By: Diane Benjamin 1) From https://april1cent.info/ The 1% Sales Tax could be use for mental health services. That means your child could be “affirmed” by a “professional” to be anything they “feel”. Parents will not be notified or informed. Do you really want a system that believes in DEI, Social Emotional Learning, and gender change […]
By: Diane Benjamin No wonder trust in government is at an all time low among people who expect Public Servants to actually work for the public. Oaths of office are now meaningless. Did you know the County isn’t going to produce a report on the fundraising at the County to abolish the Auditor until March? […]
By: Diane Benjamin Few people probably know the McLean County Treasurer’s website has years of payments to every taxing district they collect property taxes for: https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/590/Taxing-Dist-Distribution-Settlement-Shee Someday if I really want a huge project I could compile tax payments to EVERY unit of government on your tax bill. If someone wants this project, or at […]
By: Diane Benjamin This is the original verbiage on the April1cent.info website that most of the McLean County schools linked to from their school websites: “Asking” voters to approve is a violation of law as stated in this story: https://blnnews.com/2025/02/09/since-election-interference-isnt-prosecuted/ This is what it says now: . Whoever tipped them off and whoever changed the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Nobody is afraid of consequences for breaking election law and misuse of public funds. How long is it going to take McLean County to investigate Lizzy Johnston’s alleged soliciting money on County property to abolish the County Auditor? Another year? Why did Lizzy lawyer up for a State Board of Elections investigation? […]
By: Diane Benjamin It sure looks like Krystle Able wants to do what got Pritzker and Johnson sued by the Department of Justice: “thwart” federal efforts to enforce immigration laws. https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-chicago-arrests-sanctuary-immigrants-enforcement-df278eba554406c6703bb362d9b09844 … , Since ICE is targeting violent criminals first, Krystle must want to keep them – just like Chicago. It looks like Able will […]
By: Diane Benjamin Another h/t a reader Did you know State Representative Sonya Harper introduced a bill called Enslavement Era Disclosure and Redress Act? “This legislation mandates that any corporation or institution with ties to enslavement or the transatlantic slave trade disclose their historical involvement and provide redress if they wish to do business with […]
By: Diane Benjamin Early voting starts February 20th for the April 1st election. A 1% Sales Tax increase for schools will be on the ballot. Vote NO! You are ruled by the people who vote. More than 75% of registered voters don’t. Elections have consequences, these turnout numbers are disgusting at best. Most people won’t […]
By: Diane Benjamin I wouldn’t know anything was sent out at Unit 5 if this guy had kept his mouth shut: (County Board member and music teacher) . Beirne must not know the administration is picking up CRIMINAL illegals. They aren’t interested in kids. Is Unit 5 harboring criminal kids Corey? In a follow-up post […]
By: Diane Benjamin Both of the people below are elected County Board Members Beirne has no idea what fascism is. He doesn’t even know how to spell it. . Spoken like a true Marxist Krystle. She also doesn’t know what a fascist is: . Since these two despise Trump, how do you think they feel […]
By: Diane Benjamin Today we celebrate both Martin Luther King and the inauguration of Donald Trump. It is fitting that both fall on the same day. We will now return to King’s dream of judging individuals on the content of their character instead of installing the unqualified in positions of power. Equity is dead. People […]
By: Diane Benjamin Keep in mind this woman is an elected County Board member and is trying to get votes to make her Normal’s Township Supervisor: Donald Trump has stated criminal illegal immigrants are his first target for deportation. Tom Homan has stated families are welcome to be deported with the criminal. If I had […]
By: Diane Benjamin In case you missed last night’s update, The Democrats picked the guy I predicted to fill the District 1 seat: https://blnnews.com/2025/01/14/county-board-district-1-news/ The announcement wasn’t made before the meeting. Chair Lizzy Johnston called for a vote before announcing the name. She must have taken lessons from Chris Koos. I’m sure Andy Ziebarth is […]
Guess who the Democrats picked? Progressives are so easy to predict. I called it below. The only guy who can’t prove he’s a Republican This was received by one of the applicants. The others need to check their spam folder if they haven’t seen it. That’s called a punt: By: Diane Benjamin Five people applied […]
By: Diane Benjamin These clowns think they have a right to obstruct the picks made by the elected President of the United States. His picks are only dangerous to the continuation of business as usual. He was elected to obstruct business as usual. One party confirms who the president picks, one doesn’t. Trump was elected […]
By: Diane Benjamin Biden’s war on fossil fuels will be ending. So will the tax rebates and grants for alternative expensive energy. Did you know most solar panels are made in China? They aren’t using them but are more than willing to export them to countries who think solar can replace fossil fuels: https://www.sunsave.energy/solar-panels-advice/solar-energy/where-are-solar-panels-made Tomorrow […]
By: Diane Benjamin Frequently I let things go that annoy me. Below is one of things that still annoys me 2-3 days later so it gets a story. Keep in mind his wife if running for the Bloomington City Council April 1st: Abby Scott Democrat County Board member Corey Beirne posted this days ago. If […]
By: Diane Benjamin Since most registered voters won’t even know there is an election April 1st, this will be on the ballot. Dist 87 meeting tomorrow: https://district87.diligent.community/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=287 From a reader: Let’s examine the numbers. District 87 enrollment has declined from 6,528 students in 2018 to 6,120 in 2024, a 6.2% decrease. Despite this, spending per […]
By: Diane Benjamin Marxists always blame corporations instead of what really affects prices. Krystle has another post about flight delays. Her media hasn’t told her there is a severe shortage of air traffic controllers because of DEI policies. Qualified candidates are rejected for the unqualified who don’t stay with the job. The Blaze did a […]
By: Diane Benjamin My eyes are not going to get better anytime soon. Expect fewer stories until they are. Meanwhile, this deserves an answers. In a previous but connected case his lawyer filed this motion to be removed from a case. If any lawyers read this I hope they comment about the details. I’m told […]
By: Diane Benjamin The below is from the State Board of Elections website: https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/DownloadVoteTotals.aspx Below are the Illinois vote totals from Presidential Elections in 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024. Three of the four years show 70% of registered voters voted – 2012 and 2016 were before 40 days of early voting. 2020 shows the same […]
By: Diane Benjamin All of these pensions are MONTHLY! All are just for 2023. Open The Books was created so those paying the bills can look up the details. These are why taxes continue to increase. McLean County: https://www.openthebooks.com/members/employer-detail/?Id=70737&tab=2&Year_P=2023&P_PG=1 City of Bloomington: https://www.openthebooks.com/members/employer-detail/?Id=70008&tab=2&Year_P=2023 Town of Normal: https://www.openthebooks.com/members/employer-detail/?Id=73583&tab=2&Year_P=2023 Unit 5: https://www.openthebooks.com/members/employer-detail/?Id=71391&tab=2&Year_P=2023 District 87: https://www.openthebooks.com/members/employer-detail/?Id=70989&tab=2&Year_P=2023 Heartland Community […]
Metsker went from being County Board chair to abandoning the voters who elected her to serve until 2026. Since I don’t know why, let the conspiracy theories roll. How many other Republicans will abandon the sinking ship?
By: Diane Benjamin Start with this comment by a former Republican County Board member who left the state: The County Board is 12-8 democrat. That means 40% of the Board is Republican and 60% Democrat. If Mark is correct and the Executive Committee makes most of the decisions, it should reflect the 60-40 split. Of […]
By: Diane Benjamin The name of the PAC to abolish the Auditor’s office was: McLean County Citizens for Government Accountability. If they actually believed that they would abolish the unaccountable Bloomington Election Commission. This PAC is not required to file reports with the State of Illinois unless contributions exceeded $5000. No reports have been filed. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Most local units of government will be on the April 1st ballot. Most of registered voters won’t both to vote. That makes theft easy. How are they stealing your money? By taxing you on unrealized gains through property taxes. The value of your house has increased but you will never see that […]
By: Diane Benjamin This picture is from the video YESTERDAY of the new County Board Chair Lizzy Johnston: This picture of all the Democrat Board members is also from yesterday – Krystle Able’s Facebook page: Virtue Signaling? Why did Lizzy wear a mask and then not wear a mask? She’s a lot closer to that […]
By: Diane Benjamin Two County Board members were absent: Bloomfield and Reeves. Both are Republicans. Lea Cline was elected temporary chair. She had the audacity to nominate Elizabeth Johnston for Board Chair. She was unanimously approved. We see over and over laws are immaterial. Both parties voted to make her Board Chair. This is the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Swearing in the newly elected board members and picking a new chair is tomorrow: https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/10566 Weren’t Democrats the ones who demanded meetings be held when people could actually attend? This meeting is at 8:30 AM. As long as Lizzy Johnston is subject to possible investigation for illegally shaking down County employees to […]
By: Diane Benjamin Facebook regularly deletes news stories calling them spam and slaps fact checks on my posts. Free speech doesn’t exist on Facebook. Congress needs to remove protections given to them because they don’t act as a platform. I received the email below from Connie yesterday. I’m just passing on information in case people […]
By: Diane Benjamin Continuation of this story: https://blnnews.com/2024/11/29/alleged-illegal-activity-at-mclean-county/ Lizzy is Elizabeth Johnston. She plans to be the new County Board chair since the Democrats are now the majority. (I told you this is going to be fun!) The text messages below are between Trevor Sierra and Lizzy Johnson. Trevor is requesting a refund for the […]
Follow-up story: https://blnnews.com/2024/11/30/why-did-lizzy-refund-a-contribution/ By: Diane Benjamin The email below was written by a former employee of the McLean County State’s Attorney. Soliciting funds for any political purpose is illegal if it was done at or on government property. If anyone has WRITTEN proof of that please forward it to me: blnnews@blnnews.com Honorable Members of the […]
By: Diane Benjamin This item should have every taxpayer concerned: Champaign-Urbana taxes directly instead of getting contributions from both cities like Connect transit does. I’ve heard for years that Connect wants to be a mass transit district with the ability to tax you directly. I guarantee if that ever happens Bloomington and Normal will not […]
By: Diane Benjamin If you read the 2023 Youth Build Annual Report this Charter School is fantastic: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55bb8525e4b0a459046e6739/t/65b9afabb435b867dbf069cd/1706667953249/2023+Annual+Report.pdf Now see the Illinois School Report Card for YBMC: https://irc.isbe.net/School.aspx?source=profile&Schoolid=17064005026001C Chronic Absenteeism is 87%. The Academic Progress is redacted for Proficiency in English Language Arts, Math, and Science. Science Assessment shows 0% proficient. Graduation rate is redacted. […]
By: Diane Benjamin This slide is on the Unit 5 video from last night: See 3:33:59 https://vimeo.com/event/4378038 . What they are trying to say is the RATE of increase has slowed down while making it look like the actual increase isn’t happening. This slide is at 3:39:37 . The EAV growth amounts to an increase […]
By: Diane Benjamin Board candidate Casey Misch reported he was the only person running April 1st to actually attend the Tri-Valley Board meeting last night. Yes your property taxes got a massive increase because they can. Meetings aren’t on video and few people stand up to the Tax Class. You will get your property tax […]
By: Diane Benjamin Update to this story from yesterday: https://blnnews.com/2024/11/18/4-deadbeat-elected-officials-and-2-others/ I hope everyone appreciates the gravity of having elected officials who think laws don’t apply to them. The State Board of Elections has notified all the people mentioned and they chose to ignore those letters. This morning I sent a FOIA request to SBE for […]
By: Diane Benjamin Illinois Governor Pritzker doesn’t understand why Harris lost the election. He’s doubling-down on promoting transgender ideology for minors. Most kids outgrow gender dysphoria. Pritzker wants to permanently maim kids too young to buy cigarettes or alcohol, sign contracts, legally work, or do anything adults can do. Will parents finally get mad when […]
See update: https://blnnews.com/2024/11/19/update-to-the-deadbeat-list/ By: Diane Benjamin A list of political committees with unpaid fines was released by the State Board of Elections. The people on this list are barred from being on future ballots. From SBE: 10 ILCS 5/9-30. Ballot forfeiture. The State Board of Elections shall not certify the name of any person who […]
By: Diane Benjamin First of all, the Assessor sets property tax rates, not the County Board. . The levy is the total amount the County wants to collect in property taxes. Explain this if the levy was decreased 3.5%. November 14, 2023: PDF page 176 https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/9855 November 11, 2024: PDF page 180 https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/10531 Isn’t $49 […]
