http://www.wnta.com/Blog/KensBlog/home.aspxKen Decoster has been bringing you news on the airwaves of 1330 WNTA and now he's bringing you his own insights into local current events and more.en-usCopyright 2010, WNTA-AMMon, 06 Sep 2010 15:03:59 GMTMon, 29 Mar 2010 10:11:24 GMT1http://emmisinteractive.com   Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and running mate Sheila Simon visit Rockford today. Quinn and Simon have a 10 a.m. campaign stop planned for the Chicago/ Rockford International Airport. Quinn describes the Democratic ticket as "progressive". Quinn and Simon are running against Republicans Bill Brady and Jesse Plummer in the November general election.  Speaking of politics...City of Rockford Attorney Jen Cacciapaglia is withdrawing her bid for 34th District Illinois Senate. Cacciapaglia issued a statement Sunday night calling her decision to withdraw "difficult"...but what's best for her and her family. The local Democratic Party will have the chance to slate another candidate to run against Republican incumbent Dave Syverson. http://www.wnta.com/Blog/KensBlog/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10104685http://www.wnta.com/Blog/KensBlog/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10104685Mon, 29 Mar 2010 10:11:24 GMT   573 Rockford School District teachers, administrators, and support personnel are being dismissed or reassigned as part of a District-wide cost cutting effort. I'll talk to Rockford School Board President Dave Kelley about the changes at 10:10 Wednesday morning. Your phone calls are welcome. Also...Congressman Don Manzullo urges Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to challenge the constitutionality of the new federal health care mandate. http://www.wnta.com/Blog/KensBlog/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10103916http://www.wnta.com/Blog/KensBlog/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10103916Wed, 24 Mar 2010 09:25:21 GMT   Republican Congressman Don Manzullo says "this is not the health care reform Americans deserve". Manzullo says the reform bill passed last night will raise taxes by $569 billion dollars, cut medicare benefits by $530 bilion, and will raise health care premiums by an average of $2,100 a year by 2014. Manzullo will be on my show att 10:10 Monday morning. Your input is welcome. http://www.wnta.com/Blog/KensBlog/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10103451http://www.wnta.com/Blog/KensBlog/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10103451Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:22:29 GMT    Whether Public officials should be held to a higher standard than average citizens is debatable but I think we can all agree that public officials should be held to the same standard as the average Joe or Jane. This is apparently not the case for a certain member of the Winnebago County Board.    In June of 2004...Carolyn Gardner was ticketed in Roscoe for driving without insurance. The Rockford Register Star reports Gardner pleaded guilty to the offense and was fined $377 dollars. Five-and-a-half years later, Gardner's fine has still not been paid. County officials say Gardner was cited in 2006 for a property code violation. A motion for default judgement was issued after Gardner failed to appear in court. A $100 fine was assessed against Gardner. I'm told Gardner wrote a check for that fine. The check bounced.     Last month, Gardner was sworn in as a County ...http://www.wnta.com/Blog/KensBlog/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10091955http://www.wnta.com/Blog/KensBlog/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10091955Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:30:13 GMT   Today is another big day in the police-involved shooting death of Mark Barmore. Two key witnesses who dispute the initial police report face a court hearing of their own. Sheila Brown and her daughter, Marissa, face contempt of court charges for failing to appear before a grand jury on December 23rd. The two ladies were notified December 17th...but declined to appear...citing holiday travel plans that took them to Mississippi. States Attorney Joe Bruscato wasn't amused. Bruscato is asking Judge Joe McGraw to hold the Brown's in contempt. A hearing is scheduled for 1:30 this afternoon at the Winnebago County Courthouse. The Brown's could be fined or even spend some time in jail if they're held in contempt. By now you're aware a grand jury exonerated Rockford Police officers Oda Poole and Stan North in the August 24th, 2009 shooting death of Mark Barmore inside House of Grace Day Care ...http://www.wnta.com/Blog/KensBlog/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10077831http://www.wnta.com/Blog/KensBlog/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10077831Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:11:07 GMT    Well over a month ago...Rockford Schools Superintendent LaVonne Sheffield agreed to be interviewed by yours truly at 10 am today. The interview was confirmed as recently as yesterday. But, alas, last night I received a call from District 205 Communications Chief Mark Bonne informing me Superintendent Sheffield is dealing with a "personal emergency" and would have to cancel the interview. I am extremely disappointed that I've missed out on the chance to conduct a live interview with Dr. Sheffield. Bonne says he hopes to re-schedule but, quite frankly, I'll believe it when I see the Superintendent in front of me.  School Board President Dave Kelley, District Executive Director of Schools Earl Hernandez, and Communications Chief Mark Bonne filled in today and were questioned about a lack of safety in the schools and the perception that the Discipline Code has been relaxed. The interview underscored the divide between the Adminstration/School ...http://www.wnta.com/Blog/KensBlog/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10076549http://www.wnta.com/Blog/KensBlog/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10076549Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:31:15 GMT    Six months into her tenure in Rockford, Schools Superintendent LaVonne Sheffield faces a credibility crisis. There's a widespread perception among District 205 teachers, bus drivers, parents, and...yes...students that the District's discipline code has been relaxed. Some teachers and students have stated flatly that they don't feel safe inside their schools.    On Friday, two Auburn High School students...a 16 year old male and his 14 year old brother...were charged with bringing loaded handguns to their respective buildings. Fortunately, no one was hurt. A week ago, a 14 year old Guilford High School student was stabbed with a knife during a robbery attempt in a school bathroom. Six Guilford students were arrested. Fortunately, the victim's injuries were minor. A couple of weeks ago, The Rock River Times reported a West Middle School teacher was attacked while intervening in a fight between two students. Earlier this year, classes at East High School were ...http://www.wnta.com/Blog/KensBlog/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10076172http://www.wnta.com/Blog/KensBlog/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10076172Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:44:12 GMT   The arrival of Rockford Schools Superintendent LaVonne Sheffield ushered in an era of anticipation, hope, and change for District 205. Sheffield trumpeted a vision of Rockford Public Schools offering a world class education that prepares all students to compete in a global society. Lofty goals for a District with an abysmal graduation rate. Superintendent Sheffield and the School Board appear to be building momentum: The District is on solid financial footing, charter schools are opening, parental involvement is being encouraged.    I'd love to wish Superintendent Sheffield well. If only I could meet her.    My repeated attempts to arrange an on-the-air/in studio interview with the Superintendent have been futile. District 205 Chief Communications Officer Mark Bonne told me recently that Superintendent Sheffield is not a fan of talk radio. When I proposed an on-the-air interview that excluded phone calls from listeners, Bonne requested that I send him WNTA's ratings ...http://www.wnta.com/Blog/KensBlog/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10068719http://www.wnta.com/Blog/KensBlog/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10068719Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:10:31 GMT   Rockford Police Chief Chet Epperson will be a guest on my show at 11 o'clock today. The Chief will discuss the suspension of tasers and the statistics showing a decline in serious crime in Rockford this year compared to last. Phone calls are welcome at 874-8255. http://www.wnta.com/Blog/KensBlog/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10068144http://www.wnta.com/Blog/KensBlog/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10068144Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:38:52 GMTThese are signs hanging in the window of the Northern Illinois Womens Clinic.  The abortion clinic is located on the cities near east side on Broadway, http://www.wnta.com/Blog/KensBlog/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10052392http://www.wnta.com/Blog/KensBlog/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10052392Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:56:31 GMT