Author: Diane Benjamin - editor
FYI Normal
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 […]
Share this:
Update: What happened at the County Rules Committee meeting?
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 […]
Share this:
Illegal Immigration Public Comment – Springfield again
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)
Share this:
Follow-up: See the 8th grade survey
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 […]
Share this:
Update: This survey is real: Your kids!
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 […]
Share this:
Is Normal doing a secret survey?
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 […]
Share this:
More Water Main Failure around Laesch Acres
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 […]
Share this:
Replacement theory proves true
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 […]
Share this:
Weaponizing the County Board
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 […]
Share this:
Local Socialists Kills Free Speech
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 […]
Share this:
Weekend: Later than usual 😉
Share this:
One more thing on the Coliseum
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 […]
Share this:
Bloomington Admits the Obvious
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 […]
Share this:
Tri-Valley update to Public Comment Policy
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 […]
Share this:
Free Money: Peoria Schools get Electric Buses
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 […]
Share this:
Comment to Springfield Council about illegal immigration
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:
Share this:
Tri-Valley lost my trust
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 […]
Share this:
How much has Connect Transit paid Proterra?
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 […]
Share this:
3 more shocking emails: Electric Buses
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 […]
Share this:
FOIA emails FROM Rivian TO Connect Transit
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 […]
Share this:
Why you need to circulate those petitions
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?)
Share this:
It’s Not the State’s job to Parent Your Kids
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 […]
Share this:
FYI Bloomington
By: Diane Benjamin Something you probably didn’t notice: https://d2kbkoa27fdvtw.cloudfront.net/cityblm/f2efd24f88047e9277e32f4da448e4460.pdf You might know him better from this:
Share this:
Please explain!
By: Diane Benjamin See this story: https://www.illinoispolicy.org/5-illinois-metro-areas-await-pandemic-recovery-most-add-jobs-in-december/ Can anyone explain why Bloomington is losing jobs? Are business owners leaving this wonderful town because it can’t suck enough money out of your pockets? Are illegals working for cash and taking jobs away from citizens? Imagine how much worse it would be without Rivian!
Share this:
Weekend “Oh You Know The Thing”
Share this:
More Co2 sequestration
By: Diane Benjamin One Earth Energy is now courting Gibson City for Co2 sequestration. See this article: https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/environment/gibson-city-companys-proposed-co2-pipeline-concerns-environmental-group/article_60f24002-2192-589e-a42a-4d3824f3707d.html Excerpt: Pamela Richart said a number of companies are eager to proceed with such projects because of the tax credits available from the federal government. “Developers can get $85 a ton for this and make billions of dollars,” she […]
Share this:
3 more BCPA event reports
By: Diane Benjamin It’s getting more difficult to match event reports with artists fees because the dates listed are frequently wrong. I don’t know if all the performance fees stating 12/15/23 are actually for that date. I haven’t found an artist fee dated 12/20. If all apply to 12/15 that show lost a lot of money. Look at the […]
Share this:
Comedy via Krystle Able
By: Diane Benjamin Sometimes people deserve to be laughed at. Start with this meme from Able’s Facebook page: . Israel is a foreign country that was attacked on October 7th. They don’t care what Chicago’s mayor says! Maybe Israel should call out Chicago for all the daily violence and schools that don’t educate – just babysit. Progressives just want chaos. […]
Share this:
2 Good Public Comments at Bloomington Council meeting
By: Diane Benjamin The Council met yesterday afternoon after canceling Monday night’s meeting due to ice. It was short even with 3 Public Comments. Just hit play below to hear the first two. The new hockey owners made a brief presentation with slides that aren’t on video. The person who films at night usually switches the view so people […]
Share this:
Proof your elected officials do as told, they don’t work for you
By: Diane Benjamin How did Rep Sharon Chung and Senator Dave Koehler write the exact same letter on the same day?
Share this:
7 Senators voted against Koos
By: Diane Benjamin The vote to confirm Chris Koos to the Amtrak Board was 91-7. Two Senators didn’t vote. Seven Senators voted against him: See the vote here: https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00014.htm#position I wish Mike Braun, Josh Hawley, Mike Lee, Rand Paul, Eric Schmitt, Rick Scott, and Tommy Tuberville would state why!
Share this:
Connect Transit Random finds
By: Diane Benjamin The Connect Transit Board met last night. The only mention of their electric buses was in connection to a new propaganda campaign that will be launching. (They call it marketing) Goal: You will proud of your local bus system! Part of the campaign will be wrapping all the buses – except electric ones. Only one is running so why […]
Share this:
Bloomington salts private property
By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader It’s going to be hard to see, but this is a City of Bloomington truck dumping salt at a private gas station – corner of Main and Oakland. Did they salt your business or is this just a “government friend”?
Share this:
One more Must See Connect Transit
By: Diane Benjamin I have not finished reading everything I received. There is likely more to report. Make sure you read to the bottom. Connect’s General Manager doesn’t want you to know any of this. Refer back to the HUGE November loss: https://blnnews.com/2024/01/23/connect-loses-more-than-the-coliseum/ Salaries were almost twice normal. I thought Connect had a hiring spree of drivers and were no longer […]
Share this:
Proterra is Solyndra
By: Diane Benjamin The Connect Transit Board meets at 4:30 today. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFica7k-pGY Will any of the below be discussed? 🤣😂 Remember when Solyndra was supposed to create a ton of solar panels, got tons of federal money, and then declared bankruptcy. Of course no one was ever held accountable, so this “making friends of government […]
Share this:
Connect loses more than the Coliseum
By: Diane Benjamin November is a new record loss. See wages and stay tuned. This is going to take more than one story. I have proof the Proterra Electric buses are junk. Connect has 12. One might still be operating, the count of working electric buses changed weekly. It never went up – only down. Many millions of your tax dollars were […]
Share this:
Update: Bloomington tonight – Exciting
Meeting was rescheduled for Wednesday because of the ice. By: Diane Benjamin Payroll for the last meeting showed 1009 employees: https://blnnews.com/2024/01/08/bloomington-employee-increase-are-they-making-your-life-better/ Tonight’s payroll shows many less: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/30014/638410997409630000 4 years ago for the same payroll period the City had 783 employees: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/23757/637153013415300000 Is your life better now? Growing government is what progressives do (you pay!) Tim Gleason will announce […]
Share this:
Yep, it lost money
By: Diane Benjamin See this story: https://blnnews.com/2024/01/20/more-coliseum-event-reports-%f0%9f%98%ab/ I didn’t have the artist fee for this one: Now I do: -$20,988.67 A clean losing sweep!
Share this:
Hum, Connect Lost their Electric buses?
By: Diane Benjamin We know Connect Transit bought electric buses from Proterra – they PAID for them: https://blnnews.com/2023/08/25/did-connect-transit-throw-away-9-million/ Those buses were paid for in 2022 and 2023. Maybe staff didn’t have time in the last 2 years to update the website, but under Connect Transit Fleet no electric buses are listed: https://connect-transit.com/about/our-fleet There are 39 diesel buses and […]
