Good morning, Rockford.

Rockford firefighters quickly stopped a fully engulfed car fire outside Levels Clothing Store on Auburn Street on March 18 — no injuries were reported as the blaze was contained before it reached nearby property.

Illinois Senate committee approved a measure to ban cell phones in classrooms—allowing use in emergencies, for teacher-approved activities and for health needs.

The bill now moves to the full Senate for further review.

Earlier this school year, hundreds of students at Rockford Public Schools did not get the occupational therapy they needed after the district cut its OT staff from 19 to 14 to save money.

The district is now hiring more therapists and offering virtual sessions—actions that some former therapists say may not be as effective.

Five candidates are running in three races for the Rockford Public Schools 205 Board with Election Day on April 1.

They come from diverse backgrounds in education, community service, and industry and plan to focus on issues such as the school budget, student safety, and academic improvement in the district.

On March 14, over 400 RPS 205 high school students job shadowed local professionals in education, hospitality, and public safety fields (including roles in law enforcement, teaching, and fire science).

The program aimed to link classroom lessons to real-world work experiences (as part of RPS 205’s College and Career Academies) to prepare students for life after graduation.

Rep. Eric Sorensen visited Rockford on Wednesday to discuss a bill that would keep the city’s Social Security office open after it was listed for closure to save costs.

The Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act, introduced on March 11th, would bar closures until January 21st and is meant to protect seniors, people with disabilities and working families.

Illinois legislators are renewing a push to ban hidden fees by requiring hotels, restaurants, food delivery apps and live ticket events to list all charges before payment—sponsored by Rep. Bob Morgan and Sen. Omar Aquino with support from Attorney General Kwame Raoul while the bill would exempt wholesale clubs, car rentals, airlines and internet companies.

Five local youth from Ogle County won first place at the Northwest Regional 4-H Horse Bowl and Hippology event at Sauk Valley Community College, earning a spot at the Illinois State contest in April.

The team—which includes Adalyn Bocker, Kenzie Hongsermeier, Lily Hongsermeier, Stella Lombardozzi and Addison Diehl—demonstrated strong knowledge about horses.

Enchanted Fae Ball

7 PM - 12 AM | The Standard | Ticketed event | Experience a magical night of dance, performances, and craft cocktails under shimmering lights.

An Evening with Jessica Willis Fisher

Experience an intimate live performance by Jessica Willis Fisher at The Music Box in Rockford.

Teacher Appreciation Night

The Rockford IceHogs and the Golden Apple Foundation are partnering for Teacher Appreciation Night at the IceHogs game on Friday, March 28, for the IceHogs 7 p.m. game against the Manitoba Moose! At the game on March 28, there will be additional ways you can support Golden Apple. All proceeds that night from the IceHogs 50/50 raffle and Spin-to-Win game will be donated to Golden Apple to aid in its mission to celebrate and support educational excellence in our community. March 28 is also a $2 beer and soft drink night at the IceHogs!

Midwest Holistic Health Fair - Rockford, IL

The Midwest's premier Holistic Health Fair offers attendees a chance to connect with vendors, sample products, and learn about holistic health and wellness practices.

Nick Dittmeier & the Sawdusters Live Performance

7-10:30 p.m. — The Music Box — Free entry — Experience the progressive roots rock sound of one of the Midwest's most hard-touring bands.

Air Supply Live Concert

7 PM – 1 AM — Hard Rock Casino Rockford — Tickets available — Experience the legendary sounds of Air Supply at this unforgettable live performance.

Easter Egg-Streme Egg Hunt

7-9 p.m. — The YMCA of Rock River Valley - Northeast Family YMCA — Free entry — Celebrate Easter with egg hunts, crafts, and a photo with the Easter bunny.

Egg Hunt at Camp Winnebago

1-4 p.m. — Camp Winnebago Branch YMCA — Free entry — Enjoy a fun-filled Easter Egg Hunt with games, crafts, and thousands of eggs filled with sweets and prizes.