By: Diane Benjamin For 9 months ending September 30th, the below is from the Sheriff’s report at the County Justice Committee meeting 11/5/2025: PDF page 26: https://mcleancountyil.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/1064?html=true PDF page 43 – State’s Attorney Report: PDF page 48 – Circuit Court Clerk report: Are the warrants for people released without bail who didn’t show up in […]
By: Diane Benjamin Obviously the City of Bloomington is not going to hold elected officials or the City Manager accountable for violating City code. In case you forgot: https://blnnews.com/2025/07/11/the-latest-people-bloomington-prosecuted-for-violating-city-code/ Add City Manager Jeff Jurgens to that story. He is allowed by code to spend $50,000 (needs reduced!) without Council approval. He exceeded that amount with […]
By: Diane Benjamin Below is the report the County received from the law firm it hired to investigate allegations made by a former employee regarding the solicitation of money on County property. Of course, the complete list of contributors was not reviewed. The elected officials and/or county employees who contributed to the effort to abolish […]
By: Diane Benjamin 2 very recent stories prove the title. Local corruption big or small will never be prosecuted locally. Start with this one: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_0d368a40-efa7-11ef-9603-b321af6933ea.html What the local school districts put on their website to convince you to approve a 1% Sales tax was illegal. Evidence of that is the language was changed when people […]
By: Diane Benjamin Start by reading this story: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2025-01-17/bloomington-couple-acquitted-for-felony-theft-by-deception The Lacey’s mainly did infusions. Since I had no idea what that meant, I asked them yesterday. The infusions are customized for people like cancer patients where vitamins and minerals are needed to make them feel better. They don’t use any regulated drugs. They are both […]
By: Diane Benjamin A copy of the lawsuit is in that story. It alleges: The case revolves around a former employee – Kristen Alferink. Don Knapp and Jason Chambers were named in the suit because they both supervised the office. The case was filed in September of 2019. It was unceremoniously settled last December. Approval […]
By: Diane Benjamin McLean County handed out presents to their employees, picture here: https://blnnews.com/2022/12/22/county-present-to-employees/ Government only exists because of money it takes from taxpayers. Government doesn’t create or manufacture goods and services. It taxes and spends the money collected. That is why the Illinois Constitution states: , What public purpose did Christmas gifts to employees […]
By: Diane Benjamin On October 29, 2021 I submitted a FOIA to McLean County pertaining to John Butler’s case. After a couple reminders about the FOIA being late (they have 5 business days), I was told it’s taking so long because of staff shortages. I was promised I would receive the information on December 8, […]
By: Diane Benjamin Justin Barr appeared in court today to face felony charges of theft by deception. He faces similar charges in Will, Livingston, Marshall, and Woodford County. Barr agreed to plea to one felony count in exchange for other charges being dropped. 2 of his victims in McLean County will receive restitution, one only […]
By: Diane Benjamin Barr is the guy from Lexington who has been charged in at least 3 Illinois counties with taking money from people who hired him to perform some work and Barr either never did any work or never finished what he started. The State’s Attorney’s office in McLean County refused to charge Barr […]
By: Diane Benjamin State’s Attorney Don Knapp obtained the charging statements from Will County against Justin Barr. He forwarded them to me. When I posted the original story I had no idea how huge this story would be. I have talked to people from multiple counties who also claim to be victims. See it here […]
By: Diane Benjamin People claiming to be victims of Justin Barr are in MANY counties. My website has been blowing up with reads. Too many people are reporting their sheriff or police refuse to take a complaint. Some State’s Attorneys think the cases should be civil. If you are not in McLean County and can’t […]
By: Diane Benjamin As I write Michael Cadena is still in jail in Massachusetts. His son Mikey’s whereabouts are unknown. Amber (mom) Buck’s attorney refuses to disclose this information. Sources tell me that there is a significant question regarding the transfer of the child and if proper Massachusetts procedure was followed or if it was […]
By: Diane Benjamin Part 1 See Part 2 here: https://blnnews.com/2018/08/30/part-2-nikita-richards/ See Part 3 here: https://blnnews.com/2018/08/30/part-3-nikita-richards/ This was the job Nikita used to have, maybe still does: Nikita’s LinkedIn page shows NDR and Running for McLean County Clerk, but doesn’t mention she works for the City of Bloomington: There is a description of what NDR Communications does […]
Don Knapp was appointed with ZERO discussion. The fix was in. By: Diane Benjamin The County Board meets this morning at 9:00. On the agenda (Item 7) is the Chairman’s pick to replace Jason Chambers as State’s Attorney. https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/6150 I predict Chairman John McIntyre picked the current Assistant County Administrator Don Knapp. Don is […]
By: Diane Benjamin Five people involved with running the Coliseum have been charged with felonies. The failure by the City of Bloomington to protect taxpayer dollars deserves to be exposed in open court. The citizens didn’t want it built, there was a non-binding referendum stating it. It was built anyway and has been a constant […]
By: Diane Benjamin Erik Rankin is on the McLean County Board. He is also the local Democratic Party Chairman. Democrats are VERY outnumbered on the County Board. VERY! Since Jason Chambers ran on the Republican Party ticket for State’s Attorney, his replacement until the next election has to be a Republican. Ranken was on WJBC […]
By: Diane Benjamin This note is on the McLean County State’s Attorney website: http://www.mcleancountyil.gov/index.aspx?NID=96 Sources tell me the State’s Attorney job is mostly administrative, I don’t buy it. If the State’s Attorney has never tried a case or prosecuted anyone, how can they know the people they are supervising are competent? I bet prosecuting the […]
By: Diane Benjamin The biggest problem in the State of Illinois is State’s Attorneys who refuse to prosecute government corruption. I and the Edgar County Watchdogs have seen case after case of extreme malfeasance by government officials that never gets prosecuted. Breaking the law in Illinois is way too easy, getting by with it is […]
By: Diane Benjamin I’ve contacted the States Attorney’s office several times about public corruption cases. I recently received this email from one of their interns: Got that? Seems pretty clear – the States Attorney’s office doesn’t do investigations! Now see this Pantagraph story about the tragic deaths yesterday: http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/police-chief-fatal-fire-appears-intentionally-set/article_77246b93-85ee-5e69-a96b-6de3fbc09d18.html Excerpt from the story: Maybe Jason […]
By: Diane Benjamin Back in June the Village of Stanford Board approved a contract to tear down a house after a presentation by a relative of two board members. The presentation and vote were not on the agenda, so that vote was illegal. See two stories: HERE On the agenda under Legal – Mark McGrath […]
By: Diane Benjamin Jamie Snow has been in prison 17 years for a Bloomignton murder he claims he didn’t commit. William Little was shot in 1991 during a robbery at a gas station where he worked. Snow wasn’t convicted until 2001. This week Snow made national news when the story aired on a show called […]
