Daily
Rockford
Friday, January 23rd, 2026
Good morning, Rockford. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 23rd of January.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ YWCA Northwestern Illinois extended its Women of Achievement nomination deadline to today for the awards luncheon on March 2 at Hard Rock Casino—nominations require a one-page letter to support entries in categories such as business, community leadership, and mentorship. Scholarship applications also remain open for eligible high school seniors. Rockford Register Star
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Singer-songwriter Hannah Frey and her band performed live at Studio A yesterday, playing tracks from her album Lucky Girl and previewing new material while discussing the band's future. Northern Public Radio
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Patriots Gateway Community Center (615 S. Fifth St.) will host a literacy open house on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 5 p.m., featuring a new library, free book giveaways, and the first Literacy Advocate of the Year award for Wayne Spitzer. Rockford Register Star
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ A polar vortex will bring dangerous cold to northern Illinois this weekend with wind chills dropping well below zero, and ComEd has boosted crews to handle outages while fire officials warn residents to use space heaters safely (generators should not be used indoors). WIFR
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Illinois Tollway has deployed 24-hour Zero Weather Road Patrols to help stranded drivers during dangerously cold weather and advise motorists to call 999 if they experience issues + patrols run continuously when temperatures drop below zero. WIFR
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Susan Nelson – Soprano Performance
7:30-10:00 p.m. — Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center — Ticket prices vary — Experience the powerful and sensitive performances of soprano Susan Nelson as she celebrates women composers.
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Ernie Hendrickson Band Tribute to The Grateful Dead
8-10 p.m. — The Music Box — Ticket info available — Join Ernie Hendrickson Band for a nostalgic tribute to The Grateful Dead.
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AHL All Star Classic
1-9 p.m. — BMO Center — Ticket prices vary — Cheer on top hockey players as they showcase their skills at this all-star event.
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Galentine's Pop-Up
4-8 p.m. — Rockford City Market — Free entry — Celebrate friendship with themed drinks and local vendors for a fun Galentine's get-together.
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Valentine's Day Ski-Plane Fly-In
5 PM — Midtown District — Free entry — Enjoy a winter cookout with lots of fun and ski planes at Cottonwood Airport.
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Dexter Patterson Meet & Greet and Book Signing
3-7 p.m. — RPL Nordlof Center — Free for general admission; VIP tickets available — Celebrate Black History Month with author Dexter Patterson sharing his passion for birding and signing his new book.
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An Evening with Laid Back Country Picker
7:30-9:30 p.m. — The Music Box — Cost not specified — A unique concert blending country rock with a powerful duo performance.
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TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
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Reveal the authorAbout Daily Rockford
Welcome to the Daily Rockford, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Rockford, Illinois community. If you like the Daily Rockford, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Rockford.
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