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
Do Illinois Drivers Suck At Driving? New Study Takes A Look
If you're an Illinois driver with more than a couple of years worth of driving experience, you probably answered the question about whether or not Illinois drivers suck at driving with one of two possible answers
Rockford Looks To Replace Nearly 2000 Streetlights With LEDs
Let's see if I have this straight. LED (stands for light-emitting diode) lights are 50% more energy efficient than sodium vapor lights, they last 15-20 years instead of 2-5 years, and they spread their illumination far more evenly than standard streetlights.
Rockford, These Bugs Are Trying To Get In Your House Right Now
Okay, maybe the bugs aren't quite as large as the photo might suggest, but my "How To Add Hyperbolic Photos To Your Internet Posts" handbook said that these would work.
Rockford BBB: Scammers Are Impersonating Your Facebook Friends
I just read a statistic that says the average Facebook user has 338 friends. The stat went on to point out that the average Facebook user is connected to fewer genuine friends than people they've never met in person, which comprises 39% of users' connections.
Invasive Jumping Worms Found In Winnebago, 37 Other Counties
The "jumping worm," aka the "crazy worm," aka the "snake worm" has spread to almost half of Illinois counties, including Winnebago, Dekalb, Jo Daviess, and Stephenson.
Holiday Shipping From Rockford? Here Are The Deadlines
Okay, you're probably getting a little nervous in anticipation of sending out holiday gifts to those people in your life that you love so much. In today's world, you want to make sure you've got all your shipping dates firmed up.
Watchdog Group Gives Illinois An F In Financial Health
Of course, come election time, you'll hear some incumbents trying to tell Illinois residents that the F stands for fabulous, fantastic, or just freaking awesome.
The Best Illinois Restaurant From “Triple-D” Isn’t Far From Rockford
As I've mentioned before, we're huge fans of Guy Fieri and Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives in my house, often leaving it on in the background as "comfort television." But, did you know that Guy and "Triple-D" have visited 40 Illinois restaurants?
City Of Rockford Warns Of Door-To-Door Imposters
You may a peephole or cameras to check and see who's at your front door, but even having those advantages might not save you from a door-to-door scammer.
Rockford Changes Clocks Back In A Month–Is It Time To Dump DST?
Try a little experiment at work or home. Mention to people around you that it's about a month until it's time to change the clocks again. See how many people respond with something to the effect of "Again? I ****ing hate having to do that!"