Month: May 2025

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Remember when I told you STAFF wouldn’t drop it?

By: Diane Benjamin It didn’t take long! The Planning Commission will be hearing a presentation about Missing Middle Housing next Wednesday: Meeting agenda: https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/cityblm/22c56154-ab60-11ef-ab4b-005056a89546-71aa7719-c1df-4797-9411-79d5d861f4b4-1748660679.pdf Staff decided to hire the consultant from Berkeley California. The Opticos mission is right on their website: https://opticosdesign.com/ We are urban designers and architects who believe in the transformative power of […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Mollie Ward’s Comment on Walkability

By: Diane Benjamin One more thing from Monday’s Council meeting: Mollie Ward made a comment at the end of the meeting. She was one of the 4 who voted for the Missing Middle Housing plan. Hit play: . She recently attended an event honoring people who died riding bicycles. She attempted to shame the council […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Breaking City Code: the King and Queens of Bloomington

By: Diane Benjamin Jenna Kearns violated City Code by claiming she was the only candidate that supports Democrats: https://blnnews.com/2025/03/24/jenna-kearns-violates-city-code-too/ Local elections are nonpartisan because local issues aren’t political. Essential services, which citizens can’t provide themselves, are why local government exists. Elections in Bloomington have taken a nasty turn toward partisan politics because far-left candidates either […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington Part 3: Everything else you need to know

By: Diane Benjamin I’m starting with Public Comment. Two people spoke about human trafficking in Bloomington. A group called Allies Against Trafficking claimed Bloomington has 14 massage businesses. They want the City Council to pass an ordinance requiring these businesses to register with the city so an investigation can determine whether they only hire licensed […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Want to pay someone else’s rent?

By: Diane Benjamin Many citizens are complaining about local rent increases. Many say they can’t afford those increases. Just so you know, this self-identified socialist believes people who disrespect borders are entitled to your money. The Immigration Project is funded with tax dollars. From Facebook: . Does the far left in Illinois prefers illegals to […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington: Part 2 Missing Middle Housing

By: Diane Benjamin I might do Part 3. Did you know Bloomington has Missing Middle Housing? Nobody but staff did until last night. This item was thrown in front of the Council with no previous discussion. Normally a Committee of the Whole meeting would have explored this before a vote was brought to Council. Instead, […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington Part 1: Green Top

By: Diane Benjamin Last night’s Bloomington Council meeting was long and tedious. A Township meeting preceded Council and an Executive Session followed. The meeting video is over 3 hours. It will take more than 1 story to cover the festivities. I will start with the Green Top Grocery extended sales tax rebate: . The current […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Tonight’s Bloomington Illusions

By: Diane Benjamin Agenda: https://granicus_production_attachments.s3.amazonaws.com/cityblm/56f61f2af788b92fa68b9114de6d6e5d0.pdf On the Consent Agenda, meaning this won’t be discussed unless someone pulls it. If your business had “highly favored” status, you might also secure the deal Green Top Grocery receives. Their original “incentive” plan was signed nearly 10 years ago. That incentive was set to decrease and finally end in […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Electricity rates “to necessarily” skyrocket

By: Diane Benjamin According to this story, Ameren rates are increasing 50% from June 1 – September 30: https://khqa.com/news/local/ameren-illinois-customers-face-50-electricity-rate-hike-from-june-1-due-to-new-pricing Do some homework! This is a state website listing alternative suppliers. The Ameren rate is before the 50% increase, you would have to contact the others to see if their rates are increasing. I have no […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Illinois is expensive, here’s the proof

By: Diane Benjamin Gas price yesterday at a Mobile station in Belvidere Il: . Gas price yesterday at a Mobile station 20 miles north in Clinton Wisconsin: . Illinois motor fuel tax now: 47 cents a gallon Wisconsin motor fuel tax now: 30.9 cents a gallon. The difference is 17.9 cents per gallon. The price […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Get Your New Voter Registration Card?

By: Diane Benjamin The only way be certain only legal voters are registered is to require the return of something. The County doesn’t do any verification. Every time new card are sent out I hear people say I got one for someone who doesn’t live here. Most of the time it gets thrown away. That […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Connect Transit: Let’s buy more electric vehicles because the first time went so well

By: Diane Benjamin When free money is handed to you there is no incentive to care about how it’s spent. Are any of the huge electric buses Connect spent at least $16 million on running? Now that Connect wants to expand Flex service, they need more vehicles. PDF page 22 https://connect-transit.com/file/3569/05%2027%202025_BoT%20Meeting%20Packet.pdf Yes taxpayers, they are […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Does the Convention & Visitors Bureau do anything?

By: Diane Benjamin Finding any information on this organization is next to impossible. They don’t post meeting minutes on their website. I’m told they don’t want other cities to see what they do and steal ideas. The public can attend meetings, probably nobody does. Meanwhile, Bloomington has their own economic development department and they own […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Proof taxpayers were played

By: Diane Benjamin WGLT headline: Regional Planning Commission helps conduct the first Illinois high-speed rail feasibility study https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2025-05-20/regional-planning-commission-helps-conduct-the-first-illinois-high-speed-rail-feasibility-study Remember when new tracks were installed just a few years ago? We were told crossings had to be closed and new tracks were needed for high speed rail we supposedly have now! Flashbacks: 2011: durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-kirk-quinn-announce-186-million-for-chicago-to-st-louis-high-speed-rail 2014: https://blnnews.com/2014/05/20/high-speed-rail-one-hour/ […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Is WGLT Ignoring Danenberger’s Claims?

By: Diane Benjamin Excerpt from a May 7, 2025 email: . WGLT hasn’t printed a story. It’s been 2 weeks since John Danenberger claimed he was going to talk to them. One of these is true: Maybe WGLT would do a story if they had this: . This document isn’t available by FOIA from the […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Illinois Attorney General Responds to Leroy Meeting Agenda Complaint

By: Diane Benjamin Remember this story about Leroy? https://blnnews.com/2025/05/19/leroy-is-going-to-approve-the-minutes-of-an-illegal-meeting/ The agenda for the May 5, 2025 meeting still isn’t posted on their website. The minutes for this meeting were approved at the May 19, 2025 meeting. Those aren’t posted on the website yet either. On May 8th I filed a Request for Review with the […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Turbine Lies – Livingston County

By: Diane Benjamin A Livingston County wind company is running commercials promoting yet another wind farm. Evidently they are trying to gain public support. Yes, property tax money is generated. Yes, some electricity is generated – if the wind is blowing. Yes, the turbines leak oil. Yes, a backup energy source is required for when […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Essex Development Controversy: Will Covenants Protect Property Owners?

By: Diane Benjamin What does this screen shot from last night’s Normal Town Council meeting tell you? . Does the Deputy Clerk have her hand over her heart? It sure doesn’t look like it. The citizens of Normal are paying the salary, benefits, and pension for a Deputy Clerk who refuses to say the Pledge […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Live in Normal?

By: Diane Benjamin Watch tonight’s City Council Meeting at 7:00 on YouTube. Make popcorn first. 😁 See the agenda here: https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5282

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

A little more John Danenberger

By: Diane Benjamin The Committee of the Whole meeting tonight was cancelled. Good thing for this alderman because Public Comment might have been interesting. Who signs an email like this? . Maybe someone with a personality disorder of some kind? Below is part of an email he sent to multiple people. The redactions were done […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Leroy is going to approve the minutes of an illegal meeting

By: Diane Benjamin The agenda for the meeting held on May 5, 2025 has never been posted. Tonight the minutes for that meeting, which violated the Open Meetings Act, will be approved: https://www.leroy.org/file/2866/AGENDA%2019MAY2025.pdf . Agendas: https://www.leroy.org/government/city-hall/city-council 5/5/2025 is not at that link. Also on tonight’s agenda: . Since Leroy doesn’t include documentation, assume this is […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

What do the Bloomington Police know? 😉

By: Diane Benjamin Remember this? https://blnnews.com/2025/05/09/is-chief-simington-afraid-of-mayor-brady/ . Want to know what I redacted? Of course you do! Actually 2 things were redacted, I cut one off the bottom: . What do the police know that you don’t? What do I know you don’t? (Stay tuned)

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

A Message from Corn Belt Energy

By: Diane Benjamin Send thank you cards to the green weenies who think wind and solar can produce the electricity we need. Neither can as evidenced by the new interest in nuclear energy because of the massive amount of electricity needed by AI. Green has always been a scam to limit your access and raise […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

New Line on my Property Tax Bill

By: Diane Benjamin Illinois is taxing people out of the State. Since the left never has enough money, the latest scheme is to tax services like haircuts that have always been exempt. The State thinks they can raise another $2.7 billion from you. A report in 2021 claimed Illinois has 8,923 taxing bodies, at least […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Response from a doctor on vaccinations:

By: Diane Benjamin The doctor who responded to the story earlier today does not want to be identified (justifiable reasons!) If you missed it: https://blnnews.com/2025/05/15/childhood-vaccinations-and-pediatricians/ I’m not quoting most of what was said, again justifiable reasons. Summary of the comments: This doctor sounds like he’s on the MAHA bandwagon. How many other doctors are secretly […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Update: Childhood vaccinations and Pediatricians

See response from a local doctor here: https://blnnews.com/2025/05/15/response-from-a-doctor-on-vaccinations/ By: Diane Benjamin I’ve been hearing stories about pediatricians who refuse to see children if their parents decline vaccinations. Here is the link to the CDC’s vaccine schedule for the first 15 months of life:https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/child-adolescent-age.html#table-1 Since Hepatitis B is spread through sexual contact or needle drug use, […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Three things you need to know

By: Diane Benjamin 1) Regulating homeschooling in Illinois (HB 2827) appears to be dead for now, but that doesn’t mean it will stay that way. The left has a habit of using “shell bills” to pass legislation without holding public hearings. A “shell bill” is created by stripping all language from a bill that has […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington Administrative Court Hoax

By: Diane Benjamin These people are being hauled into Administrative Court today for violating City Code: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/28541/638823197694300000 . Not on the list is Cody Hendricks and Jenna Kearns for violating City Code to win their election. Justice isn’t justice when it doesn’t apply to everyone. Equal justice has been undermined by Bloomington. All these individuals […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Obituary: Paul Gerike

Paul Gerike, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, went home to be with the Lord on May 11, 2025. He was a man of deep faith, quiet strength, and unwavering devotion to those he loved. Paul proudly served his country as a member of the United States Marine Corps, a chapter of his […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Fly on the Wall: BJHS

Flying around I think I heard a teacher got a concussion from a student who wasn’t expelled. Dr. Mouser will never provide real news, can anyone confirm?

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington 5/12/25 Part 2

By: Diane Benjamin The water quality problems are close to over. The Council approved one more algaecide treatment @ $82,534.80. Lake Bloomington water levels are back to normal and evergreen is slightly below normal. The other controversial item was supporting the sale of Connect Transit’s property to Home Sweet Home Mission for the shelter project. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington 5/12/25 Part 1

By: Diane Benjamin In the two years John Danenberger has been on the Council he evidently didn’t notice procedures. He wanted to pull item K from the Consent Agenda, but instead of just stating that he preceded with an explanation and motion. That should have come after the vote on the other items, not before. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Illinois job losses mount

By: Diane Benjamin Illinois layoffs: https://www.illinoisworknet.com/LayoffRecovery/Pages/IllinoisWARNData.aspx What’s the explanation for this one? Click on the blue – “plant closure”. . Medicaid cuts, if passed, only apply to illegals and able-bodied people capable of working but chose not to. Medicare isn’t being cut unless the recipient is here illegally. Maybe Pritzker’s budget that doesn’t provide free […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Essex passed – Citizens expected different?

By: Diane Benjamin I hear the Planning Commision meeting last Thursday was around 4 hours long. Many citizens from the area spoke, their quiet neighborhood and property values will be affected. Chris Koos’ handpicked commission members mostly ignored them and approved the project. I think 3 story buildings got reduced to 2 stories. Will that […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Mayor Brady’s 1st meeting

By: Diane Benjamin I took the weekend off to spend time with with family and friends. I’m back! Agenda for Bloomington tonight: https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/cityblm/3fbd5444-814f-4e17-a65f-83fbc20272bb-d854eb82-3702-4140-9de6-ac3a8e3f379d-1746819050.pdf Two items on the Consent Agenda caught my eye: Item H – The Ecology Action Center is requesting that the City pay a total of $166,342.97 for the three-year Energy Efficiency Program. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Is Chief Simington afraid of Mayor Brady?

By: Diane Benjamin I did not receive this information from any current member of the Bloomington Police Department. I’m sure Chief Simington will be wondering where it originated. If he launches a witch hunt to find out how I obtained it, he will further degrade what little moral still exists in the department. The below […]