By: Diane Benjamin Three years ago a lawyer, Samantha Walley, tendered her resignation as the City Manager of Leroy. At the time she was in a kerfuffle with the Leroy Police Chief. She was and is married to a Bloomington Police Detective named Steve Moreland. Walley had previously worked in the States Attorney’s office. Walley […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last night’s meeting was 1 hour and 42 minutes. I can recap everything in a few of lines: The campaign to make YOU see the value of Connect Transit will be launching soon. You WILL love them! The scaled back fixed route schedule will continue. Mentioned was the aging buses and the […]
By: Diane Benjamin The policy under Tim Gleason in the City of Bloomington is to hire employees who resemble the people they serve. Just listen for 25 seconds: Gleason is talking about the rebranding program the Council never approved but now is expected to continue funding. If the majority of the Council wasn’t socialist the […]
By: Diane Benjamin 1) In April I will have been writing for TWELVE YEARS. Actually page views went over 10,000,000 a few years ago, but lots of views aren’t officially counted because many of you are Following BlnNews.com and getting an email for every story written. All of those reads aren’t included in the totals. […]
By: Diane Benjamin There was a Township meeting before the Council meeting, Council doesn’t start until 59:00 on the video. This item on the Consent Agenda was pulled before the meeting: . The documentation says this Review Board hasn’t had a case since August of 2011 after being established in 2011, but that didn’t keep […]
By: Diane Benjamin Alderman Donna Boelen mentioned at the Council meeting last night Connect Transit hasn’t presented their budget to the City as required by the Inter-Governmental agreement. They never do. The budget includes $800,000 more for them anyway. It was reduced last year when CT said they didn’t need the money. Now it’s back. […]
By: Diane Benjamin That’s to IMRF (Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund) for answering my FOIA request the same day it was filed! I filed it because there is another Accelerated Payment to IMRF on the Bills and Payroll to be approved Monday night. That practice should have ended years ago. If you don’t know what it […]
By: Diane Benjamin A reader sent me this link to a Daily Wire story: https://www.dailywire.com/news/state-universities-are-teaching-students-to-blow-up-oil-pipelines-records-show Excerpt: At Illinois State University, students in an English class are required to read only four books, one of which is “How To Blow Up a Pipeline.” Another is a book on Marxism by Friedrich Engels, whom Vladimir Lenin called “the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Payroll approved at the last Bloomington City Council meeting showed 953 employees. Payroll tonight shows 999. Source 1: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/30070/638429797206570000 Source 2: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/30104/638441880489500000 Evidently that still isn’t enough employees since two items are on the Consent Agenda to “brand” the City. $10,960 + $55,450 = $66,410 to make them Employer of Choice! I […]
By: Diane Benjamin YOUR government is advertising benefits to people who are here illegally, in a foreign language, and sending you the bill. Want to know why you can’t find a doctor? This billboard is on the West side of BLOOMINGTON: See the link stated above: https://abe.illinois.gov/abe/access/ Abe Lincoln would be appalled! Browse around that […]
Gary William Scott, 74, of Bloomington passed away on Monday, February 19, 2024, with his family by his side after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Gary was born in Bloomington on December 20, 1949 to William and Beatrice (Evans) Scott. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Elma Piefer and Nancy Fisher, great […]
Parked at State Farm Then this video appeared tying to unionize the plant:
By: Diane Benjamin I can think of 3 recent times democrats changed the law in Springfield to benefit government, this isn’t “democracy”. I’m not a republican but I will never be a democrat because of oppression like this. The first one was the Town of Normal conspiring to pass a law to exempt ONLY Normal […]
Evidently free dinners don’t motivate voters, at least not those voting in the 88th House District. Chuck Erickson’s opponent tried it here, few showed up for FREE FREE FREE food. Conservative voters know nothing is FREE. Since the majority of the district is in McLean County, maybe voters sent the message they want representation FROM […]
By: Diane Benjamin One of the finalist for the new head of ISU is Dr. Donald Easton-Brooks. https://www.25newsnow.com/2024/02/21/illinois-state-university-names-second-presidential-candidate-finalist/?outputType=amp Who is he? See this story: https://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/2021/aug/28/guy-farmer-critical-race-theory-advocate-unr/ Next see his own website: https://donaldeastonbrooks.com/page/ Quote: Dr. Easton-Brooks Is Best Known As An Award-Winning Author, Leader, Researcher, And Advocate In The Area Of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, And Culturally Responsive […]
By: Diane Benjamin Just so everyone is clear when Charlotte Alvarez shows up at another public meeting: She is getting paid by taxpayers. From the Illinois Comptroller website: https://illinoiscomptroller.gov/financial-reports-data/find-a-report/state-contracts The $1,200,000 was for FY 2021 – right when the border was opened. Coincidence? The $579,000 was for FY 2023. Another coincidence? The $253,926 is also […]
By: Diane Benjamin H/T to the person who gave me this tip All of this information was received by FOIA. A formal investigation by the State Police was launched last August. Why Carlton was fired is detailed in this document: . What this document doesn’t say is how the police found out. The multi-page documents […]
By: Diane Benjamin 1) Stay tuned for the NEXT story – Breaking News 2) The hearing in Springfield on banning pre-2010 diesel engines got canceled! This is likely the reason, thanks to everyone who filed a witness slip. 3) Dick Durbin posted this on X yesterday. Dickie doesn’t understand local governments don’t spend money on […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last night the Bloomington City Council heard Capital Projects plans for FY 2025, that starts May 1st. You can see all the slides from the presentation here: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/30100 My highlights: This is the City’s portion, the County and Normal also contribute. A grant pays for most of this trail. Ever see anyone […]
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 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, […]
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 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 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 […]
