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.
Riley O'Neil
Cicadas In Illinois: Billions Are Coming Soon, Here’s When
Very soon, not one but two different cicada broods will simultaneously emerge from the ground in Illinois by the billions (some estimates have the number reaching 1 trillion or more). Some places in the state will have it worse than others, but there's no doubt that their coming emergence will probably be one for the record books.
In Illinois, Here’s When To Put Hummingbird Feeders Back Up
A yard full of hummingbirds is a delight, but to get them attracted to your house requires having a hummingbird feeder (or lots of flowers that they love). With the weather getting warmer and warmer even though we're in February, you might be wondering when would be the best time to put your hummingbird feeders back up.
When Do We Change Our Clocks In Illinois? This Weekend!
Since our elected officials can't seem to get off of their butts and dump this twice-yearly habit of springing forward and falling back (even though over 75% of people want it gone), we're going to have to do it again this weekend. But, as an added bonus, at least you get to lose an hour's worth of sleep.
Wisconsin Man Eats A Stunning Number Of Big Macs For Record
We're not talking about a "competitive eater" (someone who eats a ton of food in a timed period) here, we're talking about a Wisconsin man who loves Big Macs more than nearly anything else, and who's been slamming down Big Macs for over 50 years now.
Can You Identify Illinois Cities And Towns By Their Nicknames?
As you probably know, Rockford has a few nicknames. You've probably already heard of The Forest City, Screw City, The Fastener Capital Of The World, Reaper City, Illinois' 2nd City, and maybe even Furniture City, but did you know that many other Illinois cities and towns have nicknames, too? Let's take a look at some.
Duck & Cover: Illinois To Hold Statewide Tornado Drill Wednesday
Illinois' Severe Weather Preparedness Week began on Monday, with a different weather emphasis each day this week. On Monday, the topic was receiving warnings, Tuesday's theme is lightning, on Wednesday it's all about tornadoes, Thursday covers hail and winds, and on Friday it's flash floods.
Here’s What The Average Illinoisan Spends On Fast Food Per Year
As we've seen food prices skyrocket over the past 4 years, we know that fast food is not the money-saving option it once was. But have you ever taken a moment to total up how much you drop on fast food over the course of a year? It's okay if you haven't, because someone else has done the math for you on this one.
Clock Change: Here’s When Daylight Saving Time Begins In Illinois
The day to move our clocks forward one hour is rapidly approaching, and despite the fact most everyone hates doing the "spring forward-fall back" routine, lawmakers don't seem any closer to getting rid of it here in Illinois or anywhere else in the nation.
Illinois Chick-Fil-A Lovers: Company Says Toss This Sauce Now
Another day, another recall. Well, maybe recall isn't exactly the right word to use here, so let's go with another day, another request from a company that you throw away its leftover product because it could cause you problems. There, fixed it.
Free For Leap Day: Illinois Joints That Offer Freebies Today
I didn't realize until this morning that February 29th, or Leap Day, was a day that inspired restaurants and other spots throughout Illinois and the rest of the country to offer up discounts or freebies. Regardless, it is a day for freebies and discounts, so I'll expect you to remember that in four years. Now go take advantage of the day.