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
Website Travel Experts Call Out Illinois Suburbs For Being Snobby
Rockford has drawn a lot of different labels over the years, some good and some bad, but one thing we've never been known for in our area is being snobby (not that we care what the little people think).
Little Known Gem: You Can Take A Week-Long Cruise In Illinois
So you want to have a really fun, week-long cruise experience, but you're not really that into the idea of leaving the United States, given the current crazy state of the world.
Why Does Rockford Seems To Be Crawling With Wild Turkeys?
According to the University of Illinois Extension, there are over 150,000 turkeys in Illinois, with populations in every one of Illinois' 102 counties. And, those populations are growing.
Scenic Rockford Eatery Makes “Illinois Restaurant Bucket List”
It's nice to see that not every bucket list has to be chockful of bungee jumping, skydiving, bull running, or Everest summitting.
Wisconsin Couple Attacked By Bear That Charged Through Window
So, what do you think happens when you look out your window and see a bear eating out of your birdfeeder and you decide to yell at it to go away?
Alpine Kiwanis: Here Are The Dates For This Summer’s Brat Days
Years ago, a friend from out of town visiting Rockford during Alpine Kiwanis Brat Days asked me this question: "So, Rockford's idea of a good time is hanging around a parking lot and eating bratwursts during the heat of the summer? Really?"
Most Of Rockford’s Package Thefts Happen On These 2 Days Of The Week
Package theft, in the form of swiping stuff from front porches is big business, and it's getting bigger every year as more and more of us are doing our shopping online. A new study shows that two days of the week in particular are the most active for porch pirates.
Do We Have A Problem? Illinoisans Among “Most Addicted To Amazon”
I just read a piece this morning about "impulse shopping," and how we Americans are doing a lot more of it than we did last year, and even more than we did two years ago.
Scare Easily? Study Reveals What Illinoisans Are Most Afraid Of
Let's get started by asking you to think about yourself for a moment. Do you have any phobias? Up until this morning, I figured the percentage of Americans with phobias had to be around 50 percent...but it turns out I was way off on my guess.
Looking For Baby Names? These Were Illinois’ Top Names Of 2021
When I was born, way back in 1963, my name, Riley, was given to less than 5 babies born in the entire United States. I was in my middle 20s before I met another person with that name. Things have changed in the baby-naming world since then.