Good morning, Rockford.

Aaron’s Inc. surprised teens at the Boys and Girls Club of Rockford Carlson Unit on April 3 with a $20,000 room makeover — the update brought in new furniture, arcade games, concession machines, 3D printers, VR headsets and gaming systems chosen by the teens.

AAR Corp expanded its workforce from 35 to 400 employees at its Airframe MRO Rockford facility and now offers repair, maintenance, and overhaul services to major airliners.

General Manager Troy Primus said the facility — which hired local Rock Valley College graduates — shows strong local growth and supports plans for expansion as the company prepares to celebrate 70 years of service.

A 33-year-old Rockford man, Miguel Avila, faces multiple charges—including two counts of aggravated DUI involving death and reckless homicide—after a fatal crash on the 4600 block of E.

State Street on January 25 that killed Brandy Wheeler-Norris, and he was arrested on April 3.

The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office introduced its Wellness — Resiliency Department less than a year ago to support deputies with mental and physical health, and Sheriff Gary Caruana said all officers will soon meet with counselor Marissa Ebert to help reduce stigma and improve overall well-being.

Transitions Hospice opened a new location at 345 Executive Parkway in Rockford on April 3 to expand its palliative and end-of-life care services to Freeport, DeKalb and Sycamore (adding to its five existing centers).

At the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford today, future doctors honored more than 400 children who were abused or neglected by displaying 400 blue pinwheels on the campus grass.

The event aims to raise awareness of child abuse and has led to the posting of new billboards (15 around the region) to help protect vulnerable children.

More than 250 table tennis players from over 50 colleges and 25 countries are competing at the National Collegiate Table Tennis Championships held at the UW Health Sports Factory in Rockford; the event began on April 3 and will run until April 6.

Local officials expect the competition to draw 2,000 fans—bringing about $479,253 in economic impact.

The Puri Cup College Showcase is underway from April 4th to April 6th at Mercyhealth Sportscore Two in Loves Park with 154 teams and over 10,000 attendees, drawing teams from Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and more (with an average of 16 players per team) as part of Rockford's growing soccer tradition. The Puri Champions Cup will be held from April 11th to April 13th with 308 teams, over 7,000 spectators and an estimated 3.4 million dollars in economic impact expected.

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.

34th Annual RAMI Awards

7-10:30 p.m. — Hard Rock Casino Rockford — Ticket info not specified — Celebrate the achievements of the Rockford music community during this annual awards night.

Screw City Car Show

10 AM – 2 PM — Screw City Tavern — Free entry — Celebrate spring with tacos, music, and a showcase of cars, trucks, and bikes.

Bergstrom Corporate Headquarters Tour

5:30-8 p.m. — Bergstrom Inc — Free entry — Explore the heart of Bergstrom operations since 1971 and network with industry peers.

Steve Trevino at Coronado Theatre

8:00–9:30 p.m. — Coronado Theatre — Ticket prices starting at $38 — Experience a night of laughter with comedian Steve Trevino.

Fresh Finds Spring Market

12-5 p.m. — Rockford Wholesalers — Free entry — Enjoy a delightful day of shopping local with handmade goods and fresh finds.