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.
Riley O'Neil
Illinois Cicada Spring Invasion: Do You Know About Their Pee?
By now, you've probably heard about this once-every-200-years emergence of cicadas we're about to experience this spring here in Illinois and some other places. There are going to be billions, if not a trillion of these bugs surfacing throughout Illinois, but the one thing not many are discussing is the problem with cicada urine.
These Are The Hardest To Pronounce Town Names In Illinois
From difficult to say Native American town names to old-world town names that we've decided to pronounce differently, Illinois has got a tongue-tying city or town name for everyone.
Drinking In Illinois: Here’s The Most-Ordered Item At The Bar
It doesn't really matter what time of year it is, Illinois drinkers have really developed an affinity for a certain type of alcoholic beverage, and they're ordering it more than anything else. Any guesses?
Cicadas In Illinois: Billions Are Coming Soon, Here’s When
Very soon, not one but two different cicada broods will simultaneously emerge from the ground in Illinois by the billions (some estimates have the number reaching 1 trillion or more). Some places in the state will have it worse than others, but there's no doubt that their coming emergence will probably be one for the record books.
In Illinois, Here’s When To Put Hummingbird Feeders Back Up
A yard full of hummingbirds is a delight, but to get them attracted to your house requires having a hummingbird feeder (or lots of flowers that they love). With the weather getting warmer and warmer even though we're in February, you might be wondering when would be the best time to put your hummingbird feeders back up.
When Do We Change Our Clocks In Illinois? This Weekend!
Since our elected officials can't seem to get off of their butts and dump this twice-yearly habit of springing forward and falling back (even though over 75% of people want it gone), we're going to have to do it again this weekend. But, as an added bonus, at least you get to lose an hour's worth of sleep.
Wisconsin Man Eats A Stunning Number Of Big Macs For Record
We're not talking about a "competitive eater" (someone who eats a ton of food in a timed period) here, we're talking about a Wisconsin man who loves Big Macs more than nearly anything else, and who's been slamming down Big Macs for over 50 years now.
Duck & Cover: Illinois To Hold Statewide Tornado Drill Wednesday
Illinois' Severe Weather Preparedness Week began on Monday, with a different weather emphasis each day this week. On Monday, the topic was receiving warnings, Tuesday's theme is lightning, on Wednesday it's all about tornadoes, Thursday covers hail and winds, and on Friday it's flash floods.
Can You Identify Illinois Cities And Towns By Their Nicknames?
As you probably know, Rockford has a few nicknames. You've probably already heard of The Forest City, Screw City, The Fastener Capital Of The World, Reaper City, Illinois' 2nd City, and maybe even Furniture City, but did you know that many other Illinois cities and towns have nicknames, too? Let's take a look at some.
Here’s What The Average Illinoisan Spends On Fast Food Per Year
As we've seen food prices skyrocket over the past 4 years, we know that fast food is not the money-saving option it once was. But have you ever taken a moment to total up how much you drop on fast food over the course of a year? It's okay if you haven't, because someone else has done the math for you on this one.