Daily
Rockford
Saturday, August 2nd, 2025
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Good morning, Rockford. Here's your local news at a glance for Saturday, the 2nd of August.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ A local iLottery player in Rockford won a $1.1M prize on July 27th by matching all five numbers at the Illinois Lottery Prize Center. He said he plans to use his winnings for a vacation & a kitchen remodel & keep most of the money saved for a rainy day. WTVO
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Rusty Taco is set to open its first Rockford location on Aug. 18 at 6905 E. State St. Local entrepreneurs Nick Rufenacht, Tyler Bauscher + Wes Banks will operate the restaurant that will offer fresh tacos, house-made queso and margaritas with special offers during its opening week. Rock River Current
CRIME NEWS
- ➤ Rockford Police arrested Travion Easter-Bonilla, 22, on July 31 for allegedly attacking a woman holding a baby after kicking down her door — he fled in a Mercury Grand Marquis, crashed his car, and was later taken into custody. WTVO
- ➤ Winnebago County Deputies arrested Gabriel Populorum, 25, who is charged with grooming and sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl in Chicago after she was reported missing + the suspect allegedly arranged Uber rides and contacted the girl on Snapchat since February 19. WTVO
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ A new sculpture called Carry the Dream was unveiled yesterday at the Rockford Public Library as seven local artists created 17 abstract poles that show various skin tones to celebrate unity and racial healing — the work took 14 months to complete. Rock River Current
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ The Boone County Health Department said routine testing on July 30 showed mosquitoes in Belvidere were positive for West Nile virus—no bird or human cases have been reported in Boone County. Three human cases have been reported in Illinois, and local officials advise residents to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. WIFR
SHOP NEWS
- ➤ TODAY'S SPONSOR We never have to worry about dead batteries and missed calls thanks to this portable power bank that can charge up to five devices at once. The Buy
Supporting our sponsors is one of the best ways to support Daily Rockford.
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Dockside Live featuring Tristan Sheedloe
6-9 p.m. — Prairie Street Brewing Co. — Free entry — Enjoy original tunes and 90s grunge covers while relaxing by the riverfront.
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Lola Blu & the Boys Concert
7 PM – 1 AM — Winnebago County Fairgrounds — Tickets available — Experience the captivating blend of country and southern rock with rising star Lola Blu.
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RAMP River Run Half Marathon
11 AM — Downtown Rockford — Registration fee required — A spirited half marathon encouraging competition and community fun to cap off the summer.
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Dinner on the Dock with Random AF
5-10 p.m. — Prairie Street Brewing Co. — Varied food and drink costs — Enjoy high-energy covers from the vibrant band Random AF while dining on the riverfront.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
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TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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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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