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
Illinois City Leads The Country In Car Thefts With Over 21,000
For the first time in over 15 years, car thefts in the United States crossed the one-million-cars-stolen mark. That big number could not have been reached if it weren't for the efforts of some hard-working, car stealing Illinois residents.
Farmer’s Almanac: Here’s What Illinois’ Summer Will Be Like
A great way to keep your mind off of all the snow shoveling and freezing you've been doing is to look ahead, 3 months in the future, to see what kind of summer we can look forward to around here.
Illinois Man Sues Buffalo Wild Wings For A Strange Reason
This lawsuit is the first one of its kind that I can recall, but it's not the first time I've heard about a raging debate over what actually is or isn't a chicken wing. Regardless, this is definitely a first-world problem.
Illinois’ Best Irish Pub: Foodie Website Says It’s This Place
A great Irish pub can be enjoyed at any time of the year, not just on or around St. Patrick's Day. Illinois has plenty to choose from, but this place gets the nod from several food & drink websites as being the best in the state.
Illinois Flashback: Ski Jumping At Wrigley Field In 1944
In addition to baseball, Chicago's Wrigley Field has hosted all sorts of things like football, boxing, rodeos, concerts (the first being held in 1922), and now we learn there was also ski-jumping.
Are Illinois Shoppers Obsessed With Amazon? Survey Says Yes!
A nationwide survey was done to find out which states are obsessed with Amazon, which could go without it, and the lengths people would go to to get free shipping. Here in Illinois, we've got some Amazon addiction going on.
Best Frozen Pizza? Website Says It’s This Illinois-Made Favorite
It seems like there are about half a million different frozen pizzas to choose from, but there's a certain frozen pizza that's made right here in Illinois that really gets people passionate.
Recall Alert: TJ Maxx And Marshalls Chairs Could Cause Injury
There are enough tough things to deal with at the office without worrying that you'll suddenly be surrounded by broken chair parts, staring at the ceiling and groaning in pain.
Illinois Walmart Manager Charged For Taking Bag With $135K Inside
It's probably a safe bet that you and I don't have many opportunities at work to fill a bag with cash and head for home, and even if we did---we probably wouldn't do it. Also, knowing that whatever you're doing is being picked up on security cameras should be enough to convince you that stealing from your employer might be a bad idea. A Joliet woman knows that now.
Rockford BBB: These Are The Current Riskiest Scams In Illinois
It would be more convenient if there was an actual "scam season" that we would know was coming at a certain time each year. Sure, the holidays are a big time of year for scammers, but have no doubt that they're looking at ways to take your money and information 365 days per year here in Illinois.