Perspectives - WNIJ

Rick Brooks shares his thoughts about the value of public broadcasting.

Northern Illinois University's art museum is closing. Deborah Booth calls it a huge loss for the community.

Some of the luster is off a national award and that symbolizes a lot more to Marianna Ruggerio than her own experience.

Lou Ness urges NPR and PBS fans to fight back.

Dan Kenney has always turned to words in times of trouble — are they enough now?

NIU student Donna Gillespie says "when in doubt, rest it out!"

Emily McKee says we all must speak out to make the annihilation of people in Gaza stop.

Joseph Flynn urges fans of NPR, PBS, and their favorite local public stations to keep up the fight for funding.

Katie Andraski learns about CRPS from her neighbor

Bob Evans looks at what nuclear proliferation means to a United States moving toward isolationism.

Alyssa Hartline feels guilty but is dealing.

To shave or not to shave? Beloit College student Fiona Hughes says the beauty is, you don't have to.

Frances Jaeger says it's time to fire The Apprentice — and put the kibosh on the toxic boss behavior it normalized.

Tom McBride wonders if you completely change a thing, is it still that thing?

What stops us from doing what we've always wanted to do? Paula Garrett takes the plunge.

Time for a new phone already? Francisco Solares-Larrave knows your pain.

Lonny Cain has a message for waitresses and caregivers.

Do you suffer from chronic food stains on your favorite shirts? You are not alone, says Rosie Klepper.

Marnie O. Mamminga is grateful for her time with a chocolate lab. Although short, Gracie was one of the good parts of the pandemic.

Andrew Nelson twists a famous speech.

Scott Summers finds his opinions aren't welcome during a walk in the park.

Connie Seraphine says it's time to stand up for chccks and balances.

Victoria Wakeford shares the good news about the side effects of reading for pleasure.

Wester Wuori says maybe it's time to burn it all down.

Frances Jaeger says some very bad ideas are being recycled — and it's poor people who get hurt.

Marcia Snyder asks, as much as you like your billionaire neighbor, how much are you willing to give up to give him a tax cut?

More books in the hands of local kids? Deborah Booth says that's the goal of the Dolly Parton foundation and the DeKalb Public Library.

From his ABCs to blowing his nose, Kwesi Caldwell appreciates the strong start he got toward a lifetime of education.

Dan Kenney urges people to be rebels and plant "Gardens of Resistance."

Francisco Solares Larrave says it's finally here: The U.S. is a banana republic. And he knows from experience.

Despite the weather challenges. Katie Andraski says somehow, putting up hay always works out.

Suzanne Degges-White celebrates (?) the joys of dog ownership.

Svea Jones says goodbye to some of the little things that have made their time as a student at Beloit College transformational.

It's Juneteenth and Joseph Flynn says the holiday deserves celebrating.

Lonny Cain assures you it's OK to waste a little time each day.

Nothing on TV? Let Paula Garrett make a few suggestions.

Rosie Klepper asks, "Are you a cooker or a cleaner?"

Nia Springer Norris says it's important to stand up against injustice — just start on common ground.

Saturday, June 14, a military parade is expected in Washington D.C. to celebrate the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary and the President's birthday. Megan Bichon says Women's March Rockford will hold its own observance.

Frances Jaeger introduces us to Friederich Wilhelm Von Steuben, a man who set the U.S. military on the right path 250 years ago.

The root of all evil? Taylor Atkins says it's bigger than money.

The feds are making a dangerous mistake by cutting funding to the nation's weather service, says Andrew Nelson

Frances Jaeger rage-reads against the AI machine to kick off our summer reading list. What's on your list? Share it on social with #WNIJReads

We wait with bated breath to see if the next generation of Great Lakes piping plovers will hatch. David Gunkel is keeping an eye on the nest.

Connie Seraphine is comforted by friends after the loss of her dog Betty.

Wester Wuori ponders what, if anything, it means to have a pope from Chicago.

Have you ever run interference on a lone child darting through a store or airport, so the parent could catch up? Kelli McGee Yugsi wants to say thanks!

Deborah Booth says the budget bill doesn't take the health of many Americans into consideration.

Rick Brooks asks how we got here politically.

Dan Kenney supports an idea he says can help heal America.

Lindsay Curtis escapes to sunnier days with Dad's favorite tunes.