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Forbes put Detroit Mayor Dave Bing on its cover in 2011 for a story with the optimistic headline: “City of Hope.” The premise was that the city had hit rock bottom and was poised for a turnaround. “Right now, it’s all about survival,” Bing told Forbes. Two years later, Detroit’s problems continue to multiply, sadly. It is still dealing with high levels of violent crime and unemployment. Home prices, already at historic lows, plummeted a further 35% during the past three years to a median of $40,000 as net migration out of the city continued. The latest blow was Tuesday’s...

ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, June 18, 2012, (LifeSiteNews.com)—A school bus covered in pro-life images that used to drive children to a local abortion clinic to pray was firebombed Friday night, report local advocates, who say the media have been negligent in covering the incident. The bus, owned by Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy, suffered extensive damage after vandals threw more than one device through the vehicle’s windows. Photos show some of the seats reduced to little more than metal frame and ash. The driver’s area was also bombed, and appears to be unusable. The bus is well known in the...

SPRINGFIELD, January 23, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Documents uncovered by the Associated Press reveal that the recent closure of the notorious abortion clinic in Rockford was the result of a long overdue investigation of Illinois abortion facilities, prompted by revelations of the conditions found at abortionist Kermit Gosnell’s “house of horrors” clinic in Philadelphia. According to the AP, in recent years abortion clinics in Illinois have had little more oversight than in Pennsylvania, where Democratic Gov. Tom Ridge’s administration had stopped abortion clinics inspections in 1995. The news service reported that several clinics in Illinois had gone without oversight for as...

Since we can't post stuff from the Rockford Register-Star (and none of the local TV stations have a story on it) I figure I'd pass the info on. Richard Ragsdale worked at the Northern Illinois Women's Center in Rockford for 31 years, hanging his shingle out in April, 1973, not long after the Roe vs. Wade decision. He was the region's only abortion provider. He was 69 years old and died after a short illness, which I've been told was pancreatic cancer. Recently the clinic had gone to being open two days a week. Since Ragsdale's hospitalization, that has been...

“You mean,” said Marina, “you mean that we’re sitting here over Hell?” “Over a hell, conceivably. There are many hells, and the same place may be Hell or Purgatory, depending upon the situation. Most of them are private.” Those words echo in my thoughts as we approach the building. Turner School, built in 1898, is no Balgrummo Lodging, the Scottish manor house that is the setting of Russell Kirk’s Lord of the Hollow Dark, and not simply because the massive brick-and-stone structure sits right in the heart of Rockford, Illinois, about as far geographically and culturally as you can get...

January 13, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – After years of protests and prayer vigils, pro-life activists in Rockford, Illinois can finally breathe a sigh of relief – the notoriously bizarre Northern Illinois Women’s Center (NIWC) has announced that it will close permanently. “The staff is very saddened by the closing,” said the owners of the facility in a statement released this morning to the Rockford Register Star. “We are not done grieving this loss and still are struggling with surrendering to the idea that we will not be able to do this work tomorrow or the day after.” Just one example of...

Local Ad Pokes Fun at Wisconsin SenatorsReported by: Alex Shabad It's gone from a state-wide search to a city-wide joke. The 14 runaway Wisconsin senators probably never knew they'd be part of a marketing campaign called "Hideaway in Rockford." "In the video you never find anyone who's a senator but you do find people getting away from the work place world" says John Groh, President of the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. It's meant to highlight "getaway spots" and deals at restaurants, sporting events. And of course, the clock tower where the senators first arrived. "It’s very very cute,...

Yesterday, when the Wisconsin legislature had a scheduled vote on a controversial budget item--union benefits--some of the democrat senators decided to head for the hills...of Illinois, that is. The Rockford Register Star reports. Here's the deal: If the democrats aren't on the floor for the vote, the vote can't take place. Hence the travel plans. The Wisconsin senators took to the highway, southbound to the Illinois-Wisconsin state line, crossed into Illinois and found a hideaway in the cozy "resort" city of Rockford. Once there, they were safe and sound. Or so they thought. Enter one David Hale. A local Tea...

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City Of Rockford Uses Selective Enforcement To Continue To Block Mobile Ultrasound Rockford November 5, 2010 - The Rockford abortion mill owner, in his effort to block women from the "choice" of seeing a free ultrasound of their children, parked used cars in every available parking spot near the Rockford abortion mill this morning. The mobile ultrasound had to park a block away from the mill. To top that off, a group of a half dozen abortion supporters were standing in front of the mobile ultrasound unit that was forced to park a block away from the mill, to accost...

Over Fourteen Years Without A Health Inspection At Rockford, IL Abortion Mill According To Official Records There’s an old song that goes “Thank heaven for little girls, for little girls get bigger every day”; that’s not true at the Rockford abortion mill. Half of the babies aborted at that “clinic” will never get bigger every day. Instead, they died. We see many young women enter that place with a child within them and exit the place without that child but instead with a lifetime ahead of them full of guilt and remorse for having an abortion. The country was told...

ROCKFORD, Illinois, July 9, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The staff at the Rockford abortion mill, which has been blaring the radio through its speakers to drown out pro-life counselors for several weeks, got an unpleasant surprise Friday morning when a local D.J. found out what his show was being used for.LifeSiteNews.com has reported numerous times on the bizarre Rockford abortuary, which has taken to taunting pro-life witnesses with signage and other paraphernalia mocking Christianity and Jesus Christ, and even directing personal insults at local pro-lifers. (See coverage here) The facility’s latest form of harassment, blasting a radio talk show through...

Prayers and Public Pressure Result In Removal of Grotesque Bigoted Signs at Rockford Abortion MillJesus Said: "Woe to you you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind persons, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean." Matthew 23Rockford IL, March 31, 2010 - The citizens of Rockford Illinois have had to endure years of the most vicious anti-Christian, anti-Life, and perverse signs imaginable that have littered the windows of the Northern Illinois Woman's Center building. From rubber chickens hanging on...

A much-talked-about new version of "The Rockford Files" for this fall has found its new James Garner. Movie star (and former Julia Roberts boyfriend) Dermot Mulroney has been cast to play Jim Rockford, the honest-man private detective that Garner made famous in the 1970s. Mulroney has been playing romantic, leading men in movies like "The Wedding Date" and "Must Love Dogs" since the mid-1990s. Filming on a pilot for the series is set to begin next month in LA -- but with the show's well-known name and film-star lead, it seems a sure bet to be on NBC's fall schedule...

"Rockford woman killed in train derailment Teen in critical condition with burns, 2 others hurt" SNIPPET: "Several cars from a Canadian National Railway Co. train smoldered Saturday near Rockford as federal investigators continued to probe whether standing water from heavy rains was a factor in a Friday night derailment that left a 41-year-old woman dead and three others injured."

OK. This next video clip is super, super offensive... The Thomas More Law Center has filed a Hate Crime charge in an Amended Federal Civil Complaint against an abortion clinic proprietor and ally in Rockford, Illinois. The ally, identified as Keith A. Sterkeson, is alleged to be the man in this video shown verbally attacking pro-life advocates Eric Nelson and Kevin Rilott outside a Rockford abortion facility. I frankly disagree with Hate Crimes legislation. But as long as the laws are on the books, I'm not shedding any tears over the man in this video being prosecuted under them. Considering...

ROCKFORD, Illinois, March 16, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Grotesque "decorations" in the windows of a notorious Rockford abortion facility, featuring rubber chickens hanging from nooses, led to a life saved, after two young men, disgusted by the display, convinced their pregnant companion to leave the building.The incident took place last Friday at the Northern Illinois Women's Center in Rockford IL, where two men had brought a 17-year-old female friend for an abortion.  Kevin Rilott, a pro-life veteran at the notorious Rockford mill, reports that the young men came out of the building and began conversing with pro-life participants in the...

Last year, I posted this eye-popping story about a man who sued a priest over a homily. Now, an alert reader has sent me an update: An Algonquin man will get a formal apology, but no financial reward, as part of an out-of-court settlement entered this morning ending his lawsuit claiming a parish priest defamed him from the pulpit. Angel Llavona and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockford struck a deal under which the Rev. Luis Alfredo Rios of St. Thomas the Apostle Church will apologize to the Algonquin man before his congregation. The Diocese also will pay Llavona...

Islam convert gets 35 years in plot to attack mall The Associated Press - 30 Sep 2008 CHICAGO (AP) — A 24-year-old convert to Islam has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for plotting to set off hand grenades in a crowded shopping mall ... Man gets 35 years in '06 terror plot Chicago Tribune

A 24-year-old convert to Islam has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for plotting to blow off hand grenades in a crowded shopping mall during the Christmas season. Federal Judge David Coar said Tuesday he didn't believe Shareef was evil. But he said people could have been severely hurt if federal agents hadn't broken up the plot.

The Rockford, Illinois diocese will not send seminarians to St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein for training. Two upperclassmen propositioned a Rockford youth for homosexual favors. So much for the change that has been promised in archdiocesan public relations pronouncements. Thus the Rockford diocese has decided it is finished with Mundelein.... Kicanas. The man who ran St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Mundelein when it was a hot-house of homosexual excess…and who was quoted in the “Sun-Times” as saying he does not regret ordaining Fr. Dan McCormack, who is now serving time for child abuse…is second in command of the...

Excerpt - LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor James Garner, best known for starring in the classic television series "Maverick" and "The Rockford Files," underwent surgery this week after suffering a minor stroke, his spokeswoman said on Tuesday. Garner, 80, who built a six-decade career playing ruggedly charming, good-natured anti-heroes, suffered a stroke at home last Friday and was admitted to a Los Angeles-area hospital, publicist Jennifer Allen said. The actor underwent surgery on Sunday, and his prognosis following the operation was described as "very positive," Allen said, adding that Garner's vital signs were good and that he was conscious and...

Rockford Pro-Lifers Sue City for "Arbitrary, Capricious and Invidious Censorship" of Pro-life Message Shocking video shows harasser repeatedly cursing, threatening pro-lifers, inaction of police officers By John Jalsevac ROCKFORD, Illinois, April 14, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A goateed man with sunglasses and a pony-tail with a pit-bull on a leash puts his face right up to the lens of the video-camera. "You do realize that you're a f***in' butt baby," he shouts into the camera. "You're a half-breed ni**er!" And then, just to make sure that the point is perfectly clear, he repeats, "You're a half-breed ni**er." This isn't the first...

ROCKFORD, Illinois, January 4, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - This past December 9, at St. James' parish in Rockford Illinois, a very normal Mass suddenly became a very unusual Mass when a parishioner stood up in the middle of the homily, interrupted the priest, shouting at him "When are you going to stop?", and then left, with her homosexual partner in tow.  A few other parishioners also stood up and left the church.  A few days later, the priest was dismissed from his duties at the parish by his bishop. Catholics know that there are some things that you just don't hear...

ROCKFORD, Illinois, August 23, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A peaceful pro-life witness was violently assaulted outside an abortion site on Tuesday. Police responded late to his 911 after he was beaten by an unknown visitor to the clinic. Early on Tuesday morning August 21, three Rockford pro-lifers-Ken Plez, Pat Brady and Kevin Rilott-were praying quietly in front of the Northern Illinois Women's Center (abortuary) for an end to abortion. A large white truck pulled into the clinic parking lot, and without setting foot on the clinic property, Rilott approached and tried to talk to the people inside. In a detailed account...

An immigration-reform activist says an Illinois branch of the American Red Cross should be taken to task for allowing the Mexican government to use its office to pass out consular identification cards to illegal aliens in the community.

Bishop Thomas Doran of the Rockford Diocese is in good condition after undergoing lung surgery at the Mayo Clinic, a diocese spokesman announced at a news conference today. Doctors removed about one-fourth of Doran’s lung Thursday after spotting a malignant tumor during a routine physical earlier this month. Doctors said they were confident that all the cancer has been removed and they expect Doran to make a full recovery. When he is able to resume regular activities is still undetermined. Meantime, Monsignor David Kagan will take over Doran’s day-to-day duties. Bishop Thomas Doran Doran was installed as Bishop in June...

CHICAGO - The man accused of plotting to carry out a holiday grenade attack on shoppers at a Rockford mall was a Muslim convert whose growing interest in radical views worried his mother, according to a published report. "I don't believe that my son purposely has done anything wrong," Marie Dunn told the (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald. "I believe he has gotten involved with the wrong people. ... I don't know who he's running with." Dunn said she wasn't surprised when her 22-year-old son, Derrick Shareef, converted seven years ago, because his father was a member of the Nation of...

There has been suprisingly little reportage of the actual details of would-be shopping mall terrorist, Mr. Talib Abu Salam Ibn Shareef's mindset and intentions. So as a public service, here the FBI agent's affidavit (pdf file) in easy to read format. Talib Abu Salam Ibn Shareef STATE OF ILLINOIS)) COUNTY OF COOK)AFFIDAVIT1. I, Jared Ruddy, Federal Bureau of Investigation, being duly sworn, state as follows: I am a Special Agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and have been so employed for more than two years. I am currently assigned to an FBI Counterterrorism squad as well as the...

As part of his preparations for a grenade attack on a Rockford,Ill. area shopping mall, Derrick Shareef-a Black Muslim - made a "martyrdom video".

The Tenth Annual Seminar of the Latin Mass Community of Rockford will take place this year on Friday, May 26th and Saturday, May 27th, 2006, at St. Mary's Oratory in Rockford.

ZAIDON, Iraq (Feb. 3, 2006) -- The sun was rising on the second day of Operation Trifecta and it was time for Sgt. Chad T. Johnson, a combat engineer attached to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, and his engineers to impair insurgent operations in the Zaidon area. The Rockford, Ill., native was given the task of helping a platoon from Company F search vast areas of farm land looking for weapons and explosives the insurgents are suspected to have hidden there. “This is one of the primary missions for the engineers in this area of operation,” stated Johnson, a 1994...

Hey, almost missed it but the History Channel Tech Effect aired a special on the Great Chicago Fire that was filmed here at Rockford Illinois' - Center Top of the State 90 miles from Chicago - Midway Village (a historic village with a beautiful working Millhouse!) From the Aurora Regional Fire Museum: All of the reenactment scenes for the Tech Effect: Chicago Fire episode were filmed over three nights at the Midway Village and Museum Center in Rockford, IL. David Lewis, Curator for the Aurora Regional Fire Museum and Matt Lee, a firefighting historian from Plymouth, MI were asked to...

print friendly e-mail story e-mail headlines subscriptions Published: June 3, 2004 COLUMNIST: Pat Cunningham Rhetoric at odds with actual record One of the big disappointments of this presidential campaign year -- for me, anyway -- is that Illinois probably won't be one of the so-called battleground states. Polls show presumptive Democratic nominee John Kerry so far ahead of President Bush in this state that neither party is likely to put a lot of money into campaign efforts here. THE SITUATION COULD change, of course, but most political observers don't expect that it will. Too bad. That means our local television...

Gay choir leader's firing turns into a test of faith Dismissal of popular director has brought disharmony to the flock at Rockford parish By Colleen Mastony Tribune staff reporter Published July 9, 2003 ROCKFORD -- The new choir director was one of the best things that ever happened to Holy Family Catholic Church. Everyone said so. He brought together businessmen and blue-collar workers, students and senior citizens to make music that lifted the whole parish--until last month, when church officials learned he is gay. A lawyer and two priests confronted Bill Stein on June 17 and asked him to renounce...

<p>ROCKFORD — The music director at Rockford’s largest Catholic church had a choice: give up his gay partner of 10 years or lose his job.</p> <p>When Bill Stein refused to take a vow of chastity Tuesday, he was fired from his position at Holy Family.</p>