By: Diane Benjamin See the entire agenda here: https://go.boarddocs.com/il/trivalley3/Board.nsf/vpublic?open McLean County was going to allow a whole 15 minutes for public comment at meetings. So generous of them considering the County is huge and the population is over 170,000 people. Tri-Valley School District is miniscule in comparison. Below is what Tri-Valley has on the agenda […]
By: Diane Benjamin Just info: Tari Renner got the City to buy this property on North Main so the City could control what was built there. 3 Kirk Holdings was involuntarily dissolved in 2018 according to the Secretary of State website. Search corporations here: https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/business_services/business_searches.html After years of realtors unsuccessful trying to unload it, the […]
By: Diane Benjamin EV owners don’t pay motor fuel taxes, even though they drive on the same roads as those of you who do. Buy an EV (that most people can’t afford) and the taxpayers will subsidize it with a tax credit. In 10 years, that EV will likely be junk because replacing the batteries […]
By: Diane Benjamin Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it. One reason Rome fell is because they outsourced their safety to people they conquered. They had no allegiance to Rome when their empire was invaded. HB 3751 grants non-citizens the right to become police officers: https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=3751&GAID=17&GA=103&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=149009&SessionID=112 If you are in the 105th […]
By: Diane Benjamin Evidently many people wanted to speak at Public Comment last night concerning the LRS/Henson transfer station. They were not allowed to speak, Chair Catherine Metsker explained why at 5:35. Jackie Beyer was allowed to speak. She gave a first hand account of what happened at the Rules Committee and the Executive Committee […]
By: Diane Benjamin Below is a post that is on NextDoor. The writer talks about not getting mail, lost mail, and “busted up” packages. Voting by Mail is too risky if you expect your vote to count! Drop off you completed ballot at the election office or vote early in person instead of trusting the mail.
By: Diane Benjamin Sample ballots area available for everywhere but Bloomington here: https://mcleancountyil.gov/1600/Ballots I don’t know why Democrats would show up since I didn’t see a single contested election except President and that vote is immaterial. Will Dems vote Republican to take out candidates they hate? I wouldn’t be surprised. Republicans at least have a few contested races: County […]
By: Diane Benjamin More on this story: https://blnnews.com/2024/02/14/a-legal-public-comment-policy-isnt-on-the-county-board-agenda-blame-democrats/ All of the proposed changes before the Rules Committee were written by Democrats. The rule changes were theirs, you need to know that to see why Val Laymon’s motion to reconsider violated Robert’s Rules of Order and Board rules. The proof is right in the document the Democrats proposed changes […]
By: Diane Benjamin I wrote this story about the Rules Committee meeting, but there is more to the story: https://blnnews.com/2024/02/09/what-happened-at-the-county-rules-committee-meeting/ Besides Democrats attempting to weaponize the County Board against Republicans, numerous other changes were presented. Most were discarded because Republicans objected to their nonsense. Now we know why this meeting is not on video! Democrats don’t want you to […]
By: Diane Benjamin Are you getting signatures? https://blnnews.com/2024/01/29/its-not-the-states-job-to-parent-your-kids/ It is VITAL this question gets on the November ballot: Why is it vital? Because HB 4876 was introduced in the Illinois House. This bill finds parents guilty of child abuse if they don’t allow their child to get an abortion or gender-affirming care: https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=4876&GAID=17&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=152735&SessionID=112&GA=103 More on this bill and the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Even though the City has 3 top Administrators now, according to the meeting documentation THEY requested this proclamation: https://legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/2392365/Health_for_Humanity_Yogathon_Day_Proclamation_2024.pdf It recognizes the Health for Humanity Yogathon Organized by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA. The event happened from January 13th – 28th. Definitely on top of everything with 3. 😉 Unlike Normal that only discusses the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Remember this story? https://blnnews.com/2024/02/07/is-normal-doing-a-secret-survey/ I wrote that story on February 7th. On February 12th WGLT did this story: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-02-12/normal-seeking-public-feedback-on-future-environmental-priorities The Town of Normal is doing that survey. See this quote by Town Planner Mercy Davidson in the story: . Let me interpret: This survey is only for supporters of the Town agenda. If you don’t believe in their […]
By: Diane Benjamin The 1/22/24 payroll showed 880 employees. Pay rate averaged $17.90 per hour for seasonal employees. https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/30014/638410997409630000 Tonight’s Bills and Payroll shows 953. Pay rate averaged $18.22 per hour for seasonal employees. https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/30070 Seasonal hours worked increased by 1,615. So, people are forced to take temporary jobs because full time jobs aren’t available? On the Agenda for […]
By: Diane Benjamin This group probably doesn’t want you to know their non-profit tax returns are posted on line: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/431700482/202311359349302656/full If you haven’t been paying attention, the Immigration Project always pops up to support illegal immigrants with bleeding heart leftist rhetoric meant to subdue citizen resistance to invasion. What you don’t know is they get most of […]
Sent to me from a friend: I was in a local store yesterday and purchased a picture with Reagan’s famous quote about freedom on it. The clerk, an older woman, read it intently and said in a thick accent, ‘Freedom is gone. We came here 50 years ago to escape a Premier in South America, […]
By: Daine VBenjamin Further proof nobody elected in Normal is looking out for you: The rent for the 2nd floor of 1 Uptown Circle keeps going up. This year the Town will throw away $455,147 because a big hole in Uptown needed filled. Nothing would have been built if Normal hadn’t made taxpayers responsible for paying for it […]
Audio is now available – over 2 hours. I may or may not listen. The problem with audio is listeners might not be able to tell who is talking. There are three Public Comments at the beginning you need to hear. The first 30 minutes resembles “Who’s On First”. https://mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/10027 By: Diane Benjamin Follow-up to this story: https://blnnews.com/2024/02/05/weaponizing-the-county-board/ The Rules Committee met […]
By: Diane Benjamin The speaker is different than the one in this story: https://blnnews.com/2024/02/01/comment-to-springfield-council-about-illegal-immigration/ This Public Comment happened on February 6th. The speaker states many facts and then asks what the Council is doing to protect the citizens of Springfield. Just hit play: (you might want to keep listening to the guy who follows)
By: Diane Benjamin More on this story from yesterday: https://blnnews.com/2024/02/07/this-survey-is-real-your-kids/ According to the IYS website, the survey many area schools are participating in will be given to 8th, 10th, and 12th graders in Illinois public schools. Keep in mind the University of Illinois is conducting the survey. Tri-Valley sent a copy of the survey to parents with the […]
See the 8th grade survey in this story: https://blnnews.com/2024/02/08/follow-up-see-the-8th-grade-survey/ By: Diane Benjamin See this link: https://iys.cprd.illinois.edu/conducting The University of Illinois is conducting this survey via public schools. Below are the McLean County schools participating, others may still sign up: Your child’s school isn’t going to ask for permission to survey anyone. A parental opt-out form is available here: https://iys.cprd.illinois.edu/conducting/opt-out/ The three […]
By: Diane Benjamin Is this a scam? As seen on social media: Normal Vision 2050/Sustainability Plan Survey I couldn’t find promotion of this survey on the Town of Normal website promoting this survey. See Vision Plans here – no mention of a new survey: https://www.normalil.gov/1738/Vision-Plans The main Town of Normal website page usually links to such initiatives, but it’s […]
By: Diane Benjamin Why do so many water main breaks occur around Laesch Acres? The latest: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/Home/Components/News/News/9944/1394 Greenwood Avenue, Laesch Avenue to West Hamilton Road Closed Effective Immediately Post Date:02/05/2024 11:02 AM BLOOMINGTON, IL – Beginning immediately, Greenwood Avenue, from Laesch Avenue to West Hamilton Road will be closed to all traffic due to water main repair. This […]
By: Diane Benjamin District 87 students score well below State averages in English and Math. See last year’s scores here: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/District.aspx?source=trends&Districtid=17064087025 The district spends $15,000 per student for this substandard education. (Click District Snapshot at the link above) 34% are chronically absent, the graduation rate is an appalling 79%. I find it fascinating that WGLT can normalize stories like […]
By: Diane Benjamin Members of the McLean County Democrat Party on the County Board are proposing new rules for meetings and members. The new Public Comment policy allows citizens to sign up at least 15 minutes before meetings. However, the allotted time is still only 15 minutes, which is ridiculous for a county as large as […]
By: Diane Benjamin A Facebook page for parents of Unit 5 kids has been taken down. It only lasted a few days. Many parents appreciated a place to discuss school issues, County Board member Krystle Able didn’t. Under socialism you aren’t allowed to even have causal conversations against the elites. You are expected to only praise Unit 5 and […]
By: Diane Benjamin I saw a social media post asking why the arena was built downtown instead of along the interstate that could have brought people in from nearby cities. (Common sense?) I didn’t respond but the answer is clear. It was built downtown because the people who are elected to represent you have been trying for DECADES […]
By: Diane Benjamin Everyone should know by now the Coliseum never performed as sold to the citizens of Bloomington: It will never cost you a dime! Billy Tyus, Deputy City Manager, admitted the obvious to WGLT: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-02-01/with-hockey-team-in-place-bloomington-looks-to-bring-arena-back-to-life?fbclid=IwAR1YSf-4fJksOpolUowyg7i2Qz9WmQlSCllxjwsP0BTE2Yb7G6tkVC6F_6k Excerpt: Note: The hockey team won’t be around long if they have to help the city recoup costs. Meanwhile, Mike Matejka who […]
By: Diane Benjamin As I stated in this story Erika Reynolds, State’s Attorney had not responded to my two requests: https://blnnews.com/2024/01/31/tri-valley-lost-my-trust/ She did last night. I not only emailed her directly, but I also sent two emails to the General address listed on the County website. ([email protected]) From Erika: Wed, Jan 31 at 6:44 PM I am sorry for […]
By: Diane Benjamin See this story: https://www.25newsnow.com/2024/01/30/peoria-public-schools-is-expecting-15-electric-buses/?outputType=amp Quotes: Peoria Public Schools District 150 has received almost $6 million in federal grants to add 15 electric school buses to its fleet. PPS Transportation Director Josh Collins says the grant will cover the cost of all 15 buses and a small portion of the infrastructure required for charging stations. The district […]
By: Diane Benjamin You need to hear this Public Comment by Rosanna Pulido Tuesday night in Springfield. She is a long time anti-illegal immigration activist – and American Hispanic. Springfield put all the documents she discussed and distributed on their website: http://www.springfieldcityclerk.com/Government/PDFHandler.ashx?itemID=4826&itemType=MeetingAtt Don’t miss pages 4-6! Just hit play – a must listen:
By: Diane Benjamin I lost trust in Tri-Valley a few years ago when they paid off some bonds and then put another bond issue for the same amount on the ballot. Evidently TV taxpayers don’t ever want to see their property taxes decrease because they approved it. In the next few years they are plotting to do it […]
By: Diane Benjamin All previous electric bus stories: https://blnnews.com/2024/01/30/3-more-shocking-emails-electric-buses/ https://blnnews.com/2024/01/30/foia-emails-from-rivian-to-connect-transit/ https://blnnews.com/2024/01/24/connect-transit-random-finds/ https://blnnews.com/2024/01/23/one-more-connect-transit-for-now/ https://blnnews.com/2024/01/23/proterra-is-solyndra/ From this story: How much of your money has been wasted on Proterra buses? Since ADHD is both a blessing and a curse, I could have missed some payments. Note, Proterra filed for bankruptcy in August of 2023. The oldest electric buses are two […]
By: Diane Benjamin 3 more Connect transit emails I received via FOIA: 1) This one is from Proterra, the writer appears to be joking that a new bus made it to 900 miles. 2) Proof the electric buses are a joke – a many millions of dollars joke. The problems existed long before Proterra filed for bankruptcy. 3) I […]
By: Diane Benjamin I know some of you read stories on your phone and emails I post can be difficult to read on a small screen. Here’s the recap: A Rivian employee wrote an email to Connect Transit because she considers them “experts in the Electric vehicle industry”. The email is dated November 28, 2023. Rivian was having problems […]
h/t a reader See petitions in this story: https://blnnews.com/2024/01/29/its-not-the-states-job-to-parent-your-kids/ Why do schools need to know your child’s sexual orientation? To exploit the answer? From Unit 5’s 2021 Equity Audit, feelings change daily especially in kids. Unit 5 wants to affirm self-identities with no guidance from parents: (note developing – what did they develop?)
By: Diane Benjamin Public Schools in Illinois are a threat to your job as parents. A group called Parents Matter Coalition wants to put this on the November ballot: Advisory Question of Public Policy on the Right to Parent . See this website for more information: https://www.parentsmattercoalition.org/ You can download petitions with instructions at that link. Get involved! Schools should not […]
