By: Diane Benjamin The Coliseum year-end report is finally out. The year ended 4/30/15. As I have reported many times, what CIAM reports is pure fiction. The birdcage liner is reporting the Coliseum lost $494,320 for the year. Of course, that number isn’t accurate. Worse, they reported CIAM’s reported loss last year of $183,727 instead of what […]
Since I was way too busy today to respond to Steve Vogel’s latest stupidity, and I know people who can respond even better – I let the Edgar County Watchdogs do it. Congrats Stevie – it’s now being read all over the State, far more people than read your writings! Bloomington, IL. (ECWd) – I […]
By: Diane Benjamin Facts: The Normal police did NOT arrest Fistbump for knocking on Nora Dukowitz’s door. Dukowitz dropped civil action against Fistbump the day before it went to court. Tari proclaimed in open session that Fistbump was being investigated for a felony: Start watching at 5:30. https://youtu.be/PzTrILJQlLY Diana Hauman believed a person representing Cities 92.9 is not fit […]
By: Diane Benjamin Maybe this story came out over a long weekend so you miss it. The bird-cage liner REALLY blew the story! Reason #24367 to not trust them or give them your money! Back story: A law was passed in 2005 to prevent school districts from fattening pensions of retiring educators. The Chicago Tribune […]
By: Diane Benjamin Since I just got back from a road trip north where driving on roads means paying for the privilege, I haven’t been able to comment on Nora Dukowitz’s attempt to silence the press. I don’t remember a time when Bloomington had any real local press. Obviously Nora has no idea what it looks like. I feel […]
By: Diane Benjamin Quote from today’s editorial: http://www.pantagraph.com/news/opinion/editorial/editorial-united-front-is-only-way-to-drive-economic-development/article_942a3be9-533e-5f46-b2f8-d0f15d3ac211.html There must be a consensus to step forward as a group to support ideas or processes that are in the best interest of the county as a whole. I didn’t need to attend the joint Council + County meeting this week to know what was said. I […]
By: Diane Benjamin The bird-cage liner makes crystal clear today why NOBODY should ever read the rag again. Not only did they leave out Jim Karch’s statements concerning how much it will cost to fix the roads, some nameless person editorialized about Gov. Rauner’s “private meetings”. Gee, guys. Last night Mayor (not so) Transparency got […]
By: Diane Benjamin Thanks for adding your Renner connection to your weekly diatribe, its refreshing to see some modicum of ethics reflected. For those who no longer read the bird-cage liner, Vogel’s column this week is on the departure of Stearns from the Bloomington City Council and the interaction between her and Renner. Steve claims […]
By: Diane Benjamin Today the Pantagraph finally (sort of) reported news. The Mary Ann Ford story was about both Bloomington and Normal losing invested money. It’s nice to know the Pantagraph is right on top of the news! I reported the same story April 10th: http://blnnews.com/2015/04/10/bloomington-and-normal-lost-your-money/ For the calendar challenged, that’s close to a month […]
By: Diane Benjamin On April 20th the Bloomington City Council held a meeting with area legislators. I hear only 2 showed. Here’s the facts: The meeting was held in a room where live-streaming wasn’t possible. The local bird-cage liner didn’t do a story on the event. Governor Rauner has proposed cuts to dollars sent back […]
By: Diane Benjamin Just this week the Pantagraph admitted guilt when Alton Franklin was left off the candidate summaries. I say “admitted guilt” because a few days later they printed Franklin’s responses to questions AND a correction to what they had printed for two Normal candidates. Then today, Steve Vogel editorialized about Bloomington’s garbage. He […]
By: Diane Benjamin Steve Vogel never fails to entertain as he looks at trees and misses the forest. His column today is no exception. Aaron Schock’s corruption is going to cost us a lot of money, but why does Illinois have so many corrupt politicians Steve? Vogel failed to ask how this fresh young face evidently […]
By: Diane Benjamin Today’s Editorial (written by a no-name person) laments lobbyists in Springfield. Elected officials leave office and become lobbyists for State funds, the paper wants it to end. Pantagraph: What is the difference between a State lobbyist and your brand of media lapping at government’s feet? Is your building in downtown Bloomington still […]
By: Diane Benjamin Headline to an article in today’s bird cage liner: More people working in Central Illinois . . . Evidently math is NOT required for journalists, sorry, people who call themselves journalists. Maybe they just typed in the wrong numbers. We are all used to their “Corrections” page. Here’s their report: 91,533 people […]
By: Diane Benjamin The local bird-cage liner just posted a list of projects put on hold by the Rauner administration – including monkeys at the zoo and new restrooms at the Museum of History. I wonder if Bloomington will want to pay since all their hopes and dreams depend on the Route 66 Visitors Center […]
By: Diane Benjamin Victoria Harris is a County Board Member. Victoria Harris endorsed Joni Painter on her campaign materials. Victoria Harris attended the Bruce Rauner event in Normal yesterday. Victoria Harris is also quoted in today’s Pantagraph telling Rauner that teacher salaries at ISU are too low and the students are being hurt by Rauner’s […]
By: Diane Benjamin This morning I talked to a source who talked to the Pantagraph. That person was wondering where all the Letters to the Editor were. Many have been submitted in support of conservative candidates, few have been printed. This person was told the Pantagraph staff is FACT CHECKING letters before printing. Evidently that […]
By: Diane Benjamin If you are still a subscriber to the Pantagraph, ask yourself why. Very little news is ever printed, just a lot of fluff. They are best buds with local government, so heaven forbid they would criticize any waste of local taxpayer money. I found this buried in the budget under Administrative Accomplishments: […]
By: Diane Benjamin The venomous comments made by Tari Renner on my website have nothing to do with our dislike for each other. His comments were meant to silence political opposition – Freedom of Speech! I was merely Tari’s latest victim. He claims I and people who agree with me launch savage attacks on him. […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Pantagraph and WJBC are in full MOVE ON mode. Tari’s forced apology is their evidence for burying the controversy. Alderman Scott Black wants nothing more than to forget his mentor’s foul mouth. Who says they get to decide Tari’s fate? I’ve received a ton of comments and emails from citizens either […]
By: Diane Benjamin 5 minutes after Renner’s phone call to me, that he obviously didn’t want to make, I got an alert on my phone from the Pantagraph stating he had apologized. 5 minutes after that the Pantagraph reporter called for a comment. Shortly after. her story was posted to the Pantagraph website. Looks suspiciously […]
Shocked! I am shocked at your editorial. I am shocked that it mostly covers the issues and covers them fairly! When you disabled the comments to your Renner stories, I assumed you had folded. I see some of them are now back, but not to the original story. I can only take issue with one […]
See update here: http://blnnews.com/2015/02/13/dear-tari-2/ By: Diane Benjamin The Pantagraph has posted their story on-line about Renner’s rant. Renner was on WGLT earlier today with the story that he was acting as a parent protecting his kid when he was attacked. Here’s the attack: I said “his son was Facebook friends with another IWU student – […]
By: Diane Benjamin A reporter from the Pantagraph called for a comment on Tari Renner’s post last night. According to her, Renner claimed his son called late last night (Renner was asleep) all upset that I was going after him. See previous post: http://blnnews.com/2015/02/11/tari-attacks-me-again-not-in-our-town/ Maybe Renner and his son can explain this Tweet from Brexton […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last night Bloomington’s Mayor left the following comment on this story: http://blnnews.com/2015/02/10/does-tari-know-that-judy-isnt-running/ This is what Tari claims is an attack on his son. A reader made this comment: I’m as conservative as they come, but why are you coming at a college kid and his girlfriend? Seems kind of creepy […]
According to an anonymous Editorial: It’s your fault Central Illinois Regional Airport (CIRA) keeps losing airlines. Quit driving to Springfield, Peoria, or Chicago to fly – you are hurting the local airport. Here’s the plan: 1) You need to fly somewhere that currently isn’t a destination from Bloomington. 2) Book a flight out of Bloomington […]
by: Diane Benjamin For the year May 2011 – April 2012: CIAM reported an operating loss of $51,281 Source: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=6561 The auditor reported an operating loss of (1,071,599) Depreciation of 911,269 = loss of $109,049 Source: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=4650 Reporting by CIAM was off by: $57,768————— For the year May 2012 – April 2013: CIAM reported operating income of $ 176,759 […]
By: Diane Benjamin Comments to Pantagraph stories concerning Gabriella Calhoun, Sgt Shumaker, and Tari Renner’s remarks have been disabled. Jeers Pantagraph – Did Renner demand you suspend comments? I saw some yesterday obviously made by “people in the know”. I guess only “approved” talking points are allowed. Jeers Pantagraph – For Jeering the Chateau and […]
By: Diane Benjamin I was really expecting today’s story: Obama college plan gets high marks in Illinois to be Associated Press, but alas a lee.net (parent company) reporter wrote it. It regurgitated State officials talking points instead of reporting. It going to be GREAT!. Silly me, I expected more. Obama wants to “grant” two years […]
By: Diane Benjamin It’s been awhile since the Cheers and Jeers editorial said something really stupid, but today they struck left-wing gold. Of course the editorial doesn’t say who wrote it, I wouldn’t want my name on it either. It “CHEERS” the Bloomington City Council for deciding how to spend the non-existent $750,000 grant from […]
By: Diane Benjamin Hey Steve Vogel – forget something? You agreed to add a disclaimer to every story you do about the City of Bloomington stating YOUR daughter was Renner’s campaign manager twice! What happened? Thought I would forget? Maybe Stevie’s daughter is disenchanted with Renner and will NOT be his campaign manager – if […]
By: Diane Benjamin Editorials written by un-named Pantagraph staff continue to be a source for giggles. Everything written in today’s could pertain to the City of Bloomington, but the writer fails to make the connection. Since critical thinking about local elected officials is foreign to their staff, they missed the obvious. Today the anonymous writer […]
by: Diane Benjamin Saturday Steve Vogel made another attempt at an editorial in what passes for a local paper. I had high hopes, he almost seem to get it, but alas reality set in. Vogel failed again to disclose his daughter ran the Mayor’s campaign TWICE. Why is he allowed to write about the City? […]
From Fruin’s bio on the City website: http://www.cityblm.org/index.aspx?page=59 Jim has been very involved in the community, serving in several leadership positions with Illinois State University, Holy Trinity Church and Schools, Central Catholic High School, the McLean County Economic Development Council, the Bloomington/Normal Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Community Health Care Clinic, and currently as a […]
Talk about hypocrisy! Saturday the Pantagraph’s Steve Vogel lectured journalists on ethics. He forgot he doesn’t have any moral ground to walk on. Until forced to reveal his daughter was Tari Renner’s campaign manager twice, he loved writing glowing stories of City management. Spare us the lectures Steve, let us know when the Pantagraph and […]
By: Diane Benjamin Crony capitalism is a term describing an economy in which success in business depends on close relationships between business people and government officials, commonly seen in within governments that practice Mixed Economics. Today Mary Ann Ford of the Pantagraph reported on a study by a group called Good Jobs First. They touted […]
by: Diane Benjamin The Pantagragh has released a documentary on local problems with mental health. Jails have been used to detain criminal mentally ill individuals. Yes it’s a BIG problem, so government is throwing more money at it. The film can be viewed here: http://pantagraph.com/Shortchanged Missing from the movie was Mayor Renner! His thoughts should […]
by: Diane Benjamin The editorial staff at the Pantagraph does a Cheers and Jeers column every Friday. I thought there was hope when they jeered the City of Bloomington for the failed retreat posting and the cost/inconvenience it caused. Today all hope was dashed. Not one mention in the column about the failed joint Council […]
by: Diane Benjamin The email below was printed earlier today. It’s not the first time Tari has talked about “meds”. He obviously has a problem with anyone he doesn’t agree with. But Tari appears to have a problem with anyone who takes “meds” for mental health issues too. Tari, do you have a problem […]
By: Diane Benjamin Mayor Transparency Renner isn’t so transparent. Keep in mind, he teaches kids at Wesleyan! I had to file a lawsuit to obtain information RENNER wants hidden. The email below isn’t the only one I have, it’s just the first. Mayor Renner has a public persona, but out of the public eye he’s […]
