Good morning, Rockford.

Friends and family gathered Sunday afternoon at Spring Creek and Shaw Roads to honor Whitney Camp, a 24-year-old Rockford mother who died in a car crash on June 10—her mother asked drivers to stop using phones and pressed for a stop light at the dangerous intersection that saw 14 crashes and 8 deadly accidents since 2020.

Data from the Illinois State Board of Education shows that in the 2023-24 school year, 8,344 Black students made up 20.3% of 41,109 students in Winnebago County schools, a 2.5% increase from last year + they ranked as the third largest ethnic group.

Auburn High School recorded the highest Black student enrollment with 700 students among the county's 77 schools.

Rochelle's triathlete Rosemary Good finished Ironman 70.3 Rockford on Sunday in 7 hours 13 minutes and 32 seconds + placed 43rd among 84 competitors in her age group.

Local supporters cooled the runners at the finish + Good said she looks forward to racing with her sisters as part of the Secret Squirrel Society Team in upcoming events.

Yesterday, Rockford hosted its first Ironman 70.3 as 2,700 triathletes battled heat, humidity, and headwinds in a tough race—Jana Richtrova won the women’s division in 4:45:23 while Cody Williams led the men’s division to a 4:10:32 finish and praised the supportive crowd.

The event drew athletes from 13 countries and more than 30 states, with all competitors facing a heat advisory and challenging conditions.

IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford will host 2,700 athletes from 13 countries + an estimated 10,000 spectators, and 1,500 local volunteers will support the event.

It will also receive a 15 million dollar grant that is expected to boost direct visitor spending to 8 million dollars.

Rockford Job Fair

10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Radisson Hotel & Conference Center Rockford — Free entry — Connect face-to-face with several employers hiring in the Rockford area.

Lifescape 4th of July Classic Run/Walk

7:00–11:00 a.m. — Riverview Ice House — Registration required — Celebrate Independence Day with a classic run/walk through downtown Rockford.

Screw City Duathlon and Multi-Sports Event

8 AM — Peak Sports Club — Register by July 8, 2024 — Participate in a thrilling duathlon, team duathlon, or 2-mile run/walk in a community-focused event.