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
Illinois Remains One Of The Most Restrictive States On Fireworks
Here's a little sample of an exchange between several of my coworkers when we were discussing the upcoming 4th of July festivities in a staff meeting this morning:
Illinois Weed Sales To Out-Of-State Folks Almost Doubles
The dollars coming in to the state from Illinois residents buying legal recreational marijuana continue to rise month-over-month, and sales to those across state borders are really jumping.
Rockford BBB Warns Of Online Car Buying Scam
The COVID-19 pandemic has fueled an unprecedented shift to online shopping for consumer goods of all kinds, including vehicles. It's also bringing out the scams.
Illinois Facebook Users Can Apply For $400 Lawsuit Payout
Your cut of the action is part of a massive $650 million class action settlement over a state privacy law involving Facebook and its collecting of images and information.
New Survey Names Illinois’ Favorite County Fair Food
Although, given the current COVID-19 mess we're still dealing with, we might not get to eat any of these things this fair season.
Mexico to Stop Making Corona Beer
Mexico’s Grupo Modelo, whose brands also include Pacifico and Modelo, said the suspension will take effect on Sunday.
Here’s Illinois’ Essential Businesses List
The order began at 5 p.m. Saturday and will go until April 7. Like other states, the order will mean residents can still go to the grocery stores, put gas in their cars, take walks outside and make pharmacy runs.
We’re 1 Step Closer To Making DST Permanent
If Illinois State Senator Andy Manar gets his wish, people in Illinois would move their clocks ahead one hour this coming spring, then never have to change them again.
Illinois Has Some Weird Halloween Laws
Scraping through a few hundred municipal codes in Illinois didn’t turn up any trick-or-treat ordinances allowing for jail time. But fines associated with age limits, curfews, masks and more were plentiful.
Governor Pritzker Has Broken His Leg
It seems that Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker has taken that old show business adage about breaking a leg just a bit too literally.