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
Casino Gambling May Return To Illinois Later This Month
Estimates peg Illinois' casino losses during the COVID-19 lockdown at nearly $100 million. Today, the Illinois Gaming Board will meet to talk about reopening strategies.
Here’s What Illinoisans Prefer On Their Barbecue Grill
The team at Grill Cook Bake surveyed over 3,900 Americans, asking them about their favorite grilled food, how they like their steak cooked, and if they prefer hamburgers or hot dogs.
Pritzker’s Executive Order Okays In-Person Summer School
Governor JB Pritzker's executive order okays limited in-person instructions at both public and private schools this summer.
JC Penney Is Closing 5 Illinois Stores, Including Freeport
J.C. Penney will begin closing 154 of its stores next week in what it is calling the first phase of its efforts to shrink its footprint.
AMC Theatres: We Might Not Be Able To Stay In Business
The parent company of Rockford's ShowPlace 16 and Machesney Park's ShowPlace 14, is the largest movie theater chain in the world.
Gas Prices Drop In The Rockford Area, Says Gas Buddy
For the 5th straight week, the national average price of gasoline has risen, posting a gain of 0.7 cents over the last week to $1.97 per gallon. Here in Rockford, it's different.
Amazon, Target, Walmart, Apple Make Changes Due To Looting
Nationwide unrest in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis has prompted some major retailers to scale back deliveries and close stores.
Lake Of The Ozarks Viral Video Prompts Travel Advisory
A bunch of videos appeared on social media showing hundreds of people packed in swimming pools and summer venues in Lake of the Ozarks, many not wearing facemasks or adhering to social distancing.
Google Releases Results Of America’s Top Spelling Searches
Google Trends put together a map of the most common "How do you spell ..." searches in every state so far this year. How are we doing in Illinois? Beautiful.
People Keep Breaking Cannonball Run Records During Lockdown
"Cannonballers" can't seem to stop themselves from attempting coast-to-coast speed runs on U.S.'s empty roads.