The Rock River Times - Rockford's Independent Newspaper

By Martin Crutsinger and Paul Wiseman Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Gripped by the accelerating viral outbreak, the U.S. economy is under pressure from persistent layoffs, diminished income and nervous consumers, whose spending is needed to drive a recovery from the pandemic. A flurry of data released Wednesday suggested that the spread of the virus is intensifying the threats to an economy still struggling to recover from the deep recession that struck in early spring. The number…

By Lisa Marie Pane and Sophia Tulp Associated Press Millions of Americans took to the skies and the highways ahead of Thanksgiving at the risk of pouring gasoline on the coronavirus fire, disregarding increasingly dire warnings that they stay home and limit their holiday gatherings to members of their own household. Those who are flying witnessed a distinctly 2020 landscape at the nation’s airports during what is traditionally one of the busiest travel periods of the year: plexiglass…

By Raf Casert and Angela Charlton Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — In a global push to end violence against women, activists held rallies Wednesday and world leaders called for action to stop the abuse, which has worsened because of the coronavirus pandemic this year. Protests from France to Ukraine were held on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to draw attention to domestic violence in what is an uphill struggle to protect millions of women killed or…

From Matt Taylor He manages one of the fastest growing ukulele channels on YouTube. He has over 36 million videos views and more than 430,000 subscribers, that it’s no wonder that he’s been recognized by his followers on the streets. And yet, if you’re not a part of the ukulele world, the chances are that you’ve never heard of Rockford resident Matt Taylor – or U Can Uke, as he is known. Since May 2017, Taylor has been the man behind UCU—offering free weekly tutorials and song covers…

ARIES You have an abundance of energy that you must learn to channel productively. You need an opportunity to let loose this week. Be sure to get some exercise or you’ll risk feeling depressed. TAURUS With so many ideas and worries running through your mind, you’ll have trouble sleeping this week. You’ll be tempted to start a new career, and you’ll be given opportunities to do so. GEMINI You’ll find yourself in the middle of a large crowd or the participant at a massive event.…

ARIES You’ll feel isolated as you shoulder all the responsibility at work and at home. At least a few people will notice your hard work and reward you for it. In some way, you’ll be recognized for your efforts. TAURUS Changes are on the horizon. If you go with the flow, you’ll find that your worries disappear on their own. Your passion project will come to fruition much faster than you thought possible. GEMINI You’ll need to clarify a financial situation at work. A few…

ARIES You’ll need to spend a lot of time negotiating to find an outcome that works for you. You’ll also find the perfect solution to your financial problems and possibly manage to land the job of your dreams. TAURUS Once you calculate how much you can afford to spend, you’ll give your wardrobe a boost with beautiful pieces from local stores. You might also want to spruce up your hair or skincare routine to make yourself look more professional. GEMINI You won’t be particularly…

ARIES Prepare to work overtime this week. If you fit the extra hours into your schedule, your efforts will be greatly rewarded. After ward, you’ll have the time and money to treat yourself. TAURUS This week, things will finally start to move forward after a long period of stagnation. How ever, your friends will prove to be a challenge. You’ll find the money you need to fund a special project or pay for a small luxury item. GEMINI One minute you feel like you’re treading water, the…

By Andrew Seligman Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — Tony La Russa, the Hall of Famer who won a World Series with the Oakland Athletics and two more with the St. Louis Cardinals, is returning to manage the Chicago White Sox 34 years after they fired him. The 76-year-old La Russa rejoins the franchise where his managing career began more than four decades ago. He takes over for Rick Renteria after what the White Sox insisted was a mutual agreement to split. “We are extremely excited…

By Scott Bauer Associated Press MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Hackers have stolen $2.3 million from the Wisconsin Republican Party's account that was being used to help reelect President Donald Trump in the key battleground state, the party's chairman told The Associated Press on Thursday. The party noticed the suspicious activity on Oct. 22 and contacted the FBI on Friday, said Republican Party Chairman Andrew Hitt. Hitt said the FBI is investigating. FBI spokesman Brett Banner said that,…

By Lori Hinnant and Daniel Cole Associated Press NICE, France (AP) — A man armed with a knife attacked people inside a French church and killed three Thursday, prompting the government to raise its security alert status to the maximum level hours before a nationwide coronavirus lockdown. The attack in Mediterranean city of Nice was the third in two months in France that authorities have attributed to Muslim extremists, including the beheading of a teacher. It comes during a growing…