WNIJ

07/09/2025

WNIJ Community Correspondent Jonathan Dumois visited a lunch distribution site Wednesday at Ken-Rock Community Center in Rockford. During the summer, families can get healthy, free meals at 145 sites across 13 counties in Northern Illinois:

The Northern Illinois Food Bank is kicking off its annual “Free Summer Meals for Kids” program. It comes in partnership with the Illinois State Board of Education. That included a distribution this week in Rockford.

07/09/2025

Diapers for Dads is an initiative created by Fathers of Faith Inc., a nonprofit organization that empowers and supports fathers through basic essentials, legal advocacy, and social action during hardships:

A nonprofit launched its campaign collecting baby essentials for single fathers in DeKalb County.

07/09/2025

Here's an update on where President Trump's tariff policy stands, from which tariffs he has in place to which countries are currently affected.

President Trump has announced — but postponed the effective date for — higher tariffs once again. Here's what to know about the latest on his tariff policy.

07/08/2025

A REALLY Old Glory is now on display at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum in Springfield:

07/08/2025

Listen now at wnij.org

07/08/2025

Timber Lake Playhouse is kicking off its latest show with a pie baking contest. Find out why:

An Illinois professional theater will kick off an upcoming musical with something that requires a different type of performance.

07/07/2025

The solar installation is part of NIU’s overall energy conservation mission:

Busy Northern Illinois University students can now charge their devices using solar power while on-campus. Jess Savage has more on how the solar-powered charging benches fit into NIU’s overall sustainability goals:

07/07/2025

Volunteers are holding guardianship workshops for families who fear being a target of ICE. A parent can fill out the form necessary to designate a person to be responsible for their children temporarily in the event they are arrested by immigration officials:

Volunteers are holding temporary guardianship form workshops for families who fear being a target of ICE.

07/05/2025

At a summer camp next to the Guadalupe River, 27 girls remain missing:

Flash flooding slammed the Texas Hill Country overnight on Friday. At least 27 girls from a summer camp next to the Guadalupe River remain missing.

07/05/2025

Lissette Jacobson and Maurice McDavid return to Teachers' Lounge to talk about their first book. In 2019, they were two of our very first guests on the show!

On a new Teachers' Lounge, two local teachers wrote a new book called “Your Words Are Fire” on how culturally-responsive teaching helps kids learn. What it means to be culturally-responsive and what it’s like releasing their book in the Trump era. Learn about all of that and much more...

07/04/2025

NPR wanted to know how freedom is on your mind as the nation celebrates its independence:

This Independence Day, NPR wanted to know how the freedoms and ideals of the U.S. have been on readers' minds.