: If the […]

Replica of Tomb of the Unknown Soldier tomorrow

By: Diane Benjamin WMDB reported this story 3 weeks ago thinking you would remember. Since you probably don’t: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/tomb-of-the-unknown-replica-to-come-to-bloomington-as-part-of-dar-convention/ar-BB1kTH2r A replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier will be featured at the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution convention in Bloomington. It will be in the back lot of the Doubletree. Viewing times […]

Was this MIS or DIS information Mboka?

By: Diane Benjamin Monday was Tim Gleason’s last meeting so the Mayor had to do a list of his accomplishments. Mentioned was getting them through COVID which wasn’t difficult when the Feds threw many millions of dollars to them and tax receipts skyrocketed because of inflation. The new budget is spending LESS on roads than […]

Grants, tent city, and giveaways

By: Diane Benjamin Pulled from the Consent Agenda was approving a Community Change Grant from the EPA who is handing out $20 billion. (Inflation will continue as the Feds spend money they have to print) The money isn’t free, it’s still taxpayers who will be responsible for the debt. Bloomington wants $20 million, most of […]

Two things before I get to the rest of the meeting

By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington City Council last night: Occasional reminder that Ward 1 Alderman Kearns does not believe in Liberty and Justice for All. She never says the Pledge of Allegiance: Just an example of Mr. Giggles at work:

Like paying other people’s bills?

By: Diane Benjamin The entire County is going to be taxed to fund the airport. This was passed in Springfield without a vote from the County residents and by representatives that don’t represent them (Chung and Koehler). Remember: Taxation Without Representation? Details here: https://www.wandtv.com/news/national/cira-authority-expansion-means-new-tax-for-rural-mclean-county-property-owners/article_e7aeccb8-3339-11ee-966e-fb07c1b7d8e3.html The County is also forced to pay for the Bloomington Election […]

Jeff Jurgens salary doesn’t leave room for merit raises

By: Diane Benjamin Tim Gleason’s base salary as City Manager was $212,862.84. The 2023 total compensation report is finally posted: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/30290/638487793683670000 A contract for Monday night’s City Council meeting for Jeff Jurgens shows a base salary of $210,000. https://legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/2570155/Jurgens_CM_Contract.pdf Gleason had much more experience than Jurgens. Jurgen’s in a lawyer and Gleason isn’t. Since a […]

Update: Smell anything Stanford?

From the realtor: Note: This house has been vacant for years! It isn’t their sewage. By: Diane Benjamin If you live in the 300 block of West Main in Stanford you probably do. If not, wait until the temperature warms up a bit: . That isn’t a creek, it’s raw sewage! The story I was […]

Update: Is 988 unstaffed? (Suicide Prevention Hotline)

Apparently the long time director who retired did not submit a grant request before the deadline. Now PATH is in crisis mode. By: Diane Benjamin 988 is the local suicide prevention hotline at PATH. I hear at a Board meeting this morning the 988 staff was laid off because funding (I think from the State) […]

Protect your property title for free

By: Diane Benjamin Have you heard the commercials wanting to sell you protection for your property title? The McLean County Recorder’s office is offering this service for FREE. Go here: https://recorder.mcleancountyil.gov/External/User/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fexternal Sign up for Property Check to be notified when any documents are filed on your property! This only works for properties in McLean County.

Local Democrats stand with the people who celebrated 911

By: Diane Benjamin If you don’t remember, Palestinians were dancing in the streets the day we were attacked. Over half a million civilian Ukrainians have died in their war with Russia. Note: No calls for a ceasefire in that war that has been going on for over two years. See the resolution passed by the […]

Dead Turbines

By: Diane Benjamin This video is of wind turbines near Broadwell Il. It was WINDY yesterday, but none of them were turning. I saw a small solar field on the west side of I55 too, a nice hail storm will destroy it. Only the un-informed would believe either will provide enough energy to fuel the […]

Illinois March for Life

By: Diane Benjamin I was in Springfield yesterday along with thousands of other pro-life citizens. The march is about all life in a state that doesn’t respect any life. There were many inspiring speakers, including pro-life legislators. It was impossible to get pictures of the entire crowd without being on top of the capital, but […]

Update: Bloomington names a new City Manager today

I was right. Congrats Jeff. Now cancel rebranding and fix the roads! By: Diane Benjamin I predict Jeff Jurgens will be named City Manager. He wouldn’t be named today if the council wasn’t already on board. Jurgens is one of the good guys, at least in my dealings with him. Of course any City Manager […]

BCPA winner and losers

By: Diane Benjamin It’s pretty clear that shows drawing a couple hundred people or less lose money. Broader appeal shows can make money. All BCPA event reports are here: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/government/advanced-components/documents/-folder-2097#docan2735_6873_64 The report for this show is being revised after I questioned $32,000 for “stage hands”. It should have only been  $26,872.74 per Katherine Murphy. Either […]

Mr. Giggles is running again

By: Diane Benjamin If you’ve ever watched a council meeting you know why I call him Mr. Giggles. Those giggles hide the fact that he’s a big government guy and pushes a progressive (communist) agenda. Can’t Bloomington do better? https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-04-15/mwilambwe-to-run-for-2nd-term-as-bloomington-mayor?fbclid=IwAR0pqO6wAXClBrJMohOXCUvF6sQlDT4B1FNa2HwPj3OwLAA2m1M6xwqZS5Y Mwilambwe to run for 2nd term as Bloomington mayor Excerpts: Mwilambwe said he wants to […]

Pencil Pushers

By: Diane Benjamin Surrena Fish was back with an update on Tent City. She claimed there is a waiting list now and police had to be called to break up a fight. Just hit play to hear her comments. The Connect Transit update on the downtown transfer station isn’t that long. If you don’t want […]

I don’t remember a vote, but . . .

By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington has been tired of spending money on the Market Street Garage for many years, but I certainly don’t remember a vote to hand it over to Connect Transit. That garage belongs to Bloomington residents. I can’t wait to see how they make this one legal. An Intergovernmental Agreement will probably appear […]

How much of your money did The Immigration Project get?

By: Diane Benjamin We know in 2021 The Immigration Project was 99.95% funded by tax dollars: https://blnnews.com/2024/02/12/the-immigration-project-you-dont-know/ Using the new Benjamin Chat Box on OpenTheBooks.com I searched under “Vendors” for payments made to them. Try it, incredibly easy to use! Results are emailed to you after it searches multiple databases. In 2022 ISU gave them […]

WGLT: Mis or Dis information?

By: Diane Benjamin Maybe the League of Women Voters can investigate since they think they are the arbiter of truth: https://blnnews.com/2024/04/01/league-of-women-voters-squash-the-1st-amendment/ See this WGLT story: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-04-12/mclean-county-clerk-addresses-disability-voting-incident-at-county-board-meeting Skip down to the Amendments sections: The Board didn’t vote to “relax” anything. They didn’t “waive” anything. The Attorney General ruled Public Comment policy that was in effect was: […]

Beirne admits he’s a Marxist

By: Diane Benjamin In case you missed this story: https://blnnews.com/2024/04/12/no-one-was-denied-the-right-to-vote/ Piling on by the far left because laws are immaterial, Corey Beirne had to add his 1 cent brain: DEI is Marxist ideology that eliminates exceptionalism. I hope Corey gets a DEI doctor some day. Microaggressions are merely attempts at limiting speech for fear somebody […]

Why didn’t they vote by MAIL Krystle?

By: Diane Benjamin There was no discrimination. Feelings are immaterial, adults know that. Just because you “feel” discriminated against doesn’t make it truth. Adults move on, they don’t need to grandstand. Thanks for clarifying your divisiveness Krystle. Vote by mail in November, no poll workers to deal with.

No one was denied the right to vote!

By: Diane Benjamin The video below is from Public Comment at the McLean County Board meeting last night. Just hit play. These speakers expect poll workers to be perfect. Perfection doesn’t exist. Nobody is perfect. 4 people spoke and then Kathy Michael. Why anyone would sign up to be a poll worker if they aren’t […]

Freedom of the Press disappearing

By: Diane Benjamin April 28th will mark 12 years for BlnNews.com. I only started writing because I saw lousy local reporting on things that matter. The 1st Amendment guarantees Freedom of the Press – unless government has other plans. There is a hearing going on today in the House because they are considering a Press […]

This is just FUN

By: Diane Benjamin OpenTheBooks.com has a wonderful new feature for seeing how your money is spent. It’s called BENJAMIN chatbox. It isn’t named after me, it’s named after Benjamin Franklin. Click this link and look in the lower right corner: https://www.openthebooks.com/ You can search salaries, pensions, and vendor payments for anyone who gets tax dollars. […]

(Updated) Breaking: Tent City dumpster on fire

By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader Another reader just sent this pic: Remember Public Safety is a high priority! Your taxes paid for the fire department response. 😁 Spraying water:

Trouble in Normal

B: Diane Benjamin In case you missed this story: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-04-08/town-of-normal-and-firefighters-are-repairing-relationship-after-no-confidence-vote-in-chief Quote: In a September letter to the mayor and council obtained by WGLT under the Freedom of Information Act, the Local 2442 of the International Association of Firefighters union said 84% of membership voted no-confidence. The Town of Normal is now covering fire calls in […]