By: Diane Benjamin President Trump banned the teaching of Critical Race Theory in all Federal Departments because it’s Marxist ideology. It is meant to destroy social norms to create an undefined utopia. It rejects the Declaration of Independence, the teachings of Martin Luther King, and of course Christianity. It destroys without ever saying what it […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nMCbsR02FZVZZcIO2k0rG8eyPHwSKrFI/view The Connect Transit Board met on September 22. Success! Over $1 million lost in August: A few of the listed expenses: Why does an “essential service” have to advertise? See PDF page 55 – they still think they can recruit more people to give up driving to ride the bus: What […]
by: Diane Benjamin In my opinion voting in September for an election in November is lamebrained, dim-witted, and unintelligent. There will be “October surprises”, the presidential debates don’t even start until next week. The ONLY reason to vote now is to pretend you investigated all the candidates and have determined which ones represent your values. […]
By: Diane Benjamin If you haven’t figured out by now Democrats running Illinois has been a disaster. There isn’t enough of your money to satisfy their insatiable spending lunacy. Changing the Illinois Constitution so they can tax more proves that fact. Voting YES to tax the rich proves you are the problem. It is impossible […]
See this link: https://wirepoints.org/heres-the-central-misleading-claim-constantly-made-about-the-fair-tax-proposal-quicktake/ Excerpts from the article: Don’t be deceived: The State of Illinois can not live within their means. The Progressive Tax Amendment is just the latest scheme to get more of your money. Instead of reforming un-affordable pensions, they want more of your money. Jobs will be lost and more people will […]
ISU has released a plan for social change! http://www.videtteonline.com/sports/illinois-state-releases-action-plan-for-social-change-in-response-to-athlete-boycott/article_80feef42-ebb2-11ea-a80e-db89545107d9.html?fbclid=IwAR2rk9FyaZB7wZw_nQHqTngKMG3YybfZvMkJyLLOHCN0meOpY6qeVrcoQpo ________________ By: Diane Benjamin ISU President Dietz declared ISU is a Social Justice University. https://blnnews.com/2020/06/02/dietz-social-justice-is-an-isu-priority/ Athletics Director Larry Lyons proclaimed he’s all in too: https://blnnews.com/2020/08/04/did-isus-larry-lyons-become-a-social-justice-warrior/ What neither understand is caving to progressives never ends. Hand them one victory they will want 5 more things. When they […]
By: Diane Benjamin Remember when cannabis was legalized in Illinois? Remember how the point system was suppose to award licenses to those most affected by past drug enforcement policies? https://chicago.suntimes.com/cannabis/2019/10/1/20894020/pot-marijuana-cannabis-shop-dispensary-license-illinois If those “disproportionately” affected planned to profit they thought wrong. Meanwhile local money is spent in Normal, but where does it go? https://www.streetinsider.com/Globe+Newswire/Jushi+Holdings+Inc.+Reports+Second+Quarter+2020+Financial+Results/17293320.html Jushi Holdings […]
Ask Governor Take-Out-My-Toliets-To-Avoid-Taxes Pritzker if the rich are going to hang around to pay higher taxes. EVERYONE will be paying higher taxes because Democrats need your money! Eventually retirement income will be taxed. Of course the local far left (socialists) are for taxing the rich, basic economics is way to complicated for them. Watch who […]
By: Diane Benjamin McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael contacted me after she received a phone call from a reporter at WGLT. Knowing that it was likely Tari Renner who told Ryan Denham what to write, she wanted the truth out first. This saga starts with Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason sending an email to Kathy […]
By: Diane Benjamin H/t a reader This is the same Larry Lyons who somehow got his son hired in the athletics department and then said son married a fellow employee – making three all related people working in the small ISU athletics department. No nepotism of course – even when the wedding took place on […]
The Open Meetings Act applicable section was amended effective 1/1/2013. That’s more than 7 years ago! _____________________ By: Diane Benjamin The Town of Normal under the current leadership prefers to make up their own laws. The most obvious example is their illegal public comment policy. Here’s another one: http://normal.org/DocumentCenter/View/7697/Chapter-03—Council-Meetings-and-Ordinances?bidId= What does the Open Meetings Act […]
By: Diane Benjamin The CT Board held a meeting on 7/28/2020. No financial information was included in the packet because June was the end of their fiscal year. That doesn’t mean other information wasn’t included in the packet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13_-iBZ8DuPQ_3Or2S90fgHrWo9JhJ1Wf/view PDF page 3 shows customers were down 13.6% for the year July 1, 2019 – June […]
By: Diane Benjamin See previous stories: https://blnnews.com/2020/07/16/looks-like-a-revolt-at-isu/ https://blnnews.com/2020/07/20/isu-when-you-hear-from-the-attorney-general-just-plead-guilty/ Today I was notified by the Public Access office of the Attorney General they are going to investigate whether the first faculty meeting violated the Open Meetings Act. Excerpts: See the entire document I received: 63926 FI Letter When Kalter or ISU responds the Attorney General’s office […]
By: Diane Benjamin People have been emailing Public Comments to the Bloomington City Council instead of calling in. I’ve always considered Public Comment for the PUBLIC, not for the elected officials. Most hardly pay attention. Meanwhile citizens like hearing what other citizens have to say to elected officials. I FOIA’d these comments for 6 meetings. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Executive Orders used to at least be signed by Chris Koos. No longer! Now the Town of Normal is issuing edicts from on high as press releases. Your elected Council Trustees had NO input and were not asked to agree or disagree. This is the latest: https://www.normal.org/DocumentCenter/View/16779/Outdoor-Dining-Press-Release—extension-announced-through-November-1 Businesses affected by actions […]
By: Diane Benjamin I have filed a Request for Review with the Attorney General’s office based on this meeting held by Dr. Susan Kalter, the Chair of the Academic Senate at ISU: https://blnnews.com/2020/07/16/looks-like-a-revolt-at-isu/ Part 2 was supposed to happen tonight to finish what didn’t get done last Thursday. Tonight’s meeting has been postponed indefinitely, the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington Committee of the Whole tonight: http://bloomingtonil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1080&Inline=True It looks like Mboka Mwilambwe doesn’t know the city is spending money taxpayers had to work for so the City can steal way too much of it. He wants to give employees another paid vacation day! I looked at 2 of the latest union contracts […]
Kalter was defeated, those in attendance rejected her agenda, at least that’s what I hear! _____________ An email I received from Academic Senate Chair Susan Kalter: The Dr of (I believe) English is WRONG. She called the meeting, therefore it is subject to the Open Meetings Act. This is no different than Koos inviting 2 […]
By: Diane Benjamin Other items from Monday’s meeting could be covered, but I won’t! Links to all previous stories are here: https://blnnews.com/2020/07/08/story-6-normal-monday/ Isaac Thorne and Julie Hile made a presentation. Start with this screen shot: Thorne proved Pritzker’s budget is a joke by relying on a $5 billion bailout from the Feds AND the citizens […]
Get the facts from those who have READ the law and been right since MARCH: https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/governors-pritzkers-executive-orders-void-what-does-that-mean
The Clay County judge ruled today that any orders issued by Pritzker past the 30 days given to him by law are invalid! There are now no limitations on ANYONE in the State of Illinois. You are open, open, open. This applies to schools too – Illinois can not require masks. This also voids any […]
By: Diane Benjamin On June 22 the Town of Normal held a special meeting just to approve submitting a grant request to the State of Illinois for funds to fix West College: http://normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3668 This plan also included extending the trail, the cost estimate just for the trail wasn’t listed – just the total: If other […]
By: Diane Benjamin Hutsonville School District voted unanimously last night to hire Attorney Thomas DeVore for possible litigation. The Board opposes the “Joint Directives” issued by Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) that include wearing masks, temperature checks, and occupancy limits. The Edgar County Watchdogs have video of […]
By: Diane Benjamin When it was obvious a judge in Clay County was going to rule against Pritzker’s illegal orders in favor of State Rep Darren Bailey, Pritzker tried to get the case moved to Federal Court. That judge stalled for weeks but ruled yesterday to send it back to Clay County. A hearing date […]
By: Diane Benjamin Those aren’t my words – Democrat Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs stated that. Of course he claims only the “high income” earners will be the victims. Since Democrats don’t believe in learning from history, somebody should tell them that people don’t hang around a state to get their money stolen by taxation. Every […]
By: Diane Benjamin http://normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3660 The Town of Normal is going together with the County, Bloomington, and BNWRD to fund hazardous waste collection days through the Ecology Action Center. PDF page 61: This is common sense since citizens expect nobody associated with the Town to profit off this contract. Too bad it didn’t apply to this: […]
By: Diane Benjamin Indiana is open. I know locals who have driven to the Beef House right across the border to sit down for a good meal. Iowa is open for full capacity in-restaurant dining. Wisconsin is open after their Supreme Court ruled the governor’s actions illegal. Illinois has Pritzker’s boot on everybody’s neck, he […]
I redacted the name of the writer because this could have been written by any small business owner. Note the dates as you read each email. Large corporations allowed to stay open profited at the expense of your neighbors. Received by FOIA: Response from Stan Nord: Pam sent this to the Mayor and Council. The […]
By: Diane Benjamin The comment below was made by a person with an IP address in Chicago: FACTS: MLK was opposed to violence of any kind. He trained the protesters who walked with him not to respond to anyone harassing them. If any got arrested for failing to follow his instructions he refused to bail […]
By: Diane Benjamin I reported in this story the McLean County Nursing Home was forced to repay $244,195 to the State of Illinois as a result of an audit. The Illinois Department of Public Health claimed the State overpaid them. https://blnnews.com/2020/04/27/mclean-county-nursing-home-fact-left-out/ The County was upset and blamed the Administrator (who has since resigned) for failing […]
By: Diane Benjamin Monday night: http://normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3644 1) 1404 Fort Jesse – the property Normal has been paying property taxes on they don’t owe. On the agenda is to sell the prime property to Laura Dolan for $25,000 plus paying the 2019 property taxes. The assessed value is $90,000. The Town had previously sold the property […]
By: Diane Benjamin Somewhere I heard it stated: Illinois will open when the people want it to open. Your elected officials aren’t going to help, they are bowing before Pritzker’s tyrannical rule. The County Board debated for two hours last night. Peoria and the other cities who put together the HOI plan have all backed […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last night’s Bloomington City Council meeting was over 3 hours, it included a Township meeting that started at 5:00. The longest discussion was about the Community Development Block Grant funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Stop for a second and think about this program. The Feds take your money […]
Two people left comments to the story saying where they are available: 1) Donnells in Pontiac is making/selling them for $10/ea 2) Roy Wraps at at Central Image Wraps had the signs available on April 30 and posted this ad on News Happening… (Facebook page) 18 x 24″ yard sign…INCLUDES A YARD STAKE… only $20 […]
By: Diane Benjamin Follow-up to this story: https://blnnews.com/2020/05/06/pam-reece-needs-to-pay-this-herself/ On May 6th when that story was written both the Adelaide property and the empty lot on Ft. Jesse were labeled taxable on the McLean County Assessor’s website. Ft. Jesse still is, Adelaide has finally been changed. Evidently Normal will continue to pay property taxes on an […]
By: Diane Benjamin Dictator Pritzker is playing politics while Illinois burns. It is obvious now the shutdown in Illinois was never about bending the curve. It is about trashing the economy in hopes of a huge bailout while crushing small businesses and people deemed non-essential. Congratulation democrats – you elected a dictator. Proof: Raising taxes […]
By: Diane Benjamin This story is all over Facebook. Since all of you aren’t on Facebook, I NEED to post it. This is just one source reporting, the media might be forced to report: Illinois: Governor Pritzker backed companies profiting off of COVID-19 https://www.mom-at-arms.com/post/illinois-governor-pritzker-backed-companies-profiting-off-of-covid-19?fbclid=IwAR3DgCylEubfU92NzJKtw6ofrcRmPams-rpK9sxrrd5NrdrxAHT7RQA7j7g Pritzker owns a company that makes and sells tests Pritzker owns […]
By: Diane Benjamin Nikita Richards, failed candidate for McLean County Clerk, was recently elected to lead the McLean County Democrats. When the economy was shut down we were told it was “to bend the curve”. The purpose was to prevent massive numbers of hospitalizations that would overwhelm the system. Overwhelming never came close to happening, […]
By: Diane Benjamin With threats from Pritzker, Koos, and Renner to call out law enforcement to keep people and businesses from exercising their Constitutional Rights, it is time to remember your oath of office. It wasn’t to Pritzker, Koos, or Renner. The only power government has is from the Consent of the Governed. See the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Yesterday Tari Renner participated in a video conference led by the Peoria’s mayor. There were MANY other mayors on the call, Chris Koos was not one of them. Below is a clip of just Renner. He starts by thanking Mayor Ardis for his leadership, he asks a question, then expresses his appreciation […]
