Daily Rockford Logo Daily Rockford

Thursday, April 24th, 2025

SHARE
SPONSORED BY
Advertiser Logo

Supporting our sponsors is one of the best ways to support Daily Rockford.

Good morning, Rockford. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 24th of April.

COMMUNITY NEWS

  • Organizers announced that the Rock River Anything That Floats Race is canceled for the foreseeable future—challenges with sponsorship and participation made it too difficult to keep the tradition going. The event, revived in 2017 and once attracting thousands of spectators, will not be held until further notice.  WIFR

BUSINESS NEWS

  • Village Green Home & Garden, a local business celebrating 60 years, has put its 6.3-acre Riverside Boulevard property and business on sale for $4.6 million after a showing on April 22 — the family plans to keep the nursery operating as it gears up for its anniversary events and special sales on Saturday.  Rock River Current

CRIME NEWS

  • A 16-year-old Rockford boy was arrested Tuesday when police on the SCOPE team stopped him on Bluefield Street and found he was carrying a stolen loaded handgun from Kenosha—he now faces multiple charges.  WTVO
  • A Loves Park woman wanted for stabbing at a Rockford-area hotel was arrested in Dodgeville Township in Wisconsin on April 22—she faces charges of felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and misdemeanor domestic battery causing bodily harm.  WIFR

EDUCATION NEWS

  • During the 2023-24 school year, 45% of the 1,096 students in Kinnikinnick Community Consolidated School District 131 passed the math portion of the IAR — marking a 4.5% decrease from the previous year, with the district serving four schools centered in Roscoe.  Rockford Sun

ENVIRONMENT NEWS

  • A new report from the American Lung Association shows the Rockford region's air quality worsened, with data from 2021 to 2023 revealing an F for ground-level pollution and a D for particle pollution—5.2 unhealthy ozone days and 3.2 unhealthy particle days per year.  WIFR

GOVERNMENT NEWS

  • Sen. Dick Durbin announced he will retire in 2026 after serving over 40 years in Congress & he said he will use his remaining time to support Illinois through local projects like the Think Big incubator on Rockford’s North End. His decision is expected to spur a competitive race for his Senate seat.  Rock River Current

HEALTH NEWS

  • UW Health SwedishAmerican will hold temperament testing in June for the Caring Canines program that lets volunteers bring well-behaved dogs to visit patients on approved floors. Volunteers must be at least 18 and complete a four-step application while ensuring their dogs follow basic commands and have current vaccines.  WIFR

EVENTS

SUBMIT EVENT
  • 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.

    Fri, 4/25/25

    View event
  • 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.

    Sun, 4/27/25

    View event
  • 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.

    Wed, 4/30/25

    View event
  • 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.

    Fri, 5/2/25

    View event
  • 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.

    Sat, 5/3/25

    View event
  • Open Mosque Day

    4:30-6:30 p.m. — 1110 Arthur Ave — Free entry — Explore the beauty of the mosque and connect with the local Muslim community.

    Sat, 5/10/25

    View event
  • Mother's Day Brunch

    10 AM – 2 PM — The Standard — $35 per person — Celebrate with a delightful brunch and unlimited mimosas in honor of Mom.

    Sun, 5/11/25

    View event
  • Prairie Street Golden Apple Give Back Day

    Rockford City Tin participant, Prairie Street Brewhouse, is giving back! Golden Apple will receive 20% of the receipts for purchases from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, May 14. Join us on the dock (or inside) at 200 Prairie St., Rockford, for some great food and drinks!

    Wed, 5/14/25

    View event
  • Lola Blu Solo Sunday Funday

    2-8 p.m. — Louie's Tap House — Free entry — Experience the soulful sounds of rising country star Lola Blu with her captivating voice live on stage.

    Sun, 5/18/25

    View event
  • Info Session on the Impact of Property Tax Sales

    Join us for an important community event focused on property tax sales and how they impact Rockford residents. This is a FREE event open to the public—everyone is welcome! 📍 Location: Crusader Community Health Clinic | 📅 Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | ⏰ Time: 5:30 PM | 📍 Address: 1200 W State St, Rockford, IL 61102

    Wed, 5/21/25

    View event

REAL ESTATE

SUBMIT LISTING

No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.

JOB BOARD

SUBMIT JOB

No new job posts today. You can submit one here.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SUBMIT

No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.

Stay Connected Anywhere with This Powerful Portable Charger

Never worry about dead batteries or missed calls again. This high-capacity, portable power bank is a game-changer for anyone who relies on their devices throughout the day. With the ability to charge up to five devices at once, it’s perfect for families, professionals, and travelers alike.

Its compact design makes it easy to carry, while its powerful output ensures your phone, tablet, earbuds, and more stay fully charged no matter where you are. Say goodbye to low-battery anxiety and hello to uninterrupted productivity.

Whether you’re commuting, on vacation, or working remotely, this charger is your ultimate power solution. Stay connected, stay powered, and never miss a moment.

Get started with The Buy today

Supporting our sponsors is one of the best ways to support Daily Rockford.

TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Vision without execution is hallucination.

~ Thomas Edison

About 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.

Advertising Opportunities

Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Rockford and across Illinois. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.

Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.

Community, delivered

Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.

You can unsubscribe at any time.

Subscribe to Daily Rockford

A free Rockford community newsletter.

Daily local news
We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
6AM City
A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.

© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here