By: Diane Benajmin Connect Transit packet with a lot less information than they used to post: https://connect-transit.com/file/4720/2026%2009%2022_Board%20Meeting%20Packet.pdf We used to see what their highly paid consultants reported. Not anymore. Meanwhile, ridership shows down in August while buses are operating more hours. Guess where the money comes from to pay these operating losses? July loss: . […]
By: Diane Benjamin Since the children in charge can’t fix what they created, below are some facts for them to conside. First, read this story: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2026-09-28/sales-tax-dispute-reignites-between-mclean-county-and-bloomington-and-normal Bloomington, Normal, and the County might end up in court. Of course that just wastes money – tax dollars will be paying the bills. Who originally negotiated this 20 […]
By: Diane Benjamin Remember the NEVER used water tower? If not review this 2015 story: https://blnnews.com/2015/08/04/more-ineptness/ The below is from the water plan presented at the Bloomington City Council meeting last night: . That elevated tank is over 11 years old. Spending $60 million to finally use it is questionable, but at least it won’t […]
By: Diane Benjamin Agenda: https://bloomingtonil.portal.civicclerk.com/event/4120/files/agenda/15111 Another retiree was allowed to spike the lavish pension non-government employees will never see. This is on Bills and Payroll for tonight: PDF page 8 https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/33157/639256856095570000 Bloomington taxpayers will be paying the retirement fund (IMRF) a penalty to fund this. . Only one item is on the Regular Agenda: . […]
By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader who obtained the below from a person who filed a FOIA BEFORE Ty Carlton filed a lawsuit. When I filed a FOIA for it I didn’t get it. Review the Carlton case if you forgot: https://blnnews.com/2026/08/13/remember-ty-carlton/ Defendants in this case are: City of Bloomington Chief Simington Chad Wamsley – […]
By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader If you live in Bloomington or Normal and haven’t opted out of electric aggregation, you are pay more. Winter will be even worse – Ameren just lowered their winter rates: . The aggregation rate both cities opted you into is: Direct Energy will be the new supplier starting with […]
By: Diane Benjamin What was learned at the Committee of the Whole meeting: The State usurped local control over regulating E-Mobility. A local consortium will develop rules so people don’t have to worry about inconsistent laws anywhere in the County. E-bikes etc are allowed on Constitution Trail, probably subject to speed limits that no one […]
By: Diane Benjamin Agenda: https://bloomingtonil.portal.civicclerk.com/event/4133/files/agenda/15090 Two items are on the Agenda: Both presentations are scheduled for 10 minute presentations and 15 minutes Council discussion. Isn’t it nice the people’s business has a time limit? Of course they can always vote for more time if needed. Of course they can vote to not allow more time […]
By: Diane Benjamin If Bloomington wanted to be transparent, ALL costs pertaining to shows would be on the event reports. They believe booking future shows would be affected if bookers knew how much was paid for previous shows. Therefore, if any of the below is incorrect – blame the City. A new fiscal year started […]
By: Diane Benjamin Tonight’s Agenda: https://bloomingtonil.portal.civicclerk.com/event/4107/files/agenda/15071 Nothing is on the Regular Agenda. Upcoming elections have a way of stopping nonsense spending and tax increases which might affect the outcome. The Council will be meeting in private however: , The Council only has one employee – City Manager Jeff Jurgens. Is he due for another raise […]
By: Diane Benjamin We have AI—Grok, ChatGPT, etc. Ask them any question and you will get a far better answer than Google. Ask more than one if you have a complex question. Compare the results; the difference might surprise you. Many think we now have AGI (Artificial General Intelligence).AGI is generally understood as AI capable […]
By: Diane Benjamin This Labor Day celebrate local governments stealing your hard earned dollars. A home in Bloomington property tax history: . In 10 years, 2016 to 2025, property taxes increased 47.2%. The assessed value in 2016 was $75,995, in 2025 it was $119,493. That is an increase of 57.24%. The left side is taxes […]
By: Diane Benjamin This WGLT article misses a huge point taxpayers should notice: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2026-09-01/path-to-resolution-of-shared-sales-tax-dispute-remains-unclear The County, Bloomington, and Normal can’t agree on funding local mental health initiatives. Keep in mind your SALES TAX was increased to fund it. It is your money they are fighting over. Quote: Bloomington City Manager Jeff Jurgens said even after […]
By: Diane Benjamin I did attend part of the data center meeting last night. I was told it was filmed and would be on the City website today, so far I don’t see it. The crowd was large, parking was ridiculous, and out-of-town agitators were present waiving red cards is they disagreed with anything a […]
By: Diane Benjamin Five things: 1) See 54:12 – Molly Ward is still upset that she lost the ability to offer amendments or changes at Council meetings. At least several months ago that chaos was cancelled. The new policy is changes have to be made by noon the day of meetings. A change was made […]
By: Diane Benjamin . Agenda: https://bloomingtonil.portal.civicclerk.com/event/4119/files/agenda/15011 Regular Agenda – 2 items: 1) Consideration and Action on a Resolution Approving a Contract with Teska Associates, Inc., for the West Bloomington Quality of Life Road Map (RFP #2027-03), in the Amount of $99,700, as requested by the Community Impact & Enhancement Department. This agreement with Teska looks […]
By: Diane Benjamin A lawsuit has been filed against the City of Bloomington for the actions of the Assistant Police Chief. The City must consider this legitimate enough to put Paul Williams on Administrative leave. This was filed in Federal Court by a Chicago law firm. Pages 2-4 outline the allegations:
By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington wants residents to report storm damage at the top of their website: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/ Staff is trying to find out if the area qualifies for federal disaster relief or low interest loans. The emergency declaration was extended to 30 days. Many City departments were and are working together to help citizens. Calls […]
By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington has a “special” meeting tonight after canceling last Monday because a quorum wasn’t going to attend: https://bloomingtonil.portal.civicclerk.com/event/4395/files/agenda/14997 Weather and Roads will be featured before this:
By: Diane Benjamin Review the details here if you forgot: https://blnnews.com/2024/11/02/whats-the-real-ty-carlton-story/ . I looked the case up yesterday to see where it is. It looks like all the preliminary actions will be out of the way soon. The case was filed TWO YEARS ago this month. . The case pertains to employment discrimination. If you […]
If the Bloomington City Council can cancel meetings at will, I can take a day off.
By: Diane Benjamin https://library.municode.com/il/springfield/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIIAD_CH30GEPR Quote from the Springfield City Code: Elected officers. The city’s elected officers shall consist of ten aldermen to be nominated and elected from ten single-member districts on a nonpartisan basis, and a mayor, city treasurer, and a city clerk to be nominated and elected at large on a nonpartisan basis. Elections shall […]
By: Diane Benjamin Connect Transit didn’t report their loss for June because 6/30/26 is their year-end. They always delay that reporting. https://connect-transit.com/file/4510/2026%2007%2028_BoT%20Meeting%20Packet.pdf It doesn’t matter how thick the bus wrap is to cover the windows. We still know those huge buses are empty and confirmed by what Connect reports monthly: . . For June 2026: […]
By: Diane Benjamin . . .are known by the company you keep? Keep reading: . . .
By: Diane Benjamin Elections in Bloomington aren’t nonpartisan because the violators during the last local election faced no consequences. If your kids swipe cookies with no consequences, do they keep swiping cookies? Duh. The City Code needs changed since it pretends candidates are nonpartisan. Pretending is over. Cody Hendricks, Jenna Kearns, and Abby Scott made […]
By: Diane Benjamin Yes Day Care is expensive. Yes it is HEAVILY regulated by the State which means they contribute to making it expensive. Did you know Milestones Early Learning Center & Preschool was a non profit? Click that link to see their 6/30/2025 tax return. That tax return states they received $723,411 in government […]
By: Diane Benjamin Illinois is #1 in property taxes because the people elected at all levels in Illinois think government “needs” outway your right to keep the money you earned. This is the result of electing progressives or not bothering to vote at all. You get to pay for your house twice: . Assessed Values […]
By: Diane Benjamin This lady sent me a message: . Printing her message is probably really going to upset her! She didn’t like me posting the last picture in this story on Facebook: https://blnnews.com/2026/07/27/meet-state-farm-employee-megan-weidman/ She evidently doesn’t understand social media. Once posted it’s fair game which is the point of social media. Besides, it was […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last night’s Bloomington city Council meeting was uneventful until the Finance Director’s Report. Remember last November when property taxes were increased? How about last September when the 1% grocery tax was passed? The City finances were in DIRE shape! Multi-million dollar deficits were expected. What’s the result of tax increases other than […]
By: Diane Benjamin The below was sent to me by a reader. Weidman’s Facebook page says she is: Research Director at State Farm Megan and her husband attended Pridefest last weekend. She posted the below: , Keep that last line in mind while you read more. . Megan is very inclusive unless your politics are […]
By Diane Benjamin Agenda: https://bloomingtonil.portal.civicclerk.com/event/4118/files/agenda/13925 Bills and Payroll: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/32747/639203237356830000 Below is a payment to the Bloomington Election Commission which is paid by County taxpayers, not City of Bloomington: Of course no one has oversight over this office, especially not the people paying the bills. Taxation without representation! The only item on the Regular Agenda is […]
By: Diane Benjamin If you love acronyms. this meeting was for you! Start with BHCC – Behavioral Health Coordinating Council. This is the independent group that is not subject to FOIA or the Open Meetings Act. See their website here: https://www.mcleanbhcc.com/#members BHCC is the “experts” who determine the best use of the sales tax dollars […]
Home Sweet Home Mission wants Normal to pull this. I bet it happens. Approving Trail East and West construction could be interesting. Just not to me. By: Diane Benjamin Decisions, decisions. Watch Bloomington at 6:00 and Normal at 7:00? Normal thinks they can regulate the homeless out of Uptown Station: See PDF page 78: https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5641 […]
By: Diane Benjamin Sick of listening to politicians who want your vote this November? You still have 3 1/2 more months of trying to decipher lies from truth. If you blindly believe rhetoric the truth doesn’t matter. Remember the local elections few people bother to vote in? That election is April 6th of 2027 – […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Bloomington City Council meeting last night was mostly uneventful. Other than Jenna Kearns attended by phone because of illness, John Danenberger was MIA, and Mollie Ward was wearing a Covid mask, the only news was a timeline for a data center ordinance: . The August 26th meeting panel will be the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Agenda: https://bloomingtonil.portal.civicclerk.com/event/4105/files/agenda/12887 A few of the items on the Consent Agenda and probably won’t be discussed: $5,216,280 of the increased water rates is being spent for Architectural and Engineering Services for the Systemwide Improvement Project. $2,182,950 will be spent on the South Main Booster System which will maintain and enhance the reliability, […]
By: Diane Benjamin Pop-Up Chicken owner Aaron Francis create a large social media stir over the weekend when he decided not to pay employees time and a half for working on July 4th. If you didn’t see it on social media, read this story: https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/top-stories/pop-up-chicken-shop-holiday-pay-dispute/ He fired 6 employees for refusing to work without holiday […]
By: Diane Benjamin Remember the $3000 Sister Cities spent at Biaggis? https://blnnews.com/2026/06/22/bloomington-tonight-6-22-26/ The farewell banquet happened on 4/3/2026, nobody updated the Sister Cities website with pictures of this event: https://www.bnsistercities.org/sister-cities-blog Other events from the previous 2 days are there, just not this one. Below is what the FOIA I received shows. 80 people attended the […]
By: Diane Benjamin 1) A Facebook group exists called No Data Centers Bloomington-Normal. I was not allow to post a comment which means this group doesn’t bother with facts. My comment pertained to newer technology called Closed Loop which means a huge water supply isn’t needed. Water used to cool keeps circulating and doesn’t need […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Code of Ethics was just passed on May 26, 2026 by the Bloomington city Council. Less than 1 month ago. Monday night Abby Scott violated it. I suspect she will again at the July Committee of the Whole meeting where her lack of respect for fellow alderman Sheila Montney will likely […]
