I consider myself lucky to have been born and raised right here in the Rock River Valley, a place that my family and my wife Amy's family have called home for generations. I was first hired at WROK in 1983, and except for a short departure, I've spent my entire career right here in Rockford. Halloween of 2019 will mark my 18th anniversary of hosting the WROK Morning Show, making me the longest-serving morning show host in the station's nearly 100-year history. Amy and I have been happily married for 28 years, with two (now grown) children, Spencer (who does voice-overs for audio books and commercial voice-over work, too), and Molly (a graduate of Rock Valley College who also dazzles with service at a popular local restaurant). I'm luckier than I ever thought possible. When I'm not here at the station, I can usually be found at one of Rockford's many great, local events, either as host/master of ceremonies, or as an attendee. If we should meet, feel free to buy me 1 to 7 drinks.
Riley O'Neil
Chicago Man Jumps In Lake Michigan 365 Consecutive Days
When I first learned about a guy named Dan O'Conor, "The Great Lake Jumper," I took a moment and thought about what unique things I may have done every day for the last 365 days.
Illinoisans Pay The 10th Highest “Lifetime” Taxes In The U.S
As you probably already know, Illinois leads the Midwest (and is near the top in the nation) in outbound migration. When people who are moving out of our state are asked why, the number one reason, by a wide margin, is a one-word answer: taxes.
Don’t Yell At Your Rockford Barista Over Ingredient Shortage
I'll admit right off the bat that I don't frequently call on the services of a coffee barista. Don't get me wrong, I love all things coffee, but I'm pretty good at whipping up the things I like all by myself.
Rockford City Council Greenlights $300K Tourism Campaign
Earlier in the year, President and CEO of the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (RACVB), John Groh, said he expected it would take until probably 2024 for Rockford tourism numbers to get back to where they were before the pandemic.
Judge Greenlights Early End To Blagojevich’s Court Supervision
After all the years of a sometimes circus-like atmosphere surrounding him and his legal problems, it looks like the judicial system is done with former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich as of yesterday.
Rockford Area Text Message, Airfare Scams On The Rise
Thanks to our friend Dennis Horton, Director of the Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau (BBB), we learned a new word this morning: Smishing.
There’s A Lot Of Talk That The Chicago Bears Are Going To Be Sold
Yesterday, the buzz started to grow about some apparent strife within the McCaskey family that may eventually wind up with the Chicago Bears being sold.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac Predictions On Rockford’s Summer Weather
Whenever I think about the weather predictions offered up annually in the Old Farmer's Almanac, I think about a piece I read years ago that said something to the effect of their forecasting being to meteorology what astrology is to astronomy.
Illinois Secretary Of State Warns Of New Text And Email Scams
So you've received a text or email from the Illinois Secretary of State's office, and it looks official. It's got the right logo, it's got the right masthead, so it's obviously legit, right?
First Rats, Now Chicago Is Named A Top Mosquito Haven
It's pretty clear that Chicago is on a roll this year when it comes to having annoying, biting, or bloodsucking pests in abundance (and in elected office). I'm just not sure that this is the kind of thing Chicago's tourism folks would want to brag about.