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
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 i…
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?
Here’s How You Track Your Stimulus Check
The IRS tweeted over the weekend that the first of the stimulus checks were being deposited into bank accounts. So, where's yours?
Illinois Halts All Activities At State Parks Due To COVID-19
The ban includes all activities at state parks, fish and wildlife areas, recreational areas and historic sites.
McDonald’s Is Donating 1 Million N95 Masks In Illinois
Of the one million masks, 750K will be distributed in Chicago, where the company's global headquarters is located, and another 250K will go to the rest of the state.
Congressman Adam Kinzinger On The COVID-19 Crisis
We asked 16th District Congressman Adam Kinzinger for his thoughts on the current COVID-19 pandemic, and his take on the government's response.