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Susan Stephens

WNIJ News Reporter/Producer

Susan’s parents should have known she’d end up in radio: her favorite toys were tape recorders, cameras, notepads, and books. Many years later, she’s an award-winning reporter at her favorite radio station. Formerly WNIJ’s News Director, she asked to return to the role of full-time reporter/anchor/utility player in 2010 (less paperwork, more reporting!). Her #1 goal is to tell the most compelling stories in the fewest words possible…all the better if a little humor can be thrown into the mix.  It should come as no surprise, then, that she can whip up a haiku for any occasion. She also enjoys the Detroit Tigers, learning pioneer skills (Gardening, canning, and the like. Just in case.), traveling with friends, and pretending she’s going to get around to playing her theremin.

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Arts
7:12 am
Mon August 13, 2012

Rick's Picks: Cheap Trick guitarist's life on display in Rockford

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Credit Jacquilyn Stephens / WNIJ
Credit Jacquilyn Stephens / WNIJ
Rick Nielsen
Credit Jacquilyn Stephens / WNIJ
Rick Nielsen, his Thunderbird, and lawn mower.
Credit Jacquilyn Stephens / WNIJ
That famous Cheap trick guitar...
Credit Jacquilyn Stephens / WNIJ
John Lennon's guitar string, part of Rick Nielsen's collection.
Credit Jacquilyn Stephens / WNIJ
Some of Cheap Trick's live performances play on old-school televisions on a stage in the exhibit at Burpee Museum.
Credit Jacquilyn Stephens / WNIJ
Crowds move in for autographs and a kiss or two from Nielsen.
Credit Jacquilyn Stephens / WNIJ
Don Dargel models his vintage Cheap Trick sweater. He had it custom-made by one of Rick Nielsen's sweater-makers.
Credit Susan Stephens / WNIJ
Childhood prayer and photos in Rick's Picks
Credit Jacquilyn Stephens / WNIJ
You can tell Rick Nielsen got a lot of use out of this silver leather suit: check out the guitar strap wear.
Credit Jacquilyn Stephens / WNIJ
Rick Nielsen embodied in a guitar.
Credit Jacquilyn Stephens / WNIJ
Credit Jacquilyn Stephens / WNIJ
You never know what you'll find when you pull open a drawer at "Rick's Picks."
Credit Jacquilyn Stephens / WNIJ
The Dream Police: 'cause they're waiting for me, they're looking for me every single night.
Credit Jacquilyn Stephens / WNIJ
Fans explore the new exhibit, "Rick's Picks," at Burpee Museum of Natural History
Credit Jacquilyn Stephens / WNIJ
Visitors can listen to Rick Nielsen composing some of Cheap Trick's biggest hits at his kitchen table.
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  • Extended version of our Morning Edition feature. Contains things you'll miss if you just read the transcript, including Nielsen interrupting another interview, his grandchildren interrupting his news conference, and a bit of his live performance with Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts at the exhibit's opening.
  • Bonus: Miles Nielsen describes some of his favorite things from his father's exhibit at Burpee Museum, plus a sample of Rick Nielsen composing "Writing on the Wall" into a tape recorder at his kitchen table.
  • As aired on WNIJ

A new exhibit opened at the Burpee Museum of Natural History in Rockford this weekend. And this time, it isn’t dinosaur bones attracting huge crowds: it’s an eccentric musician and the things he has collected during his half-century in rock.

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Government
3:31 am
Fri August 10, 2012

Thousands ask Winnebago County to allow concealed guns

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Members of the Rockford Tea Party hope they are a step closer to persuading lawmakers that Illinoisans have the right to carry concealed firearms.

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Arts
1:52 am
Wed August 1, 2012

Rockford Public Library considers taking on Sullivan Center

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Credit Susan Stephens / WNIJ
The Sullivan Center, Main Street, Rockford.
Credit Susan Stephens / WNIJ
Paul Logli speaks from the stage at the Sullivan Center
Credit Susan Stephens / WNIJ
Rockford library board president Paul Logli
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The Rockford Public Library’s governing board is weighing whether to accept a very large gift…a 30-thousand square foot gift. The board hosted a public open house Tuesday at the Sullivan Center in downtown Rockford.

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Politics
2:25 am
Tue July 31, 2012

One year of 'wedded' bliss: civil unions in Illinois

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Credit Susan Stephens / WNIJ
Dozens of these signs were carried around the DeKalb County courthouse during the July 2011 civil unions celebration.
Credit Tom Rouse
Sarah Adkins and Ann Shult at their 2007 commitment ceremony.
Credit Susan Stephens / WNIJ
Angel Cruz and Joel Fillmore wait their turn at the civil unions ceremony in Sycamore, July 2011.
Credit Susan Stephens / WNIJ
Angel Cruz and Joel Fillmore fill out their civil union license applications with the help of deputy clerk Tasha Stogsdill.
Credit Susan Stephens / WNIJ
Kimberly Johnson and Antoinette Jones speak at the civil union ceremony in Sycamore, July 2011.
Credit Susan Stephens / WNIJ
The crowd poses on the DeKalb County Courthouse steps after a short march in support of civil unions.
Credit Jacquilyn Stephens / WNIJ
The price of marriage/civil unions at the DeKalb County Clerk's office.
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It has been more than a year since civil unions became legal in Illinois. And in that time, more than 5,000 couples have tied the only knot available to same-sex partners. Several DeKalb couples have just celebrated their first legally-recognized anniversary. 

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Politics
8:02 pm
Thu July 26, 2012

Freeport layoffs inspire outsourcing debate

Credit Jacquilyn Stephens / WNIJ
The Lincoln-Douglas debate sculpture in Freeport, Illinois.
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Workers at a Freeport company that’s slated to move jobs overseas got support from Governor Pat Quinn Thursday. Their also inspiring talk of a hosting a debate on outsourcing.

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