News

By Simone Orendain

DeKalb – Northern Illinois' Latino population continues to grow at a fast pace, mirroring the nation's growth figures. The increase has brought a demand for Spanish language and bilingual services. A new publication in DeKalb seeks to fill the need.

WNIJ's Simone Orendain has this profile of El Periodico Lo Nuestro or "The Newspaper That's Ours."

DeKalb, IL – WNIJ reporter Chris Lehman talks with Morning Edition host Dan Klefstad about the new systems and procedures at Byron, and what they'll cost.

Paw Paw, IL – The Mendota Hills wind farm turned one year old in November. Its operators say the project has been a success. WNIJ's Dan Klefstad spoke with reporter Chris Lehman, who toured the wind farm recently.

By Chris Lehman

Rockford, Il. – Commuter rail service to Rockford is not only feasible, it has extraordinary potential. That's according to a Federally-funded study that was recently unveiled. WNIJ's Chris Lehman reports...

By Dan Klefstad

DeKalb, IL – Both conservatives and liberals express moral values in their political speeches. In the 2004 Presidential election, conservatives won. Was their message the right one, or was it delivered better?

By Susan Stephens

Rockford, IL – The 16th Congressional District stretches from Crystal Lake to Galena and down in DeKalb County. This years race for Congress is a rematch of the 2002 contest. Congressman Don Manzullo is being challenged by Democrat John Kutsch.

Both candidates participated in a studio debate moderated by WNIJs Susan Stephens. A coin toss determined that Kutsch
would go first: the candidates are given one minute for opening statements, and two minutes to answer each question, with alternating 30-second rebuttals.

By Chris Lehman

Woodstock, IL – The 63rd Illinois House District includes western and northern McHenry County. Incumbent Democrat Jack Franks is facing a challenge from Republican Perry Moy. WNIJs Chris Lehman reports.

By Simone Orendain

DeKalb, IL – The long-time incumbent in Illinois 35th Senate District has a challenger for a change. WNIJs Simone Orendain reports.

By Chris Lehman

McHenry County, IL – Voters in the 32nd senate district will choose between a career politician and a political novice. WNIJs Chris Lehman reports:

By Simone Orendain

DeKalb, IL – 14th District Congressman Dennis Hastert usually has an opponent every election. This time around, his challenger, Ruben Zamora, appears to toe the Democratic Party line more closely and clearly than Hasterts previous opponents. WNIJs Simone Orendain reports.

By Susan Stephens

DeKalb County, IL – Its been less than a year since Republican Bob Pritchard was appointed to take over for state Representative Dave Wirsing, who died in office last Fall. Now Pritchard faces his first general election race for the 70th district House seat: he's being challenged by Democrat Bob Brown.

By Chris Lehman

DeKalb, IL – DeKalb County States Attorney Ron Matekaitis is the only democrat elected to a county-wide office in DeKalb County. He faces Republican challenger Clay Campbell in a contentious race to retain his seat.

By Simone Orendain

Rockford, IL – The two candidates running for State Representative in Illinois 68th District went head to head on the issues in WNIJs Rockford studio.

WNIJs Simone Orendain moderated the debate between State Representative Dave Winters and Rockton engineer Carroll Brumfield.

By Susan Stephens

Peru, IL – The state political parties are pouring money into the State Senate race in the 38th District. Democrat Pat Welch of Peru is seeking his eighth term. He's being challenged by Republican Gary Dahl of Granville.

The 38th District includes LaSalle, Kankakee, and Grundy counties. Its one of a handful of Democrat-held Senate seats being targeted by the state G.O.P. WNIJs Susan Stephens spoke with the two candidates and has this report.

By Simone Orendain

Chicago, IL – This election season has been peppered with religious references from the question of Jesus' voting habits in Illinois' U-S senatorial race to Catholic bishops denying a presidential candidate the Eucharist.

WNIJ's Simone Orendain spoke with a playwright who just directed a one-act play that tackles a hot-button religion issue.

By Dan Klefstad

DeKalb, IL – WNIJ's Dan Klefstad interviews Pam Weisman, the Executive Director of Safe Passage. Safe Passage assists victims of domestic violence in DeKalb County.

Weisman says the new federal rule could threaten her clients' lives because a central database makes it easier for batterers to locate their victims. Weisman says Safe Passage may forgo federal funding in order to protect its clients.

By Simone Orendain

Rockford, IL – It's less than a month until the election. This is usually the time we see a bump in campaign yard signs. But in this presidential election Kerry-Edwards signs are in short supply in Illinois.

By Chris Lehman

Hinckley, IL – This year's Senate race in Illinois has attracted a good deal of national attention. Democrat Barack Obama was praised for his speech at the Democratic National Convention in Boston. Republican Alan Keyes was recruited from Maryland after the original Republican nominee, Jack Ryan, quit the race. Keyes has wasted no time in getting some headlines of his own.

But when you go to the polls in November, you'll find two other names on your ballot: Albert Franzen and Jerry Kohn. Kohn is the Libertarian Party candidate.

By Simone Orendain

Oak Lawn, IL – There are four names on the ballot for U.S. Senate in Illinois. The two major party candidates are well-known and yesterday, we learned about the independent. Today we'll meet the Libertarian on the ballot, Jerry Kohn.

By Guy Stephens

Rockford, IL – Rockford's Artists' Ensemble Theater presents Pulitzer Prize-winner "Dinner With Friends" as its opener for the company's premiere season. Guy Stephens talks to two members of Artists' Ensemble who are also in the cast of the play.

By Guy Stephens

Rockford, IL – Rockford's Studio Zoom has won a Rockford Area Music Industry Award. Yet few in the community know much, if anything, about it. WNIJ's Guy Stephens paid a visit to Studio Zoom, and has this report.

By Patrick Sheehan

Rockford, IL – The closing act on WNIJ's Left Bank Stage features two very different Blues guitarists. Jimmy Thackery and Tab Benoit say they've learned a lot from playing together. And they say they've created a whole new sound. WNIJ's Patrick Sheehan has more...

By Chris Lehman

Rockford, IL – The Federal Government is making it easier for people to get a pilot's license. Starting this month, you can get a license to fly in just half the time it took before. But as WNIJ's Chris Lehman reports, the new license comes with a few catches.