Is the Local Unitarian Universalists Church admitting they are Communist?

By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader Unitarian Universalists Church website: https://uubn.org/wp They call themselves “progressive”. Keep reading, I think the below shows Progressive is the same thing as communist. I was sent this recently: . I wrote about this flyer in April: https://blnnews.com/2026/04/07/who-is-the-arbitrator-of-hate/ Note: The church abbreviation (UUBN) and their address is on the flyer. […]

Illinois State Police FOIA fail

By: Diane Benjamin Does ISP think FOIA laws don’t apply to them? You decide. If records can’t be found for a recent local investigation, does that mean the investigation was closed? You decide. If it is closed, shouldn’t they announce there is no investigation since it was VERY likely initiated for use as a campaign […]

Court Ruling: Pride Flags in Classrooms

By: Diane Benjamin This post was made by Unit 5 music teacher and County Board member Corey Beirne who is running for reelection: . A music teacher is teaching kids about sexual identity? Why Corey? Because behind closed doors you can? A US Court of Appeals issued their ruling on August 30th on a case […]

Missing the Obvious?

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 […]

Spotlight On A Candidate: Rick Perez

By: Diane Benjamin Rick Perez is a Democrat running for McLean County Board District 3 – the seat George Wendt held. From his Facebook page: . From his LinkedIn – notice it’s the same picture: Perez lives here: Just to verify, this is his statement of candidacy showing the same address: . . He bought […]

King Pritzker Money

By: Diane Benjamin A new website tracks the amount of JB’s own inherited money he has used to buy Illinois: https://pritzkermoney.org/ In 2022 Pritzker bought Illinois Supreme Court justices – $2,000,000 From 2024-2026 JB funneled $12,000,000 to PACs – $10,000,000 of that want to Juliana Stratton’s Senate primary  In 2022 JB spent $350,000 on candidates […]

Fake History – the musical

By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader . Fake history got turned into a musical. Town of Normal Trustee Karyn Smith promoted this event on Facebook. It is being pushed by Unit 5, the Normal Human Rights Commission, Normal Parks and Recreation, and the Normal Public Library. Tax dollars anyone? I’m pretty sure it won’t mention: […]

Want to be Chicago south? Elections have Consequences

By: Diane Benjamin Midterm elections are November 3rd. Closely following are local primary elections on February 23rd (if needed) and local supposed non-partisan elections on April 6th. Turnout for that election is aways ridiculously low since most people don’t even know an election is happening. It’s almost like the people who established election dates did […]

Downtown & Data Centers

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 […]

BNWRD Special Meeting-Wildlife Sanctuary & Recreation

By: Diane Benjamin Citizens of Bloomington-Normal not only pay BNWRD monthly through water bills but also through Property taxes. The Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District is charged with processing waste water. Evidently they are now in the business of creating a “Wildlife Sanctuary Outdoor Recreation Enhancements Project”. . The State of Illinois gave them authority. Since […]

Resign Michele Anderson

By: Diane Benjamin How often is Michele Anderson in her office? Nobody knows because she is rarely seen at the Government Center. The McLean County Veterans Assistance Commission is established by law and not subject to the same policies and guidelines other County Departments are. The do have their own County website page: https://mcleancountyil.gov/98/Veterans-Assistance The […]

If local governments want damage reported-a drone is needed

By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington wants people to report storm damage. If the County does, a drone will be required to see it. Some corn fields show damage like this one: . The extent of this damage can’t be seen from the road. Many other fields have standing corn along the road but you can see […]

Unless you stop it, Property Taxes are going up again

By: Diane Benjamin It appears assessed property values will be increasing between 5 and 6% again. Local governments are salivating at the amount of money that will available to them. They will be setting their Tax Levy soon. That is the amount of money they want to collect in property taxes. ANY amount over what […]

UPDATE: Remember Ben Matthews?

h/t a reader Paid by McLean County Democratic Central Committee: https://illinoissunshine.org/committees/159/ By: Diane Benjamin A couple of past stories: https://blnnews.com/2026/08/01/day-care-drama/ https://blnnews.com/2023/03/05/it-wasnt-corey-beirne/ . All of the spending on the 2026-2027 political campaigns isn’t available yet because the 2026 election is still months away and 2027 isn’t until early next year. https://illinoissunshine.org/ has some current and all […]

Remember Awjelique Callahan?

By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader Callahan was the driver on Raab Road who crashed into a power pole and was arrested for DUI, speeding more than 35 mph over the speed limit, reckless driving, and improper lane usage. Of course the power was out in that area; maybe a reader can comment on how […]

Did County Board Member Buck Farley Admit He’s a Socialist?

By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader This was sent to me: . There is a local effort to fund daycare with taxpayer money because of the daycare closings. Government created the problem and now wants to solve it. More on that one soon. Meanwhile: Fact: Only a socialist expects you to pay other people’s bills. […]

Illinois’ KING

By: Diane Benjamin Did you know JB just put another $65 million in his campaign warchest? Illinois does have a KING who buys representation! . Did you know Pritzker skipped a stop in Bloomington-Normal to view storm damage on his way north to the burbs? https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/Pritzker-State Fair to the suburbs Is Pritzker’s warchest funding the […]

More Firings at the ARC. Members Feel Abused?

By: Diane Benjamin The video below is part of the 7/21/26 Normal Township Board meeting. The ARC report proceeded this. If you missed this story showing public commenters weren’t happy about the firing of long time employees at the ARC, see it now: https://blnnews.com/2026/07/29/whats-going-on-at-the-arc/ The Director, Elicssha Sanders, was promoted to that job in April. […]

Housing Crisis?

By: Diane Benjamin The Bloomington Indiana population is 85,000. The Bloomington Illinois population is 78,680. . 2000 Zillow apartment listings in Bloomington In: https://www.zillow.com/bloomington-in/rentals 266 Zillow apartment listings in Bloomington Il: https://www.zillow.com/bloomington-il/rentals Prices are higher in Illinois because of short supply. The answer to the housing shortage isn’t government. They created the problem, they can’t […]

History of Corey Beirne’s votes on McLean County Tax Levy Increases

By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader The tax levy is the total amount each government board wants to collect the following year. This amount is usually set in late fall. Boards do not set the tax rate but they know about what it will be based on the amount of money they want to collect. […]

Did Corey Beirne Raise Your Taxes?

By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader Below is a screenshot from Corey Beirne’s campaign website: https://corey4mcboard.com . Know why Corey said “tax rates” instead of “taxes”? Because he voted to raise your property taxes last year! Let’s look at part of a property tax bill in his district: Paid in 2026: . Paid in 2025: […]

Anyone Feel Abused Yet?

By: Diane Benjamin All of these prices come from https://www.gasbuddy.com/gasprices/ These are all the cheapest gas prices in each State, the local price isn’t close to Rock Island. The cheapest price in McLean County is Sam’s Club at $3.99. Who you vote for matters, unless you like being fleeced.

Veterans Parkway is Too Car-Centric

By: Diane Benjamin This is a case of: Tell me who you vote for without saying who you vote for. The re-invent Veterans Parkway Plan: https://mcplan.org/plans-and-programs/transportation-planning/veteranspkwy Quote: The most critical employment and commercial corridor in the region, Veterans Parkway is also the most dangerous road in Bloomington-Normal. In 2024, the McLean County Regional Planning Commission […]

Empty Buses

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: […]

Noam Chomsky? Why?

By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader Redacted email response from the McLean County Trial Court Administrator – William Scanlon: . Why is any County employee adding a message to every email? Why would anyone quote an anti-capitalism libertarian socialist? It’s a nice quote, the meaning behind it isn’t what should be conveyed on government email. […]

Flashback to 2021 – District 87

By: Diane Benjamin This is one story I will never forget. High school kids at BHS proved they were indoctrinated by a teacher who told them the 1619 project was real history. They were lied to with your tax dollars funding it. The original story: https://blnnews.com/2021/06/11/2-district-87-kids-1619-project/ Did you know Abraham Lincoln was a White Supremacist […]

Illinois #1 in Property Taxes

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 […]

Seven Things You Need To Know

By: Diane Benjamin 1) Remember the Wisconsin bar that offered free beer on the day President Trump is assassinated? https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2026/07/28/minocqua-brewing-loses-license-n2680214 . Guess who was there having a beer? The guy who thinks he deserves your vote in November: . The good news is: 2) If the local League of Women Voters doesn’t want to be […]

Breaking News! Solar Project Dead

By: Diane Benjamin Remember the Solar project proposed for eastern McLean County on prime farmland? https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2025-06-25/deriva-energy-proposes-300-megawatt-solar-farm-in-eastern-mclean-county It’s dead. Yes, I heard it from a reliable source.

League of Women Voters Re-Grouped!

By: Diane Benjamin See yesterday’s story: https://blnnews.com/2026/07/24/are-wglt-and-the-league-of-women-voters-holding-debates-again/ Since their previous lies were easily debunked, the LWV tried again with a new video. It still calls the Save America Act the Save Act. Is truth to difficult? This one features 4 people. First is a lady who has her birth certificate but somehow not her marriage […]

Local Jobs down, unemployment up

By: Diane Benjamin Who are vote for matters. https://ides.illinois.gov/newsroom/2026/june/five-illinois-metro-areas-add-jobs-over-the-year-in-june.html I’m pretty sure Bloomington means Bloomington-Normal. This report is as of 6/30/26. Unemployment is up .2%. This area lost 900 jobs since last June. The State of Illinois is even worse. Persecuting businesses means they leave (and have). Illinois lost 7,000 jobs in one year and […]

Corey Beirne violated the 1st Amendment

By: Diane Benjamin This is Beirne’s second violation of the County’s Ethics Ordinance. First violation: https://blnnews.com/2026/06/24/abby-scott-and-corey-beirne-failed-the-ethics-test/ The lady who talked Bloomington and Normal into passing the same Ethics Ordinance mentioned the County has previously passed it. Since the County “Search” doesn’t work well, I couldn’t find when they passed it. I think it was in […]

Are WGLT and the League of Women Voters Holding debates again?

By: Diane Benjamin They have before: . The League of Women Voters claims to be nonpartisan. Want proof the League isn’t? . Read the document: https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/league-women-voters-strongly-denounces-president-trumps-false-claims This was posted BEFORE the New Jersey governor admitted 6600 illegal aliens were registered to vote and around 400 did vote. Those votes canceled the votes of citizens. The […]

The County Board District 4 Socialist

By: Diane Benjamin William Bessler was appointed to complete Krystle Able’s County Board term when she became Normal Township Supervisor. See the original post on her Facebook page. Coping is easier to read than several screenshots: See what Bessler wrote below, his faulty un-American logic starts where the RED is: Homelessness shouldn’t be a crime. […]

State Rep Brad Halbrook Letter

By: Diane Benjamin The below is printed in response to State Rep. Brad Halbrook’s reply to Carl Hinshaw of Heyworth. Carl is very knowledgeable about assessed values and is actively challenging the property tax system. FYI: Your assessed values will again be higher, and so will your property tax bill. This is because taxing unrealized […]

Celebrate acronyms

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 […]

Beirne Comedy

By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader Remember the Power Couples: . Every person in this photo voted to raise your property taxes last year. Two County, two City of Bloomington. Corey Beirne wants 4 more years: . Beirne and his power couple wife, Abby Scott, made McLean County less affordable by taking more of your […]

DSA Policies Will Fail

By: Diane Benjamin Remember this? . The Democratic Socialists of America have a new platform: https://program.dsausa.org/ Everything below in BOLD are direct quotes from the website. Private property won’t exist. You will live in housing provided by government. You will never get bills for anything because government provides everything. You can take off work whenever […]

On the ballot: Mendoza, Beirne, and Bell voted to increase Board salaries

By: Diane Benjamin This County Board meeting took place 5/14/2026. 3 Board members didn’t attend – Ziebarth(R), Cline(D), Farley(D). All 3 will be on the on November ballot. The members present spent close to 36 minutes debating their salaries. The motion on the floor was to go from $4900 a year to $6400. Since the […]

Is Joel Perez an Illegal Alien?

By: Diane Benjamin Media is reporting Perez threatened a public official – as in eat him alive. Nice guy. I have reason to be believe he is here illegally. Of course law enforcement can’t hand him over to ICE since the Illinois ruling party want to keep every illegal, even violent ones. Evidently law enforcement […]