Afternoon news update: April 21, 2015

• Take a stand against racism with Rock Valley College and the YWCA. Community members as well as RVC staff, faculty and students are invited to show their support in the stand against racism by attending any or all of the different events at three RVC locations.  Traditional diversity education focuses on the roles of perpetrator and victim as it relates to discrimination. However, we will more often fill the role of the bystander during such instances and too few of us have the skills and confidence to intercede. This bystander intervention workshop is designed to empower bystanders to assist others in dangerous and harmful situations. In this workshop, we explore where the “bystander effect” comes from, how we can overcome it, and what skills are necessary to become engaged bystanders. A community of effective and engaged bystanders is one of the strongest tools we have in combating the effects of discrimination in society.  Three events will take place as RVC takes a Stand Against Racism at the following locations:

Thursday, April 23, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

• RVC’s Main Campus – Student Center Atrium (3301 North Mulford Road, Rockford)
• 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm: Panel discussion – “Beyond Ferguson: Reflections for Anti-racist Activism and Community Building”
• 1:00 pm – 2:00pm: Conversation and Open Mic – The audience can reflect upon the panel discussion
• Republican State Representative John Cabello of Machesney Park is proposing an amendment that would put all discipline directed towards police and fire chiefs into the hands of the Fire and Police Commissioners Boards that hired them. However, Rockford Mayor Larry Morrisey believes the city has jurisdiction. Cabello says he wants to keep politics out of police and fire departments saying the police and fire commission is there for a reason.
• The Rockford Rescue Mission will host their annual fundraising telethon, AN EVENING FOR HOPE, tonight between 7pm - 9pm on WTVO-TV.  Every month, the Mission provides nearly 13,000 meals and 4,900 nights of lodging for men, women and children.  Tune in to hear stories about lives that were restored right here in the local area.
• A study ordered by consumer groups finds a plan to financially reward Exelon Corp. for producing carbon-free nuclear energy would cost $1.6 billion over five years and strain financially strapped business and municipal government budgets.  The BEST Coalition opposes legislation to financially reward Exelon for producing energy without emitting harmful greenhouse gases. Exelon says without the subsidy it might have to close three nuclear plants. Exelon has a nuclear generating plant in Ogle County.  A company spokesman says closing those plants would cost the state $1.8 billion annually in economic activity.
• A new study shows poverty rose slightly in Wisconsin from 2012 to 2013, despite some job gains. The report by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers says the Wisconsin Poverty Measure rose to 10.9 percent in 2013, up from 10.2 percent in 2012. That measure was roughly 2.5 percentage points lower than the official Wisconsin poverty rate from the federal government.  The Wisconsin Poverty Measure takes into account family income, food assistance, and refundable tax credits, while the official federal poverty measure is based on pretax cash income.
• A Rockford man has been charged with dealing heroin and cocaine after a raid on his home by the Winnebago County Narcotics Unit.  27-year old Willie Hayes was arrested after police searched his home at 721 Willard Avenue in Rockford.  They found cocaine, heroin, marijuana, along with one handgun and cash. Hayes is jailed without bond.