By: Diane Benjamin Received by FOIA. Click on any of the below to see what they wrote: Chamber of Commerce Chris Koos Darin Lahood McLean County Regional Planning Commission Economic Development Council Rodney Davis Tammy Duckworth Tari Renner The cost to taxpayers: No location was identified in the documents I received. How do they know […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Bloomington Fire Department seems to be plagued with drinking problems. This one has been kept quiet, probably because he’s a Captain. See the previous stories here: https://blnnews.com/2019/11/04/bloomington-fireman-5-gets-off/ From the County Public Access system it appears he was picked up for DUI in February of this year: He finally was sentenced in […]
By: Diane Benjamin WEEK reported earlier this week DOZENS of Democrats have signed a letter calling on Speaker Mike Madigan to step down: https://week.com/2020/08/11/mclean-county-leaders-among-dozens-of-democrats-calling-for-speakers-madigans-ouster/ Locally these people signed: Notice who didn’t sign, other than the local Democrat Party Chair Nikita Richards? Tari Renner and Chris Koos Are they pro-corruption or just weenies? That brings me […]
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 All the neighbors of One Normal Plaza want is the proposed zoning changed banning alcohol in the park-like setting. The “professional staff” wrote the proposal the “professional staff” can change it. Instead the Town and most of the elected representatives continue to flagrantly abuse citizens by demanding they appear before the Planning […]
By: Diane Benjamin We are headed for the worst election in the history of this country. Vote By Mail will be fraught with errors, outright fraud, and incompetence by election authorities. Irregularities will allow people who want reek havoc easily do it. China and Russia can’t possibly do more damage than Vote By Mail will. […]
By: Diane Benjamin One more thing from Monday’s Bloomington Council meeting – see 2:45, Tim Gleason’s COVID comments. The City will be implementing a Customer Service Hub at what Gleason calls the Arena, most call it the Coliseum. He claims it will be a one stop shop for citizens. All of these departments will be […]
By: Diane Benjamin If you listen to people like Dave Rubin who used to lean left until they discovered leaning right is far better, one thing is obvious to them: people on the right are nicer. I heard another story about a leftist lady who went to a Trump rally just to see why people […]
If this trial was continued because Butler is trying to arrange a plea bargain it will be a slap in the face to the taxpayers of Bloomington. You deserve to know what happened! With two former CIAM employees ready to testify against him Butler should be scared. A plea bargain isn’t justice. The citizens of […]
By: Diane Benjamin The entire meeting was only around an hour but then they spent almost 1 1/2 hours in Executive Session reviewing minutes they won’t release and talking personnel. Bloomington has been holding Executive Session minutes for decades, citizens aren’t allowed to see the glowing endorsements given to previous City Managers by their elected […]
I just confirmed this ordinance was suggested by the Illinois Municipal League (IML). It may be coming to town near you. By: Diane Benjamin According to information supplied to me, a whooping 6 people in Leroy (population 3600) have tested positive for COVID. None have been hospitalized and none have died. Mayor Steven Dean now […]
By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington packet: http://bloomingtonil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1084&Inline=True O’Neil Pool demolished: If you have ever wondered why roads that look fine are being treated: Reclamite extends the useful life of roads. Maps of what roads will be treated are on PDF pages 127 – 128. PDF page 152 – Approval for a shopping center along E Empire […]
Socialism Kills! Obviously Carrillo was never taught history and doesn’t bother to learn. She is the enemy within. She and Jeff Carbill need to be marginalized by the other Bloomington City Council members. Congrats Bloomington: Two of her buddies are running next April. Capitalism is the fairest way to exchange goods and services and the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Socialists is too nice a word for the locals who want to subvert the rule of law and impose THEIR dictatorial government at every level. Robert Garcia is one of the leaders striving to create chaos. It isn’t by accident many protest take place around the jail. Instead of working to keep […]
By: Diane Benjamin Link to all previous stories: https://blnnews.com/2020/08/05/the-art-and-camille-taylor-police-reports/ The story above also has Art Taylor’s version of what happened on July 11th. Besides social media, who did he send it to? That answer was received in a FOIA filed by one of the “neighbors” with Trump signs in the yard. The email below is […]
By: Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington is pandering to the far left radicals. Since regular people with common sense are not speaking up, they think everybody agrees with de-funding the police. (Figure out why the Police Chief retired?) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/discussion-on-divestinvest-of-police-funding-tickets-115500841125 While the City Council continues to hide behind computer screens because of illegal edicts from […]
See response to FOIA below: By: Diane Benjamin First a side note to Tim. Since you have a FOIAable email address I’ll say thanks here. US Representative Rodney Davis was on Cities 92.9 this morning with Steve Suess. Davis was asked about the $8 million grant to Connect Transit for a downtown Bloomington transfer station. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Thanks to the Pantagraph for pointing out that Chris Koos serves on the Advisory Board of Transportation for America. https://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/watch-now-normal-mayor-chris-koos-nominated-for-amtrak-board-of-directors/article_f7dc9015-4f0a-512f-9117-e35eb5af8b0e.html Who is Transportation for America? http://t4america.org/about/ Smart Growth America is the consultant who never finished what they were hired for with the Connect To The Future Working Group. Think back. Many citizens […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Public Safety and Community Relations Board met yesterday. Since “diversity” has it’s roots in DIVIDE, this board is the perfect example of what that means: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW-u2Zh6e8Y One white community member and THREE minority members. One member was absent, Jeff Woodard – also minority: Monday night Tari is making an appointment […]
By: Diane Benjamin I’m not going to check the Facebook or websites of every Democrat running for election, but I checked a few. If you contribute to any of the below why is ActBlue getting the money? That’s the same organization contributions to Black Lives Matter go to. We do know those contributions don’t end […]
By: Diane Benjamin It appears Jenn Carrillo has blocked me on Twitter. This morning I retweeted one of Dickie Durbin’s stupid comments about needing more money for Chicago to end poverty and violence. Of course I added a comment: Jenn responded to me with this, when I tried to reply it appears I’m blocked. Keep […]
By: Diane Benjamin Police reports: The Art and Camille Taylor incident These reports were received by the Edgar County Watchdogs, they forwarded them to me. If you missed all the previous stories these reports have the same information as the body cam videos. This story has links to all the previous stories and videos: https://blnnews.com/2020/07/24/in-support-of-art-and-camille-taylor-3-0-the-entire-police-interview/ […]
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 […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Council managed to stretch a 10 minute meeting into 50 minutes. 2 members went on long diatribes. I will start with Karyn Smith. If you want to hear it – go to 16:20. The topic was One Normal Plaza. Karyn felt the need to correct what she thinks is misinformation. This […]
By: Diane Benjamin You may have heard that Jenn Carrillo was ticketed for illegal parking yesterday for (as she claims) trying to protect Black Lives Matter demonstrators at the County jail. Read her shirt: She added this later to her Facebook page: How can the police protect protesters wanting criminals and suspects released from jail […]
By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader Social Justice Warrior Lawler is on the Jenn train! Unless you want your kids indoctrinated by teachers like this one, look into forming ‘pods”. Lot of resources are available – you can deprive Unit 5 of funding by NOT sending your kids to their camps. This guy obviously won’t […]
By: Diane Benjamin Jenn Carrillo isn’t the only one calling for the release of all prisoners from the McLean County jail, her merry band of Marxists all play the same game. I wonder if she WANTS you to be a crime victim! Look at any democrat run city talking about defunding the police and enacting […]
By: Diane Benjamin As reported in this story – Normal will reject a bid for a bike share program tonight: https://blnnews.com/2020/07/31/normal-could-have-a-10-minute-meeting-monday/ The previous contract was a 3 year deal with Zagster. I think it is safe to assume this contract wasn’t a revenue cash cow for Zagster because they didn’t bother to bid this time. […]
By: Diane Benjamin The County Board Justice Committee meets tomorrow. https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/6792 The agenda report is packed with information, below are just snippets. Here’s a stat that I can make sound really scary – watch the media, this is what they do. During the second quarter of 2020 (April-May-June) Juvenile cases of Abuse and Neglect were […]
Midwest Food Bank is no longer on the list ______________ By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader Jenn Carrillo thinks they are – they are listed on a new website Jenn is working on for “lefty” causes: https://www.justblono.net/resources Below are all of the ones listed, she forgot Connect Transit: Jenn is looking for writers to blog […]
By: Diane Benjamin From McLean County Health Department Note the dates: Interesting points: The people testing positive aren’t that sick People in their 20’s are the biggest group testing positive Why was the color scheme changed? They couldn’t find a new color for adding a category? The infection rate is staying ridiculously low! 2.1% https://health.mcleancountyil.gov/708/CORONAVIRUS-COVID-19 […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.wglt.org/post/isu-change-watterson-towers-house-names-over-slavery-history ISU President Dietz has caved to the Cancel Culture. He thinks it isn’t fair to ask students to live in Watterson Towers in houses named for historic figures ISU likely has no classes that even discuss. His Assistant for Diversity (head divider) told him. Dietz doesn’t know the Cancel Culture never […]
By: Diane Benjamin With virtually nothing on the agenda Normal might be back to a short meeting. I don’t expect that trend to continue unless they are completely out of money and just not telling anyone. Monday would be a great time for off-agenda Public Comment – lots of them! Koos has the time to […]
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 […]
Link to purchase tickets: https://tinyhousebigimpact.com/
By: Diane Benjamin Undo police scrutiny? Poor investigative techniques? Does the LWV want the police defunded to go along with their left wing bias? Obviously nobody at the LWV bothered to listen to the audio of the body cam: Short version: https://blnnews.com/2020/07/24/breaking-in-support-of-art-and-camille-taylor-2-0-the-un-redacted-truth/ Entire Interview: https://blnnews.com/2020/07/24/in-support-of-art-and-camille-taylor-3-0-the-entire-police-interview/ Thanks for proving you are democrats or worse LWV. We […]
I talked to Connie Beard, Chair of the McLean County Republican Party. This is a local effort to counter the democrats who are doing the same thing. No voter fraud here folks. By: Diane Benjamin Republicans around the State of Illinois should be calling for the immediate resignation of GOP Party Chair Tim Schneider if he […]
