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Angie Walker is the Homeless Program Coordinator with the City of Rockford Health & Human Services Department.

Kristen Schorsch is a reporter on WBEZ’s government and politics team, where she covers Cook County and public health.Previously, she covered health care, government, crime, courts, higher education and news of the weird (think coffin parties) for Crain’s Chicago Business, the Chicago Tribune, the Daily Southtown and the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Kristen has won more than a dozen local and national awards for her work. Her stories have sparked policy changes and spurred investigations. Kristen is a former longtime board member of the Chicago Headline Club and helps organize the club’s annual FOIAFest about public information and transparency. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Illinois and is a proud Daily Illini alumna.

Mike has been with WNIJ since the start of 2023. He is a Kishwuakee College and NIU graduate holding degrees in Computer Aided Drafting as well as New Media Technology. Having been born and raised in Northern IL, the voices of NPR could always be heard growing up.

Jessi Haish LaRue is the executive director of the J.F. Glidden Homestead & Historical Center, the marketing assistant at DeKalb County History Center, and author of “A Twist in History: The Jacob Haish Story” blog.

Josh Dettman is a Rockford native and a graduate of Northern Illinois University. He works as an analyst for Nicor Gas and is an avid golfer.

Brian Dolinar has reported on criminal justice issues in Champaign-Urbana for almost 20 years. Working as a freelance journalist, his articles have appeared at The Appeal, Chicago Reader, In These Times, Prison Legal News, and Truthout. He worked with the Invisible Institute to produce this report on the misconduct of Urbana police officer John Franquemont.

Teresa Smith is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist from Dixon, Illinois. She has completed the Beyond Plastics Pollution class taught by Judith Enck, former regional director for the US Environmental Protection Agency. Teresa is also an active member of the Freeport Environmental Study Group which is an Affiliate of Beyond Plastics. She loves to spend time outdoors on her days off.

Melissa Sloatman is a wife, mother of two and Rockford native. She works as a reading specialist at Machesney Elementary and is an avid kayaker. She has been listening to WNIJ since she was a kid in the backseat of her mom’s car.