By: Diane Benjamin Chuck Erickson was elected GOP chair in 2014 and re-elected in 2016. 75-100 people used to attend the monthly breakfast meetings BC (before Chuck). Today the breakfast had less than 30, according to an attendee, and most of them were elected members of the County Board. Sue Feldkamp, who ran for the […]
Connect Transit: Great News
May 30, 2017 by 1 Comment
By: Diane Benjamin Source: http://www.connect-transit.com/documents/05-30-2017%20Regular%20Board%20Meeting%20Binder1.pdf Tonight Connect Transit’s Board will discuss ending some unprofitable routes. Sorry, they don’t mean all of them since NONE of the them are profitable. They just want to get rid of the worst ones. One would think Connect is trying to reduce the massive operating losses, sorry again – that […]
Connect the Dots
May 25, 2017 by 13 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin You already know R.C McBride is the General Manager of WGLT radio and he is a Trustee on the Normal Town Council: http://wglt.org/people/category/6 http://www.normal.org/1135/Meet-the-Council , , , , , . If that isn’t enough to question the integrity of WGLT reporting, here’s more: http://www.mcleancountydemocrats.org/?zone=/unionactive/view_page.cfm&page=Other20counties McBride is also a precinct committeeman for the […]
Convention of States
May 22, 2017 by 6 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Twelve States have now passed a Convention of States Resolution. 34 states must pass it to make the Convention happen. Contrary to what naysayers claim, this is not a Constitutional Convention. The resolution says nothing about re-writing the Constitution. Abolishing the Constitution won’t be discussed, the Convention of States is merely a […]
Lawyer Comedy!
May 9, 2017 by 4 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Jeff Jurgens needs to take his show on the road. The City of Bloomington has BOUGHT the Springfield law firm now, so any opinions he offers are obviously going to be the answer the City wants to hear. Keep in mind the City sends Sorling Northup Hanna around $60,000 every month. A […]
Send a local message to Springfield:
March 13, 2017 by Leave a Comment
By: Diane Benjamin Normal spent $100,000,000+ on Uptown and they aren’t done spending money. See this story: http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/illinois/small-town-downtowns-il/ 9 Small Towns In Illinois Where Downtown Is The Place To Be Normal isn’t on the list and it isn’t a downtown destination, unless you like the taxpayer-funded free events. These 9 cities used existing buildings. Quaint […]
Rivian-What they got from Illinois
March 9, 2017 by 4 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin I sent a FOIA request to the State of Illinois on February 6th for information on the Rivian incentives. I finally received it today. Rivian received NO money up front, the story is not going to be repeated in Illinois that happened in other states. The entire deal is based on the […]
Bloomington: $20 Million in cuts?
February 8, 2017 by 3 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Can $20 million be cut from Bloomington’s budget? David Hales thinks disaster would strike Bloomington if the tax increases were rolled back. (The media happily reports it!) Here’s a better question: The 2012 TOTAL budget was $165.3 million (Pre Tari) The 2013 TOTAL budget was $167 million (Pre Tari) That 2017 TOTAL […]
Bloomington is in recession
January 20, 2017 by 16 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin It’s not me saying Bloomington is in a recession, it’s: . The report doesn’t go into details about Bloomington – just this statement on page 4: . See the entire report HERE Next month’s primary election just got serious. Liberal progressives think they need to keep spending money in a recession, conservatives […]
ISU is embarrassing . . NIOT?
January 18, 2017 by 15 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Martin Luther King Day was last Monday, but ISU won’t be holding their annual dinner until Friday. Maybe even ISU knows this event should not be held on MLK Day since King would never approve of the speakers they bring in. King was a minister. King was a Republican. King knew the […]
More on ISU and RC McBride
January 13, 2017 by 10 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Update to this story: https://blnnews.com/2017/01/11/next-lawsuit-isu/ I received the email below concerning the ISU denial of the required waiver to hire RC McBride as the General Manager of WGLT: Attached to this email was: The previous story spelled out that waivers can only be issued in extraordinary circumstances – note ISU redacted those […]
Next Lawsuit: ISU
January 11, 2017 by 10 Comments
See update here: https://blnnews.com/2017/01/13/more-on-isu-and-rc-mcbride/ By: Diane Benjamin I filed the following Freedom of Information request with ISU – their answer is included. They included the obligatory you have to right to contact the Attorney General . . .: . Since we all know asking Lisa Madigan to do her job is a complete waste of […]
Here: Call Police, elsewhere . . .
December 28, 2016 by 1 Comment
By: Diane Benjamin When the Edgar County Watchdogs told the Bloomington Election Commission their meeting was illegal BEFORE the meeting started, they started the meeting anyway. Then, when Kirk Allen, John Kraft, and I interrupted the meeting because it was illegal – they called the police! Relive great moments in Bloomington history by watching the […]
Dick Durbin: King of FAKE NEWS
December 21, 2016 by 9 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Sen Dickie Durbin sent me an email today claiming the Electoral College isn’t what the Founders intended. Yes, FAKE NEWS does exist! Durbin not only spreads his lies to his email list, he is allowed to spout on any media source that refuses to challenged him. The media enables his FAKE NEWS, […]
Matejka: Purveyor of FAKE NEWS
December 12, 2016 by 12 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin WJBC allows a few people to spout anything they want on their “Forums”. Yes, “Fake News” does exist – Mike Matejka used his forum platform back on December 1st to proliferate it. See his comments here: HERE Matejka is upset that Clinton won the popular vote, but lost the electoral college. His […]
WJBC, Dick Durbin – fake news
December 5, 2016 by 7 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Our Democratic US Senator Dick Durbin is a frequent guest on the WJBC morning show. Unfortunately he is allowed to s-t-r-e-t-c-h the truth unchallenged. Yes, fake news does exist! Add this story to the long list of ones I never got around to writing last week. The interview was on 11/29. Listen […]
Dan Brady: Your GOP leadership
December 1, 2016 by 4 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Rep Dan Brady has a huge office in Springfield because he is part of the House GOP leadership team. The email below was sent to Dan Brady. Democrats in Illinois think if they can close every gun store in the state no guns will exist. They are pushing a bill to make […]
BGA on Madigan’s Public Access
November 20, 2016 by 2 Comments
I was interviewed for this story WEEKS ago, glad to see this is STATE problem. The story is published on the Better Government Association website: http://www.bettergov.org/news/illinois-foia-appeals-linger-with-no-end-in-sight Illinois FOIA Appeals Linger With No End In Sight Lengthy appeals process, non-binding decisions hamper ability to obtain records through Illinois Freedom of Information Act. After Edgar County corrections […]
Stand up to Lisa Madigan
November 20, 2016 by 2 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington resident April Huber isn’t sitting by and letting Illinois Attorney General get by with not doing her job. She asked me to post this information. I would not have been forced to file a lawsuit against the City of Bloomington concerning the Coliseum if Lisa Madigan’s office had done their job. […]
Turbines: County went for money
November 17, 2016 by 10 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Yesterday the McLean County Board passed a new Wind Farm ordinance that benefits developers over people. Livingston County had a referendum on their last ballot asking whether a 1600 feet setback was enough, the voters there said NO. McLean’s ordinance is a measly 1500 feet from any occupied home – not the […]
Democrats in Illinois want you to pay for abortions!
November 16, 2016 by 15 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin I am 1000% against killing babies! I will make no apology to ANYBODY for wanting to protect unborn life. It’s not tissue – it’s a beating heart of a person who has no choice in the decisions a mother makes. I have to stand up for the over 50,000,000 million people who […]
Electoral College for those who forgot
November 8, 2016 by 17 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin I’ve heard WAY too many people talk about abolishing the Electoral College lately. Here’s a crash course in why it is in the Constitution! We are not a democracy! We are a Representative Republic. Populism never has been part of our government, and never should be. The Constitution protects the rights of […]
Election Day
November 7, 2016 by 4 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Tomorrow will be a disastrous day for our country. Close to 50% of the population will despise whoever is elected. The results are immaterial. We are powerless to do anything about it. Quit stressing about things you have no control over! The D.C. and Springfield clowns all came from local government. You […]
UNION BOSSES TRYING TO BUY THE 110th ?
November 3, 2016 by Leave a Comment
By: Diane Benjamin Nearly 96% of all donations to Dennis Malak for his bid on the 110th Illinois State Representative seat come from outside of the District and from Unions, some from Indiana and Maryland. Is this what the voters of the 110th need in Springfield? More union representation, which would mean more taxes, and […]
If you haven’t seen “Madigan: Power, privilege, politics”
October 26, 2016 by 8 Comments
Democrats running for election should have to state why they aren’t a Madigan puppet! Watch for more info. . Northwest Herald, Joliet Herald-News and DeKalb Daily Chronicle to host online screening of “Madigan: Power, privilege, politics” Full-length documentary will be available to watch online at newspapers’ websites starting at 7 p.m. tonight through 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26 . […]
Is Connect Transit hiding info?
October 26, 2016 by 15 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin This month’s Connect Transit Board meeting was moved from October 25th to October 17th. NO financial information is available in the Board Packet. Normally the packet shows income and expenses for the previous month. Keep in mind, Connect Transit is claiming they will shut down on January 1st because the State hasn’t […]
Bikers have rights (and a death wish)
October 24, 2016 by 16 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin On January 1st bicycles in Illinois will be considered vehicles under a new law: http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2016/08/19/new-bike-law-gives-cyclists-right-way-illinois House Bill 5912 amends the state’s vehicle code to assign the same right-of-way privileges to cyclists that car drivers have. In essence, it clarifies that bicycles are vehicles. Saturday I saw three bikers on Route 9 about eight […]
You thought the East Side Highway was dead?
October 14, 2016 by 16 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin It’s not unless the County Board KILLS it. There is a public hearing Wednesday October 19, 2016 at 6:00pm – Central Catholic High School. I don’t know why, but it is scheduled until 9:00pm. The last plan I remember is a 4 lane divided highway with divided bike paths. If you ever […]
Know anybody is SE Illinois? (110th House District)
October 13, 2016 by 5 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin The 110th House District includes Mattoon and Charleston. See a complete map here: https://elections.il.gov/Downloads/VotingInformation/PDF/2011Districts/2011RepDist110.pdf There is a guy running for the Illinois House in this district who looks to be misrepresenting himself: Dennis Malak, Candidate for the 110th District in Illinois claims “the system failed him” – and that is one of […]
More government theft
October 13, 2016 by 1 Comment
From Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2016/10/12/can-you-pay-me-now-cell-phone-tax-rates-continue-to-increase/#ad84c32383e0 Where’s the best place to have cell service? According to the Tax Foundation, the five states with the lowest combined state and local wireless taxes and fees are: Oregon (1.8%) Nevada (2.1%) Idaho (2.3%) Montana (6.2%) Delaware (6.3%) And the worst? The five states with the highest combined state and local wireless […]
November 1st Wind hearing
October 11, 2016 by 13 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin The County Zoning Board of Appeals will continue the hearing on changes to the wind ordinance on November 1st. The hearing earlier this month allowed time for all to speak who signed up, but time ran out of rebuttal testimony. This hearing is only for that rebuttal testimony. No one who didn’t […]
TODAY: ECW’s win!
October 4, 2016 by Leave a Comment
By: Diane Benjamin Today the Edgar County Watchdogs, Kirk Allen and John Kraft, are receiving a NATIONAL honor. They will receive the award in Nashville at the SPN Annual Meeting: http://www.cvent.com/events/spn-24th-annual-meeting/event-summary-17582afac7254eb881abfc15f0efe30f.aspx SPN 24th Annual Meeting SPN’s Annual Meeting is the leading conference in the freedom movement aimed squarely at advancing state policy reforms essential to […]
Coliseum Investigation
September 12, 2016 by 16 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin I’m happy to see the Illinois State Police was called in to investigate the former management of the Coliseum. However, I have no proof they are investigating my allegations that surfaced because of my lawsuit, Or that David Hales is being investigated for his role. CIAM would not have been able to […]
UPDATE: Government is doing this:
August 19, 2016 by 2 Comments
More current information: July-Jobs-Report-Unemployment-Rate-Drops-as-Illinois-Workforce-Shrinks-by-33600-during-summer-moving-season/ . IRS Migration Data: Taxpayers Leave NY, IL & CA For TX, FL & SC The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) just released its July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014 migration data, which “approximates the number of individuals” who moved between states in the U.S. California was the third largest net […]
AG: Pending cases against Bloomington
August 17, 2016 by 1 Comment
By: Diane Benjamin The Public Access division of the Attorney General’s office was designed to hold government accountable and give citizens a voice. As with Judy Stearns’ case against the City for violating the Open Meetings Act, justice can take years of mostly no action. I lost count of how many Request for Reviews have […]
Dan Brady: Campaign Cash
August 17, 2016 by 2 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Comptroller Leslie Munger has a new website to promote transparency. This one reveals campaign contributions. The State Board of Elections has this information, but it’s NOT in a usable format. This website is! Data can be copied to a spreadsheet without doing any reformatting. From there is can be sorted, grouped, and […]
Kirk vrs Duckworth
August 5, 2016 by 15 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin The choices we have for US Senator are almost as despicable as the choices for President. Mark Kirk votes with Democrats way too often. He rarely represents me. Voting 3rd party for Senate won’t accomplish anything, even though I’ve thought about it. I am now voting for Kirk because of one picture […]
Update: Illinois HACKED!
July 20, 2016 by 10 Comments
I wonder how the Pantagraph found the story? 9:19 this morning By: Diane Benjamin Government is looking out for you: From: Thomas, Kyle <KThomas@elections.il.gov> Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2016 4:06 PM To: Thomas, Kyle Cc: List – VRS Subject: Status of Statewide database (IVRS) Dear Election Authority, We will begin the process of bringing […]
ISU: You taught this?
Note: A reader commented on the ISU student – Wes Ward (not Wood) By: Diane Benjamin I tried to watch the video of Monday’s Normal Town Council, but never made it past Public Comment. Marc Tiritilli is still the voice of reason and fiscal responsibility. I dare you to watch his comments without standing and […]