Does Democrat candidate John Poling Know?

By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader Last January this Democrat candidate was begging for money on Facebook: . According to the Illinois Board of Elections, his campaign treasurer is Abby Scott – wife of Democrat candidate Corey Beirne: https://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/CommitteeDetail.aspx?ID=9QquPh013NVHggvFpapUFg%3d%3d . . If you see John Poling, ask him if he knows his Treasurer transferred $1000 […]

Want to be Chicago south? Elections have Consequences

By: Diane Benjamin Midterm elections are November 3rd. Closely following are local primary elections on February 23rd (if needed) and local supposed non-partisan elections on April 6th. Turnout for that election is aways ridiculously low since most people don’t even know an election is happening. It’s almost like the people who established election dates did […]

UPDATE: Remember Ben Matthews?

h/t a reader Paid by McLean County Democratic Central Committee: https://illinoissunshine.org/committees/159/ By: Diane Benjamin A couple of past stories: https://blnnews.com/2026/08/01/day-care-drama/ https://blnnews.com/2023/03/05/it-wasnt-corey-beirne/ . All of the spending on the 2026-2027 political campaigns isn’t available yet because the 2026 election is still months away and 2027 isn’t until early next year. https://illinoissunshine.org/ has some current and all […]

Did Corey Beirne Raise Your Taxes?

By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader Below is a screenshot from Corey Beirne’s campaign website: https://corey4mcboard.com . Know why Corey said “tax rates” instead of “taxes”? Because he voted to raise your property taxes last year! Let’s look at part of a property tax bill in his district: Paid in 2026: . Paid in 2025: […]

Six Things You Need To Know

By: Diane Benjamin 1) The State of Illinois budget is “balanced” on the backs of local taxpayers. https://mayorscaucus.org/legislative-priorities/restoring-lgdf-revenues/ Budgets aren’t cut. Local government raise taxes instead. This contributes to Illinois being the highest taxed State in the country. Congrats. 2) If Pritzker signs this bill, Normal Township will raise your taxes: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2026-08-05/change-could-give-illinois-townships-more-ways-to-help-people-who-are-financially-struggling The Karl Marx […]

Bloomington Doesn’t Hold Non-Partisan Elections

By: Diane Benjamin Elections in Bloomington aren’t nonpartisan because the violators during the last local election faced no consequences. If your kids swipe cookies with no consequences, do they keep swiping cookies? Duh. The City Code needs changed since it pretends candidates are nonpartisan. Pretending is over. Cody Hendricks, Jenna Kearns, and Abby Scott made […]

Celebrate acronyms

By: Diane Benjamin If you love acronyms. this meeting was for you! Start with BHCC – Behavioral Health Coordinating Council. This is the independent group that is not subject to FOIA or the Open Meetings Act. See their website here: https://www.mcleanbhcc.com/#members BHCC is the “experts” who determine the best use of the sales tax dollars […]

Beirne Comedy

By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader Remember the Power Couples: . Every person in this photo voted to raise your property taxes last year. Two County, two City of Bloomington. Corey Beirne wants 4 more years: . Beirne and his power couple wife, Abby Scott, made McLean County less affordable by taking more of your […]

Four Things You Need to Know

By: Diane Benjamin 1) A Facebook group exists called No Data Centers Bloomington-Normal. I was not allow to post a comment which means this group doesn’t bother with facts. My comment pertained to newer technology called Closed Loop which means a huge water supply isn’t needed. Water used to cool keeps circulating and doesn’t need […]

Abby Scott and Corey Beirne failed the Ethics Test

By: Diane Benjamin The Code of Ethics was just passed on May 26, 2026 by the Bloomington city Council. Less than 1 month ago. Monday night Abby Scott violated it. I suspect she will again at the July Committee of the Whole meeting where her lack of respect for fellow alderman Sheila Montney will likely […]

When Facts Don’t Matter: Corey Beirne

h/t a reader See previous story: https://blnnews.com/2026/06/23/20-minute-bloomington-meeting-without-abby-scott/ Obviously the facts presented at the meeting and in the above story are immaterial if you govern as child. McLean County voters in District 10 can rid themselves of this menace in November. Break up the “power couple” gang. See below. Both Beirne and Scott raised your property […]

20 Minute Bloomington Meeting – without Abby Scott

By: Diane Benjamin I wonder if Abby Scott uses the same tone at home with her husband Corey Beirne? Ward 9 needs to see who those who bothered to vote chose. Some members of the Council are still hurting over Sheila Montney being appointed to Behavioral Health Coordinating Council to represent the City of Bloomington […]

BEC Isn’t Nonpartisan, Diana Hauman is a Commissioner

By: Diane Benjamin If you missed it, see yesterday’s story on the League of Women voters: https://blnnews.com/2026/05/04/uncovering-the-truth-about-mclean-county-elections/ 1) Diana Hauman spoke at a Bloomington Council meeting last August on behalf of the “nonpartisan” League of Women Voters that isn’t actually nonpartisan. Is Hauman still a League member? Is she pushing for Rank Choice Voting? The […]

WGLT, Normal, and the State of Illinois

By: Diane Benjamin WGLT is not allowed to sell advertising. What did The Town of Normal pay WGLT to do? (2025 data isn’t available yet) https://www.openthebooks.com/search-results/details/?n=Wglt-Normal&e=73583&t=c&burl=%2Fsearch-results%2F%3Ft%3Dc%26F_Name_S%3DWGLT%26F_State%3DIllinois%26F_Year%3D0 . Has WGLT applied for State of Illinois money? If you don’t know about the plan Springfield passed to subsidize media, read up on it: https://dceo.illinois.gov/expandrelocate/incentives/taxassistance/new-journalism-tax-incentive-program.html Yes, non-profit media […]

Bloomington Recap: Ever been hit by a swinging door?

By: Diane Benjamin The meeting was short! Nothing was even slightly controversial until comments by aldermen. More on that in a minute. The only agenda item concerned swinging doors downtown hitting pedestrians. This downtown picture is from the slide show presentation: Businesses like Windy City Wieners want more indoor floor space, so they want the […]

Bloomington tonight: a Fleece for Christmas

By: Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington voted in July to suspend payments to the County for the Behavioral Health Action Plan starting July 1, 2025: Shared Sales Tax suspended Why is this payment listed on Bills and Payroll if payments are suspended? Bills and Payroll 12-15-2025 I’d ask but getting an answer is evidently […]

How to Win Elections by Krystle Able

By: Diane Benjamin Below is the playbook the far left uses to win elections. Show up everywhere, act like you are everybody’s best friend, pretend being elected isn’t about obtaining power, and saying whatever you have to for votes. See Abby Scott: https://blnnews.com/2025/11/25/bloomington-%f0%9f%a4%a6%e2%99%80%ef%b8%8f/ Of course Abby and her husband Corey Beirne are friends of Krystle’s. […]

Abby Scott is “grateful” for Alex Williams

By: Diane Benjain Abby fails to state her husband, Corey Beirne, is employed by Unit 5. Beirne can’t say this himself since he is likely running for re-election: . Let me remind you what Alex Williams stated on social media: . Abby thinks his comments are positive? According to Abby Scott, Bloomington Ward 9 alderman, […]

More Bloomington Prosecutions for Code Violations

By: Diane Benjamin Elected officials are once again exempt from prosecution. All future local elections will be highly partisan since 3 democrats got away with violating city code. Republican leaning candidates need to play the same game and expose the far left candidates who want you to believe they are just normal democrats. They aren’t. […]

The latest people Bloomington prosecuted for violating City Code

By: Diane Benjamin Alderman Cody Hendricks isn’t on it. Neither is Alderman Jenna Kearns or Alderman Abby Scott. Elites can violate laws without consequences, these peons got dragged into Administrative Court.

Elected Officials vs. City Code: Bloomington Fail

By: Diane Benjamin This is the new list of people being prosecuted by the City of Bloomington for breaking City Code: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showdocument?id=28541&t=638139539977443234 . Note your elected officials who violated the same code are not on this list. The next consolidated election will be extremely partisan because there are no penalties for violating that part of […]

Breaking City Code: the King and Queens of Bloomington

By: Diane Benjamin Jenna Kearns violated City Code by claiming she was the only candidate that supports Democrats: https://blnnews.com/2025/03/24/jenna-kearns-violates-city-code-too/ Local elections are nonpartisan because local issues aren’t political. Essential services, which citizens can’t provide themselves, are why local government exists. Elections in Bloomington have taken a nasty turn toward partisan politics because far-left candidates either […]

“Hopeful”?

By: Diane Benjamin Are you “hopeful” knowing this guy teaches at Unit 5 and serves on the County Board? Are you “hopeful” knowing his wife was just elected to the Bloomington City Council? . Woke and mad is a winning message? Are you “hopeful” seeing this? Diversity is just a talking point. The 2 Wards […]

Five Things You Need to Know

By: Diane Benjamin 1) Cody changed his endorsements, perhaps after years in office when he finally read the city code and realized he had violated it by claiming the McLean County Democrats endorsed him. He replaced it with an endorsement from Alderman Jenna Kearns, who violated the same code in the same way Cody did. […]

Who is funding Abby Scott?

By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington Ward 9 The same unions and democrats funding every far left campaign like Cody Hendricks: https://www.illinoissunshine.org/committees/40230 Her opponent, Roger Bedeker, hasn’t received enough donations to require filing. ($5000)

Abby Scott deceives Republicans

By: Diane Benjamin The mailer below was sent to hard R’s in Ward 9 – people who vote in Republican primaries. Ask Abby if she has voted in a Republican Primary in the last 10 years! If the answer is YES she lying. Ask if she has voted in Democrat primaries. Hint: Every one. I […]

Jenna Kearns violates City Code Too

By: Diane Benjamin Cody violated City Code. Did Abby Scott do it too? See: https://blnnews.com/2025/03/23/fly-on-the-wall-cody-hendricks/ Will the McLean County Chamber of Commerce withdraw their endorsement of Kearns? If elected officials and those who want to be elected violate laws, why should anyone else obey them? These people are leading the City down a dangerous road. […]

Update: Attn: Mike Matejka

This isn’t a Star of David either (h/t a reader): By: Diane Benjamin Follow-up to this story: https://blnnews.com/2025/03/10/did-you-know-the-paint-app-is-antisemitic/ This is the Star of David: . This isn’t: I will be expecting apologies from you and Camille Taylor. Your baseless attack means I was right. The candidates I specified are far left radicals. Will Not In […]

Abby Scott’s Husband

By: Diane Benjamin Abby Scott is running for Bloomington Council Ward 9: . This is her husband and County Board memeber: . Fascists don’t cut the size of government. A teacher should know that one! I hope his list has some better choices, he missed great singers like Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder. He could […]

Bloomington Ballot-I marked the FAR LEFT for you

By” Diane Benjamin Early voting starts today. The only people who will show up to vote this early are the radicals. They want votes banked so they can get all people who might support them to vote early. They have 40 days to do it. Nothing about early voting is about giving citizens opportunities, it […]

Abby Scott and Cody Hendricks

By: Diane Benjamin The same far left cabal voters soundly defeated 4 years ago just regrouped as different people. Cody Hendricks is no different than Jackie Gunderson. Abby Scott is no different than Jenn Carrillo and Jeff Crabill. If socialists/Marxists are supporting you, it’s not a stretch to see you are one too. Abby Scott […]

What’s a Progressive?

By: Diane Benjamin AOC and Bernie Sanders are progressives. Basically anyone who wants to use government to shape the future the way they want it to be is progressive. If you don’t agree with that vision you are ignored. Defund the Police was progressive. https://www.25newsnow.com/2025/01/22/bloomington-normal-mayors-fail-win-unions-backing-reelection The local unions refused to endorse Chris Koos as they’ve […]

Donna Boelen Resigns

By: Diane BenjaminAlderman Donna Boelen resigned from the Bloomington City Council yesterday. People paying attention to meetings know she has been participating remotely for quite awhile. The reason given was illness. I hope now she can recover from whatever is ailing her. Her voice will be missed. See this story: https://www.25newsnow.com/2024/12/23/bloomington-city-councils-senior-member-resigns-with-2-years-left-her-term/ Excerpt: Ward 2 residents […]

Who is Abby Scott?

By: Diane Benjamin Local elections are April 1st. I wanted to wait until January to post items you need to know to be informed, but evidently campaigning has already started. Electing another spouse duo means zero diversity. The City and County Boards already have spouses Cody Hendricks and Eric Hansen. This is Abby Scott and […]

Political Double Standards in Cultural Appropriation

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 […]

Bloomington Election Commission has a sample ballot now PLUS more you need to know

By: Diane Benjamin https://bloomingtonelectionsil.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24GILBLO_SPECIMEN_FINAL.pdf Unlike the County where the Clerk in charge of elections is actually elected, BEC has this disclaimer on their site: https://bloomingtonelectionsil.gov/november-5th-2024-general-election/specimen-ballot On the County website you can locate what YOUR ballot will look like, it won’t have every office like BEC’s does. That is the difference between being able to hold […]

Radical Abby Scott

By: Diane Benjamin Keep in mind Abby Scott, 9th Ward candidate for Bloomington City Council, is the wife of far leftist Corey Beirne: https://blnnews.com/2024/09/06/was-this-supposed-to-be-a-secret/ Both Krystle Able and Beirne are “excited” about Abby Scott joining the race while never stating she is married to Beirne. Proof is in the linked story. h/t a reader: Trump […]

Was this supposed to be a secret?

By: Diane Benjamin I was going to wait until after the November election to write about local elections, but I don’t think this can wait that long. There is a disturbing trend in local government that is limiting DIVERSITY of thought. Should married couples be allowed to hold elected office? Why is this trend only […]