By: Diane Benjamin DON’T buy a vehicle now if your trade-in is worth more than $10,000. Update to this 2019 story: https://blnnews.com/2019/07/19/new-illinois-vehicle-tax-is-class-warfare/ As of January 1, 2020 most vehicles traded in worth more than $10,000 didn’t get to use the entire trade value to reduces sales tax on the purchased vehicle. On January 1, 2022 […]
By: Diane Benjamin Illinois Department of Public Health updated their numbers: https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccine/vaccine-breakthrough.html Since they don’t report in a way that shows reality, I created and updated this spreadsheet: These numbers don’t include deaths soon after getting the vaccine or booster shot. See the US data here: http://vaersanalysis.info/2021/10/29/vaers-summary-for-covid-19-vaccines-through-10-22-2021/ *Note that the total number of deaths associated […]
By: Diane Benjamin It took a long time for the Bloomington Election Commission to name a new Executive Director, the last one quit in May. I’d still like to know why Tim Mitchell quit suddenly and why it took so long to replace him. Did they have trouble finding a qualified applicant? The new Executive […]
By: Diane Benjamin The web page where the Illinois Department of Public Health reports breakthrough COVID hospitalizations and deaths has been down again for many days. The numbers are supposed to be updated every Wednesday. Don’t bother calling the number on the screen, they will provide a number in Chicago. That office in Chicago will […]
By: Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington’s year end was 4/30/2021. The financial statements have yet to be released. If they were a corporation with investors they would all be fired, but they are government so it’s fine. Luckily they also have to submit information to the Illinois Comptroller’s office. Bloomington’s information is available there! […]
By: Diane Benjamin One reason: https://illinoisavengers1.wixsite.com/savederek/post/covid-cash That link has a BUNCH of questions school districts MUST answer. You can access all the payouts Illinois forked over to schools in emergency relief funds from that link too. I pulled out McLean County. Here’s your homework: Start sending FOIA’s. Blind copy me please, blnnews@yahoo.com Since lots of […]
By: Diane Benjamin All of the information below came from the Illinois State Board of Education website: https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Annual-Statistical-Report.aspx During the 1969-1970 school year 2,324,516 students were enrolled in Public Schools. During the 2018-2019 school year 1,984,519 students were enrolled in Public Schools. That’s a 14.63% decrease. Note the increase in bilingual education, see if you […]
By: Diane Benjamin Yesterday around 3:30 I tried to call two communications people at the Town of Normal. Both were out of the office. Friday’s must be get out early day. I wanted to know if masks are required at the Sweetcorn Circus. Pritzker’s latest attack on freedom to breath doesn’t go into effect until […]
Nobody with power is using science – it’s all about CONTROL.
By: Diane Benjamin I guarantee you will be cheering too (unless you are woke). The School Board voted to ban CRT after he spoke. Wednesday night the ISU Academic Senate will likely pass by a LARGE majority a graduation requirement to create “woke” students. They call it IDEAS – Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access in […]
By: Diane Benjamin Thanks to Sonja Reece for posting pics of this event! No, they aren’t all eating. Look in the background for people visiting maskless. Karyn smith proves yet again she has abandoned representing citizens for the elite crowd. Since Pritzker Executive Orders are meaningless so are any uttered by the Town of Normal. […]
By: Diane Benjamin 1) A local lawyer left this comment today: 2) The problem with Bloomington’s IT department isn’t old technology. Not knowing where people will look for things is a much bigger problem which makes finding information difficult. Bloomington is currently taking applications from Ward 6 to replace Jenn Carrillo. It should be easy […]
By: Diane Benjamin Don’t forget – there is no penalty for stupid government! Participants just move on to being stupid elsewhere 2019 Story: https://blnnews.com/2019/11/16/connect-transit-empty-buses-and-brains/ BEB is Battery Electric Buses March 4, 2021 story: https://blnnews.com/2021/03/04/pulling-the-plug-on-electric-buses/ Minneapolis abandoned electric buses for biodiesel Today: https://www.westernjournal.com/california-city-bought-electric-bus-company-promoted-white-house-now-considering-scrapping-expensive-fleet-nonstop-disasters/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=conservativetribune&utm_content=2021-07-23&utm_campaign=manualpost&fbclid=IwAR2w9iJr0t2OuY09oA-K4uRCSbifA1V7dKuZ2gLx4Y2JMY0kg8IsypGYh_A Another story from today: https://djhjmedia.com/steven/california-agency-looking-to-scrap-electric-buses-because-they-melt-catch-on-fire-and-costs-a-fortune-to-repair/ Quote: One Southern California city’s test run of […]
By: Diane Benjamin Pritzker has signed a bill requiring schools to teach media literacy. How will this be implemented? Will the Russia hoax media be recommended? How about the Charlottesville hoax media? Why is only conservative media reporting Covid-positive illegals flooding the southern border and being flown across the country by the military and released? […]
I’ve been saving this story since March. It clearly explains where we are and why. Excerpts: Benjamin Franklin explained it best when he said “The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself”. That is equality! I just saw another simple explanation of the difference between equality and […]
These pics and video are from a reader – they are close to Colfax Il. Leaking oil must be the new green:
By: Diane Benjamin A friend was recently in the Quad Cities. The Iowa side had long lines at the pumps with Illinois plates. https://wirepoints.org/this-weekend-try-to-fill-your-gas-tank-anywhere-but-illinois-wirepoints/#respond Besides the State Sales Tax (6.25%) and State Motor Fuel Tax (.39) and Federal Gas Tax (.19), both Bloomington and Normal added .08 in local motor fuel taxes. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/75413201/ Any surprise […]
By: Diane Benjamin If you didn’t know, Dick Durbin is considered the biggest liar in the Senate. As proof, he posted this to Twitter today: Dickie left out a few facts. DEMOCRATS filibustered this Act for 74 days. When it was finally voted on in the Senate 46 Democrats voted for it, 21 voted against […]
By: Diane Benjamin Remember this story about ZERO deaths or serious injuries by 2030 from automobiles? https://blnnews.com/2021/06/22/bloomington-last-night-7/ Instead of calling the program Vision Zero, the McLean County Regional Planning Commission renamed it Go Safe. The purpose of this NATIONWIDE push is to make driving harder. You will be forced to drive at slower speeds instead […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last weekend’s flooding proved local governments care more about building new than maintaining the infrastructure they already have. Anybody think the underpass Normal is desperate to build won’t flood? Think it won’t get icy in the winter? How will Amtrak passengers get to the other side if either happens? Probably the same […]
By: Diane Benjamin The IT Department is planning major upgrades, the presentation starts at 50:45. The projected budget for the year that ended 4/30/21 was $3,429,242. The budget for this year increase 15.5% to $4,182,365, an increase of $753,123. Source: Budget PDF page 167 https://www.cityblm.org/home/showpublisheddocument/26434/637575549746730000 This graphic at 59:19 shows where the IT Department wants […]
By: Diane Benjamin A reader sent some questions to District 87. The response was written by: Dr. Diane Wolf Assistant Superintendent Curriculum and Instruction District 87 Question: What is the district’s position on the 1619 project and its use in the school’s curriculum? Response: We do not and never have used the 1619 project as […]
By: Diane Benjamin Get vaccinated in Illinois and you will be eligible to win State money (tax dollars) or if 12-17 years old – scholarship money. The rules say residents of Illinois – except if you got the vaccine at a Federal facility: Note: Illegal aliens who are residents of Illinois can win your tax […]
Looks like all democrats don’t think the same: Council Meeting January 19, 2021 https://youtu.be/uB9SGVWbytI Pritzker Budget talk, June 1, 2021 https://www.facebook.com/GovPritzker/videos/542249500299020 More below. (It could have been longer) Council discussion starts at 1:22 1:59 – Nord – Motion to pay off debt 2:12 – 6-1 vote against paying off debt early. Pritzker and Nord believe paying off […]
By: Diane Benjamin Illinois is 49th in pension funding as of 2019. Only New Jersey is worse: https://tinyurl.com/Tax-Foundation-Source It is likely 2020 didn’t change these stats, local pensions aren’t included. Excerpts: Low funding levels are challenging not only because of the large contributions required to make up the debt, but also because they generate less in investment […]
By: Diane Benjamin Critical Race Theory isn’t the only destruction being forced on kids. If Governor Pritzker signs SB 818 your kids will be taught sex education in kindergarten. In Illinois kids aren’t allowed to be kids, Illinois democrats wants them sexualized early. Of course Planned Parenthood supported this bill, they will make money because […]
By: Diane Benjamin Gas – Almost 50 cents a gallon less Roads – Mostly Awesome Scenery – gorgeous Masks – almost none, including servers in restaurants Property taxes – much lower Sales Tax rate – the highest is 5.5% Income Tax – progressive rates 3.54% to 7.65 (Why Illinois wins that game) Wisconsin looks good, […]
By: Diane Benjamin On April 22nd the Illinois House passed HB 2523 116 to 0. For once every Democrat and every Republican agreed: https://ilga.gov/legislation/votehistory/102/house/10200HB2523_04222021_027000T.pdf What is HB 2523? This bill amends the language in the original bill that created the Police Officers Pension Investment Fund. Remember when pension funds were consolidated to hopefully perform better? […]
By: Diane Benjamin All newly elected officials are required by Illinois law to take Freedom Of Information Act and Open Meetings Act training. They can’t. The Illinois Attorney General’s office got hacked in April and is still mostly off line. Since it could take years to get a response to a Request for Review when […]
By: Diane Benjamin People, you can’t be locked into any candidate for governor of Illinois yet. It is going to take a TON of money to run against silver spoon baby Pritzker. The GOP candidate has got to able to attract money. We don’t know who can right now. Gary Rabine was worth hearing from […]
By: Diane Benjamin Chris Koos and Pam Reece signed a new Executive Order yesterday: https://www.normal.org/DocumentCenter/View/18831/Emergency-Order-21-001-Mask-Requirements-for-Public-Facilities-and-Employees If the Town attorney approved this order he is luckily his name isn’t on it. The title is Mask Requirements for Public Facilities and Employees. Obviously this applies to the public or an ordinance would not be needed to create […]
By: Diane Benjamin I personally know 8 people who have fled Illinois in the last 6 weeks. All of them moved to Red States. Two of them moved to Foley Alabama, just north of Gulf Shores. The Foley City Council just passed the below. See for yourself the difference between living in a Blue State […]
By: Diane Benjamin I was contacted by Gary Rabine’s team for a meet and greet. Gary is one of the many people running for governor trying to get the Republican nomination. It never hurts to learn as much as possible about the candidates. Saturday come meet Gary! Doubletree hotel, 11:30. A room has been reserved, […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://illinoisstate.edu/trustees/president-search-committee/ The search committee for the next President was composed of 32 members, click the link above to see the names. This statement is on that site: The search committee reported to the Board of Trustees who made the final determination. Did they tell the new President ISU’s credit rating is Baa2? […]
By: Diane Benjamin Connect must be having a difficult time hiring a new General Manager. They are meeting again today in Executive Session to discuss “personnel matters”. Remember the corner by Portillos the buses can’t navigate? A reader received the email below from MARCH stating CT had contacted the Town of Normal for solutions: Nothing […]
By: Diane Benjamin I’m just going to pick a couple items to write about. Item one is a check written to CIRBN for $256,985.34. Listen to Pam Reece describe this payment at 14:15. It sure sounds to me like the Town of Normal is refunding the contributions made by CIRBN for their 3 employees who […]
By: Diane Benjamin PDF page 51: https://normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3953 On tonight’s Normal Town Council agenda: Will anyone mention Sprague’s Super Service hasn’t been open for the past year? Will anyone mention this trail also goes by 1 Normal Plaza where Koos buddy and campaign supporter Bob Broad (and wife Julie Hile) own property? https://illinoissunshine.org/committees/32789/ The documentation doesn’t […]
By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington Agenda for 4/12/21: http://bloomingtonil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1108&Inline=True The Council will approve a gargantuan budget of $251,735,690 for the year starting May 1st. See PDF page 469. The City has been stockpiling money in funds like water and motor fuel tax. Next year is when a lot of it is getting spent. The General Fund […]
By: Diane Benjamin Chris Koos and has band of merry fleecers will continue to increase funding to Connect Transit. They adore empty buses and the $1,000,000 a month the feds and state poor into McLean County to keep it running. They love electric buses and solar panels. They love transfer stations that give their union […]
By: Diane Benjamin FOUR bills are working their way through committee you NEED to Create A Witness slip for. How to create a Witness slip: (it’s easy and fast) For IDENTIFICATION, enter your name. For REPRESENTATION you can enter “Self” unless you represent a group For POSITION, you FILL THE DOT AT “OPPOSED” or “PROPONENT” […]
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