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.

Fireflies/Lightning Bugs In Illinois: Why We’re Seeing Less

If you've thought to yourself that there really seem to be less lightning bugs/fireflies out on warm nights than you remember from being a kid, it's not your imagination. Illinoisans are seeing less of them, and there are three primary reasons why.

These 11 Illinois Universities Named To “Best In The World” List

Over 2,500 different universities around the world were evaluated on a variety of criteria to determine the very best, and Illinois makes a great showing with eleven schools landing on the list (and two in the top 100 worldwide).

Illinois Doctor Gets 10 Years Prison For Fraud, Lying To Patients

It's horrible enough to be told that you have cancer or some other life-threatening condition when it's true, Just think about how awful it would be if your doctor lied about it just to bill you and your insurance for tests, meds, and treatments you didn't need at all. That's what an Illinois doctor is going to prison for doing.

Illinois Woman Nearly Loses $5,000 In “Funeral Fund” Scam

With so many scams going on in Illinois and across the nation, it's hard to keep them all straight. In this particular case, someone with a good heart was scammed in a grocery store parking lot, and the scammers almost got away with it.

Illinois’ Deadly Plants: This Nasty One Could Be In Your Yard

Contrary to popular theory, not everything green is good. In this case, the Illinois plant we're talking about might be very nearby wherever you are...and it can kill you.

Feels Like You’re On Fire: Avoid This Nasty Illinois Summer Plant

You probably know all about poison ivy, poison oak, and maybe even poison hemlock, but how much do you know about a blooming Illinois plant that can give you pain like you've never felt before?

Illinois Drinkers: New Study Shows Which Counties Drink The Most

A new study shows that one in six adult drinkers in America are binge drinkers, but in some states, cities, and counties the numbers are higher than that. Although Illinois will probably never outdrink the folks in Wisconsin and Iowa, we've got more than our share of bingers, too. Let's see where they live in our state.

Buyer Beware: Illinois BBB Warns Of Ongoing Concert Tickets Scam

As we move through spring toward summertime, all sorts of musical acts are hitting the road on concert tours throughout the country. Ticket sales will be huge, and that kind of money attracts scam artists who move in to try to get your money while giving you nothing...especially concert tickets.

One Illinois Pizzeria Lands On Food & Wine’s “Must Visit” List

Everyone outside of Illinois seems to think that the only pizza you can find in Illinois is deep-dish, Chicago-style pizza. It's somewhat ironic to see that a well-respected food magazine's pick for Illinois' "must-visit" pizzeria specializes in tavern-style pizza.

Travel Time: Illinois’ Most-Googled Summer Vacation Spots

Even if you can't afford more than a "stay-cation" this summer, it doesn't mean that you can't fantasize a little bit about a summer vacation to someplace special by Googling summer vacation spots that appeal to you. That's what Illinoisans have been doing, and here's the list of the 5 most Googled summer getaways by Illinois residents.