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
By The Numbers: How Much Alcohol Illinois And The Midwest Drinks
Remember when we got all those warnings early in the pandemic about being careful about how much wine, beer, and/or booze we were pouring down our throats while we were forced into locking down at home?
200 Illinois Skydivers Are Trying To Set A World Record This Week
As of this writing (Thursday morning, 9:30), two hundred skydivers are still trying to set the World’s Largest Vertical Formation record at Skydive Chicago that they began trying to set earlier in the week. Considering what they're attempting, I can understand why it hasn't happened yet.
You Feeling Okay? Life Expectancy In Illinois Drops By 2 Years
According to a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), across the United States, life expectancy dropped to 77 years in 2020, down from 78.8 in 2019. Not one state saw an increase in life expectancy in 2020.
Stargazers Will Absolutely Love Illinois’ Only Dark Sky Park
I've learned a couple of things over the last 24 hours that I never knew before. One, there are places called Dark Sky Parks, and two, Illinois has one in a forest preserve about 3 hours from Rockford.
Mask Mandate Is Back At Illinois Driver’s License Facilities
When the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) says that it is fully adopting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) new masking guidelines, it's a pretty safe bet that others will follow suit.
Expiration Date For Your Illinois Driver’s License Gets Extended
With the amount of delays and postponements in almost every aspect of our lives that we've had to deal with over the last year, why not add in one more?
Illinois Is One Of The Least Patriotic States, Says New Study
Depending upon your outlook, that headline may anger, disappoint, and/or depress you; or you may feel like Samuel Johnson felt in April of 1775 when he said "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel."
U Of I Says Returning Students Must Be Vaccinated
While Governor Pritzker and his administration are saying "Hey! Get yourself vaccinated against COVID-19 and you could win a pile of money in a vax lottery," The University of Illinois is saying "You want to be a student here? Get vaccinated."
Deadly Algae That Can Kill Your Dog Is Growing In Illinois Lakes
If you recall, back in 2019, The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) were asking Illinois residents to be more vigilant about where they boat, ski, and swim over the summer due to blue-green algae "blooms" that are occurring in Illinois' lakes and rivers.
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?