Riley O'Neil

Riley O'Neil has logged more hours behind a microphone than any other Rockford radio personality, starting out with his hiring at WROK in February of 1983. He’s also the longest-tenured morning show host in WROK's 100-year history, with 22 years as the host of the WROK Morning Show. He’s a multi award-winning commercial producer, voice-over artist, and much sought after product and service endorser for multiple local businesses. In addition to hosting the WROK Morning Show with Joe Dredge, Riley also writes for 1440WROK.com, covering everything from Illinois' best local restaurants, to some of the wildest and funniest things Illinois residents have gotten themselves into, and everything in-between.

Illinois Christmas: The “Hide The Pickle” Holiday Tradition

If you're not familiar with pickle ornaments or the "hide the pickle" holiday tradition, you've got to be a little confused by the headline. Read on to learn more about hiding the pickle, and how the whole thing may have gotten started by an Illinois Civil War soldier.

Illinois Pet Owners: These 7 Holiday Plants Are Toxic To Pets

At Thanksgiving time, it's about the foods you should and shouldn't allow your pet to eat, but then at Christmastime you also have to consider not only the foods to avoid but the holiday plants, too. Here are the ones to keep away from the four-legged family members in your house.

Christmas Lights On Your Vehicle In Illinois: Legal Or Illegal?

Throughout the holiday season, we'll see lots of cars, trucks, and vans out and about decorated with strings of holiday lights, so it has to be legal, right? Well, the answer depends on a couple of factors...

What Would Happen To Illinois Parents For A Real-Life Home Alone?

The story of a little boy being left behind while his parents and siblings fly off to Paris is undoubtedly a heart-warming classic Christmas movie, but it probably wouldn't result in a "happily ever after" if it really happened here in Illinois.

Wish List 2024: Here Are Illinois’ Most-Wanted Christmas Gifts

What's hot when it comes to holiday gifts this year? Sure, there are some new and interesting things, but when it comes to Christmas wishes, people in Illinois really seem to love the classics.

Illinois Grocery Tax: Here’s What Cities And Towns Are Paying Now

Illinois' one-percent state grocery tax is set to phase out in January of 2026, which should save all of us some money. How much money? Let's take a look at what some individual cities and towns in Illinois are currently paying out in grocery taxes right now, and hope that Illinois cities don't decide to impose their own grocery taxes like two cities have already done.

Christmas Lights In Illinois: Here’s What It Costs To Run Them

Whether you go all-in on a huge, elaborate Christmas light display at your house, or you just point a sign that says "ditto" at your neighbor's awesome display, you've probably never calculated the costs of running Christmas lights throughout the season...although my dad sure did, and never let us forget it.

Illinois Shoppers, Here Are The 2024 Holiday Shipping Deadlines

I know, it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but we thought you might like to get a jump on things before the shipping deadlines are just a few days away. Now, you have time to plan out when you'll be sending out holiday gifts to friends and family outside of Illinois.

Here’s How Old Illinois Kids Have To Be To Be Left Home Alone

All kids are different, and so are the states that they live in when it comes to the age that it's okay to leave a kid home by themselves. Here in Illinois...well, let's put it this way: Kevin McAllister's parents in the movie Home Alone would probably be in an Illinois jail for leaving him behind when they went to Paris.

Bees In Illinois: Ever Wondered Where They Go When It Gets Cold?

Some things migrate toward the south and warmer weather, other things dig in and hunker down for a long winter's nap, but what happens to Illinois' bees, wasps, and yellow jackets when the weather turns frigid?