Transgender scholar, witch headlines free InQueery Friday
PEORIA — Transgender scholar, activist and witch Theresa Jean Tanenbaum will provide her combination of story-telling, activism, psychology and “magick” in this year’s InQueery, an annual pre-fest gathering by Peoria Proud that helps offer insight into the daily lives of LGBTQ+ community members. Tanenbaum is also a disability advocate. Among her recent creations: the 2025 book “The Pleasure of Playing Less: A Study of Incremental Games Through the Lens of Kittens;”  “Étude of the Storm, “a new historical fantasy audio drama podcast set in 18th century Norway;” and “Transgender Cybernetic Embodiment,” a 2023 piece for for InJustice magazine. This free event also includes light refreshments including vegan and gluten-free options, plus an ASL iterpreter. Reservations are required here. InQueery happens at Cafe Santa Rose, 1327 E. Kelly Ave., starting at 6:30 p.m. Learn more about Tanenbaum at her website, tesstanen.com.
Bloomington data center talks start August 26
BLOOMINGTON — August 26 will kick off a timeline for Bloomington to talk out how it wants to regulate data centers (WGLT). It’s when the planning commission will hold its first public meeting over potential data center regulations since the city passed a six-month pause on them in late May. Also to come: a panel to advise the commission that will consist of “different people, different viewpoints, different experiences.” A timeline or criteria to choose that panel have not yet been announced. Bloomington and its neighbor Normal are among six Illinois cities and nine Illinois counties that have paused any further approval of data centers while research is continued into their environmental impacts, costs to consumers, health impacts, job growth, economic opportunities, potential regulations, and more (Chicago Tribune). Also announced: public hearings Oct. 1 and Nov. 5. The Aug. 26 gathering starts at 5 p.m. at the performing arts center, 600 N. East St. Learn about concerns regarding data centers at this Facebook group (No Data Centers Bloomington-Normal and McLean County-Il).
Lawmaker, family face charges over accounts
URBANA — A state legislator says she plans to fight accusations that include charges that she and her family gained financial benefit from an account set up for her political campaign (Capitol City Now). “I have complete confidence that the facts will demonstrate my innocence, and I intend to vigorously defend myself through the judicial process,” reads a July 10 statement from Illinois State Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana). She faces 10 indicuments of fraud and conspiracy for accusations that she and her family received more than $100,000 since 2017 from Ammons’ campaign account, writes Capitol News Illinois. The charges also allege some of the payments to that account were made through Ammons’ daughter “through local nonprofits that received state grant funds arranged by the lawmaker,” writes Capitol News. Pending the investigation’s completion, Ammons has been removed from all legislative committees, reports Capitol News.Â
