Riley O'Neil

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.

Here’s How Old Illinois Kids Have To Be To Be Left Home Alone

All kids are different, and so are the states that they live in when it comes to the age that it's okay to leave a kid home by themselves. Here in Illinois...well, let's put it this way: Kevin McAllister's parents in the movie Home Alone would probably be in an Illinois jail for leaving him behind when they went to Paris.

Bees In Illinois: Ever Wondered Where They Go When It Gets Cold?

Some things migrate toward the south and warmer weather, other things dig in and hunker down for a long winter's nap, but what happens to Illinois' bees, wasps, and yellow jackets when the weather turns frigid?

America’s Most Expensive Martini Offered By Chicago Joint

Who wouldn't want to sit down for a drink that will cost you as much as some cars would? I'd be totally up for it if I had a very wealthy friend who insisted on paying my bar tab in full.

Payphones In Illinois: Can You Guess How Many We Have Left?

Way back when in the pre-cellphone era, if you were away from home and had to make a call you looked for the nearest payphone...and usually prayed that it would be in working order. Now that payphones are as hard to find as cheap gas, I got to wondering just how many of these relics from the past we still have around in Illinois.

Here’s Why There’s A Truck In A Tree On Highway 43 Outside Beloit

If you've ever found yourself traveling on Route 43 about eight miles outside of Beloit near mile marker 6 and the Clinton exit, you've seen the Truck In The Tree.

Foodie Website: Illinois Foods You Have To Try Before You Die

And you call yourself an Illinoisan! Well, actually, I don't know if you call yourself an Illinoisan or not, but just in case you do, here's a list of Illinois-centric foods that a food-based website thinks you should try before your time here comes to a close. Let's see how many you've already sampled.

“Best 22 Pizza Places In The US” Includes 2 Illinois Pizza Joints

If there's one thing that Illinois and the rest of the country have in common, it's an incredibly large assortment of pizza joints to choose from. A new study says that of all Illinois' pizza places, these two were included in a list of the best 22 pizza joints from across the nation.

Illinois Hospitals: A New Study Names The Top 25 In The State

If you find yourself injured or seriously under the weather, a new study says that these 25 Illinois hospitals are where you should be going to get yourself better.

Illinois Thanksgiving Travelers: The Best/Worst Travel Times

With a record number of people planning to hit the road over Thanksgiving, you're going to have plenty of company as you travel over the river and through the woods to...well...wherever you're going. Here are the best and worst times to back out of your driveway and get started.

Are You Hearing Illinois’ Owls? Here’s Why They’re Loud Lately

It only happens very late at night or very early in the morning, but Illinois' owl populations are being anything but quiet over the last few weeks. Here's why Illinois owls are making themselves heard lately.