Victor Yehling

Managing Editor

Victor Yehling is Managing Editor for WNIJ News. He coordinates the WNIJ news team, assigns stories, offers suggestions, develops project ideas, and generally harasses our outstanding news employees. He's a relative newcomer, joining WNIJ in July 2010, but he has 15 years experience as a newspaper editor and reporter plus a couple of years in TV news. He also spent time on the dark side, working in public relations and advertising; he claims he's recovering. Away from the station, he enjoys theater, grandchildren, board games, Kansas City Chiefs football, and preparing for retirement in rural suburban Hagarstown.

vyehling@niu.edu

Issues around Illinois - Apr. 23

By Victor Yehling

MetLife settles questionable practice investigation
A new way to train for alcohol awareness
Why aren't day-care facilities being inspected?
Moving forward on passenger rail service
Will expressway finally live up to its name?
How can regional agencies improve transportation funding?
What's happening to Illinois influence in Congress?

11:07 am

Thu April 19, 2012

Other happenings in Illinois …

By Victor Yehling

What did Gov. Pat Quinn propose to do about Medicaid?

How did home sales perform in March?

Where does Illinois rank in creating clean jobs?

Why is Sheila Simon looking for volunteers?

All that -- plus links to more information -- follows ...

2:56 pm

Wed April 18, 2012

Dixon Mayor's statement on financial scandal

Credit www.discoverdixon.org

Dixon Mayor James Burke

By Victor Yehling

Dixon Mayor James Burke held a news conference Wednesday morning in Dixon, Ill., to address several issues regarding the arrest of City Comptroller Rita A. Crundwell on a federal charge of misappropriating $3.2 million in city funds.

Burke thanked the FBI for its efforts and ann0unced that Crundwell is suspended without pay pending resolution of the charges against her. He said he "literally became sick to my stomach" while meeting with agents on the case.

The mayor declined to answer any questions from reporters in attendance, including WNIJ's Susan Stephens. Here is the text of Mayor Burke's statement:

3:00 pm

Tue April 17, 2012

Dixon city comptroller out of jail after arrest on federal fraud charges

Next image Previous image

Credit Susan Stephens

Entrance to Rita Crundwell's horse farm near Dixon

Credit Susan Stephens

Part of Rita Crundwell's sprawling horse farm in Dixon

Credit Susan Stephens

Dixon residents and media members mingle before Wednesday's news conference by Mayor Burke

Dixon Mayor Jim Burke reads from a prepared statement at Wednesday's news conference

Credit Susan Stephens

Statue of young Ronald Reagan on a horse, Dixon's riverfront

Rain clouds over Dixon, Illinois

Credit Susan Stephens

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Pedersen is prosecuting the Crundwell case. Federal courthouse, Rockford, IL

Rita A. Crundwell

By Victor Yehling and Susan Stephens

Listen

Read an interesting twist on this case at www.theatlanticcities.com

DIXON — Rita A. Crundwell, the Dixon city comptroller who was arrested Tuesday on a federal charge of defrauding the City of Dixon of more than $3.2 million in public funds since last fall, was released from federal custody Wednesday. Her freedom while she awaits trial, however, rests on a number of conditions agreed upon by her attorneys, federal prosecutors, and federal magistrate P. Michael Mahoney.

12:18 pm

Tue April 3, 2012

Area counties top annual Health Rankings list

By Victor Yehling

Northern Illinois county Health Outcomes rankings ranged from 1 to 73 out of 102 counties in the state in the Third Annual County Health Rankings released Tuesday.

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10:41 am

Mon April 23, 2012