By: Diane Benjamin Let’s pretend you bought a piece of property in Normal. That property has been connected to Normal’s sewer system for a least a decade. You are the 4th owner of this property in that decade. You want to develop the property but the Town tells you to include parts of the property […]
By: Diane Benjamin Below is a screen shot from the Town of Normal website: It wasn’t that long ago Normal was against scooters. Times change, especially when Rivian is thinking of building E-scooters. Another WGLT story: https://www.wglt.org/show/wglts-sound-ideas/2019-01-31/e-scooter-pilot-project-under-review-in-normal Maybe Mayor Bike Shop will start selling them! Congrats Normal! You too can be Washington DC (excessive crime […]
By: Diane Benjamin Thanks to WGLT for this story on Ward 6: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2023-03-08/bloomington-ward-6-city-council-candidates-share-visions-for-downtown They made the choice easy between Jordan Baker and Cody Henricks. Don’t forget democrats threw a fundraiser for Henricks, very non partisan: If you don’t know what Ward you are in, find out here: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/government/city-council/ward-map Henricks wants to “radically transform” downtown. That’s the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Ward 4: You next representative could be elected by a few hundred people. You deserve better – Vote by Mail, Early Vote, or in person April 4th! If you don’t know what Ward you are in, find out here: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/government/city-council/ward-map Only Wards 4 and 6 have contested races. DEMOCRACY! 😏 Now read […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2023-03-06/amid-growth-ellsworth-wind-farm-manager-tells-his-story-theres-great-growth-opportunities Excerpt: WGLT: What do you feel like the most common thread of misinformation is? Alexander: The biggest one is ‘Those things kill birds.’ And then you hit them with the statistics and then they see, ‘Oh. Wait. Buildings kill more birds. Cats kill more birds.’ The amount of birds that are injured […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Bloomington Election Commission has a long history of failing at their one job: Elections. Just in November they couldn’t tell candidates for Bloomington Council how many signatures they needed on petitions because of redistricting. In 2022 BEC requested and increase to their budget of $550,000. BEC has had a hard time […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2023-02-09/railroad-caused-traffic-jam-irritates-mayor-of-normal Some stories write themselves! Chris Koos is upset about freight trains blocking crossings in Normal. Fort Jesse, College, and Linden are frequently blocked. Koss thinks he can demand shorter freight trains. He is of course oblivious to business practices that make transportation cheaper with volume. (How does he stay in business?) […]
By: Diane Benjamin WGLT employee RC McBride chaired the Vote YES for Unit 5 group that failed to get the referendum passed in November. That should convince you WGLT actively tried to convince you to vote YES, RC is the General Manager. On January 19th WGLT did a story detailing draconian cuts that would happen […]
By: Diane Benjamin I had another meeting to attend last night so I didn’t watch either Normal or Bloomington live. Normal’s was only around 1/2 hour so I did watch it. I heard 2 media outlets showed up with video cameras, maybe they were expecting fireworks that didn’t happen. Mayor Koos wasn’t there, maybe not […]
By: Diane Benjamin Colleen Reynolds wrote the WGLT article on the forum held last Saturday: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2023-01-14/bloomington-normal-council-candidate-nonpartisan-forum-turns-partisan She never says in the article where it turned partisan. Nice job Colleen. Are you offended the local GOP held the event only 2 far left candidates for Bloomington Council didn’t attend? Does Colleen think only WGLT should hold […]
By: Diane Benjamin Remember when Stan Nord wanted to reduce the Property Tax levy by a mere $200,000? Then $100,000? https://blnnews.com/2022/11/08/kathleen-lorenz-proves-again-why-she-shouldnt-be-on-the-town-council/ Only Scott Preston sided with Nord on the tiny reduction to your property taxes. Karyn Smith and Kathleen Lorenz (and others) were appalled at changing requests from the “professional staff” during a meeting. Not […]
By: Diane Benjamin Obviously Charlie Schlenker and WGLT can’t hold hold impartial campaign forums: https://blnnews.com/2023/01/06/wglt-does-political-comedy-again/ Another opportunity to get to know the candidates is below. Bloomington is electing Ward 1 for 2 years to replace Jamie Mathy. Wards 2 and 8 have no choices. Bloomington: Ward 1: Jenna L Kearns Ward 2: Donna Boelen Ward […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2023-01-05/towns-legal-memo-stan-nord-email-placed-him-at-legal-risk Let’s start with the stock photo WGLT used of Stan Nord in the article. It isn’t a picture of Nord serving as an elected Trustee on the Council, it might have been taken at the Citizen Summit the Town of Normal didn’t want to hold because they don’t care what you […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2022-12-09/normal-mayor-wants-town-to-draft-rules-to-allow-auxiliary-housing Title of the story: Normal mayor wants town to draft rules to allow auxiliary housing At least half of the story is Koos condemning Stan Nord. Here’s what Koos ignored in the interview: The clerk would not have posted the petitions for Supervisor, Collector and Clerk on the website if Stan […]
The hearing was just posted for Friday: https://www.normalil.gov/DocumentCenter/View/20916/OMA-Notice—Electoral-Board-Meeting—12722 Proof laws don’t matter in Normal. By: Diane Benjamin Remember Normal claiming they hired a law firm when the three petitions were filed for offices that don’t currently exist? Now it is easy to see why Koos and crew did that. The LAST place they want challenges […]
By: Diane Benjamin Follow-up to this story: https://blnnews.com/2022/10/24/judges-up-for-retention/ Of course all the judges were retained. People claim to want term limits but when given the chance to actually term limit an elected official they don’t. This story however is about press credentials. It took over a month (the day after the election to be exact) […]
By: Diane Benjamin Think of anything you have ever received free. Advertising magnets? Pencils? Ink pens? How much value did they have? Probably not much. JB wants to give away college education Who is going to pay these salaries? That would be every taxpayer in Illinois who already paid for their college education or never […]
By: Diane Benjamin 3 HUGE issues you need to consider before you vote: (other issues later) 1) The SAFE-T act is a pro-criminal bill passed by Illinois Democrats and signed by Gov. Pritzker. It will increase crime across Illinois. Any candidates that don’t REJECT this bill don’t need your vote. A DEMOCRAT State’s Attorney has […]
By: Diane Benjamin Keep in mind RC McBride is the WGLT General Manager. Media is expected to keep government in line, not be part of it. McBride is government as chairman of the Normal Planning Commission. He proves why Koos doesn’t reveal appointments in advance so the citizens have a heads up and can voice […]
I was just informed Missouri has withdrawn from ERIC too. You have to read the story to understand why! By: Diane Benjamin See this story: https://www.wglt.org/politics-and-government/2022-09-13/voter-roll-purges-are-not-going-to-happen-in-illinois-a-state-election-official-says The story completely falls apart when they get to ERIC: Electronic Registration Information Center. States bought into this tiny group – 3 employees according to their tax returns – […]
By: Diane Benjamin This agenda item made last night’s Normal Town Council meeting last almost 3 hours: Ordinance Rezoning Property in the Town of Normal (4.14 Acres in the Wintergreen Subdivision) This is Jason Barickman’s company (Fairlawn Capital) plan to build houses that will most likely be rentals. The more than 100 houses will be […]
By: Diane Benjamin Since I was in (unrepresented) west Normal yesterday I drove west on College to see the Normal fire hydrants installed next to Bloomington’s for myself: The current Council (minus one) believes everything they are told. This project was sold as “critical” in the marathon one day budget discussion. The Council was also […]
By: Diane Benjamin One would think Public Radio would be fair and balanced since they are supported by taxpayers that don’t all lean far left. They should also strive for accuracy, WGLT fails at both. See their latest hit piece here: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2022-08-19/normals-electoral-board-to-hear-objection-to-town-council-redistricting-plan Start with this ridiculous paragraph: Since it is unclear which signatures Dullard is […]
By: Diane Benjamin The longer a City Manager hangs around their progressive ideology become more apparent. Tim Gleason was evidently hired from Decatur because he spearheaded redevelopment there. Decatur’s is busy during the day because people work downtown. It dies at night, they don’t have the bars Bloomington has. Progressives think government creates prosperity and […]
By: Diane Benjamin Note: Petitions are still being collected. See the website to help: https://betternormal-il.com/why-district-normal%3F-1 Before you read the extensive story WGLT wrote about the petitions being circulated to ask Normal voters if they want to switch to Wards, some points WGLT didn’t make: Most of the current Trustees think they are a Board of […]
By: Diane Benjamin 1) Normal is meeting tonight: https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4338 Of course they are handing out your money. See PDF pages 20-22 to see how much the free entertainment costs you. Harmon Arts grants are on page 45. Read the rest of the agenda yourself or watch the meeting at 7:00 2) WGLT is cheerleading for […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2022-06-01/in-the-wake-of-uvalde-b-n-teachers-want-change-not-guns Corey Beirne needs to report the WGLT article as a campaign contribution. He is running for the McLean County Board and WGLT just happened to pick him for an interview him from all the teachers in the Unit 5 School District. Beirne proves he isn’t qualified to hold an elected office […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2022-05-12/in-survey-attorneys-rate-mcfarland-higher-than-knapp-in-judicial-primary-race Listen to the actual interview. The reason given for McFarland rating higher than Knapp is because she is already a judge and Knapp isn’t. The few lawyers that responded thought Knapp held a political office. Next look at the current sitting judges, two are past State’s Attorneys: Jason Chambers and Bill […]
By: Diane Benjamin Remember how Chris Koos frequently states payments can’t be discussed because they were all approved in the budget they spent ONE DAY discussing? He even changed the Agenda item from “approve” to “report to receive and file”. I FOIA’d Normal for a list of all organizations their employees are members of. Normal […]
By: Diane Benjamin More than one citizen is questioning the integrity and ethics in the Town of Normal. Below is a letter from a citizen with the name illegally redacted. Writing an email to the Council is no different than Public Comment at a meeting. Normal redacted the name in violation of the FOIA law. […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2022-02-14/unit-5-school-board-calls-special-meeting-for-wednesday-on-covid-19-rules Repeat a lie often enough and people will believe it? I’m thrilled most parents aren’t experimenting on their kids with a vaccination! Omicron isn’t deadly. Unlike the original Covid it doesn’t attack the lungs. Omicron is providing herd immunity because it isn’t deadly. I know, I have it! It’s wonderful for […]
By: Diane Benjamin 1) Illinois State University demands the students are masked at all times! You can’t attend a basketball game without a mask. You can however attend the Chamber of Commerce gala without a mask – in the Bone Ballroom on the campus: From the Pantagraph: Random selfie with a huge crowd of no […]
By: Diane Benjamin Do I really need to re-tell the whole SAGA of Chris Koos and Pam Reece misleading the Council about the tax status of National Fitness Campaign? I’m not going to, WGLT finally did a story that will refresh your memory: (did they write it because of my story yesterday or because they […]
By: Diane Benjamim Both the WGLT reporter and I watched the same Normal Town Council meeting last night. Nothing in the story I wrote this morning was mentioned in their story. Mine: https://blnnews.com/2022/01/19/message-to-trustee-mccarthy/ Theirs: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2022-01-19/normal-new-public-data-portal-puts-more-information-at-your-fingertips Media picks and chooses what to report, obviously fraud isn’t something WGLT cares to cover if the Normal Town Council […]
By: Diane Benjamin Posted yesterday by WGLT reporter Ryan Denham: During-a-Fraught-Time-for-Local-Media-Conservative-Radio-Station-Sees-an-Opening File this one under local comedy. The reporter is upset that Cities 92.9 veers into opinion reporting rather than straight news. Keep in mind the WGLT General Manager RC McBride used to have a seat on the Normal Town Council until he was defeated […]
By: Diane Benjamin Good News for most residents of Arrowsmith, Bloomington, Dale, Dawson, and Old Town Townships who are served by Golden Prairie Public Library District: Your property taxes will not be going up if the Bloomington Library property tax increase is approved! These township residents have full access to the Bloomington Public Library without paying […]
https://www.kabc.com/2021/11/08/bravo-state-farm-backs-aaron-rodgers-after-vax-comments/ State Farm backs Aaron Rodger! Good for them, bad for WGLT. By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader The only reason I started writing almost 10 years ago was because journalism is dead. If stories aren’t purposely not covered to protect fellow democrats, words are twisted to make the consumer believe something that never happened. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Did you know Jenn Carrillo won her seat with overwhelming support? Many people at Public Comment last night claimed she did. They are trying to re-write history, their claims are WRONG. A measly 716 people bother to vote from Ward 6 in 2019. Carrillo received 379 votes, Schmidt got 337. For the […]
By: Diane Benjamin I wonder where at the County Board meeting anyone discussed taking the tablets away from the County inmates? Democrats told WGLT they did, of course it was printed without a fact check. https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2021-10-16/tussle-over-inmates-use-of-tablets-develops-at-mclean-county-jail I hope everyone is clear on this point: democrats favor inmates over taxpayers. They want TOU to pay for […]
By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington has their own Adam Schiff(s). Remember when bug-eyes himself would run to the closest microphone all 4 years of the Trump administration and state “We’ve got him now”. He was lying to the media and they lapped it up. WGLT is the latest to fall (or volunteer) for the lies of […]
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