Good morning, Rockford.

City officials will dedicate Davis Park skate park at 10 a.m. Aug.

29 to honor late skateboarding advocate Alicia Neubauer. Eric Neubauer’s $27,000 donation and years of community effort helped complete the park as a gathering space.

Rock River Valley Pantry now serves 35% more people after new federal SNAP work requirements took effect Feb.

1, leaving local families to lose benefits and rely on emergency food assistance. The increased demand is stretching the pantry's supplies.

Bay to Brooklyn riders stopped at the Winnebago County 9/11 Memorial on Wednesday, Aug.

26, and will resume their journey toward Chicago this morning. The six-week bike trip has already covered over 2,300 miles in honor of 9/11 heroes — including Rockford Fire Department’s Chris Kowalski, a designated medic.

Tom and Jerry’s owner Robert Grottke and Candy Cloud owner Alex Edwards have halted plans to acquire local Beef-a-Roo because a Canadian firm insists on franchising.

The owners say if independent operation becomes feasible they will revisit the plan and grow their current businesses.

Hard Rock Casino Rockford is celebrating its second anniversary by offering 1,000 limited-edition commemorative shirts to Unity Club members starting at 10 a.m. on Aug.

29 — nonmembers can join the club free to claim a shirt featuring a design with Rick Nielsen’s checkerboard guitar and the local Rockford logo.

King of the Demons returned after a hiatus to perform live in Studio A today, debuting a new single recorded at Midwest Sound in Rockford with Daniel McMahon — the band will return on air this week to discuss their reunion.

Encore Mt. Morris hosted its annual Straw Sculpting competition where organizer Jeff Bold and artists Chris and Cecelia Mann displayed creative straw sculptures that celebrate a unique rural arts environment in northwest Illinois.

In 2025, Prairie Hill administrators earned an average salary of $106,646 (0.9% lower than 2024) and ranked 325th lowest statewide; the district served about 198 students per administrator compared to a 136-to-1 statewide ratio, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.

On Aug. 28, RESA middle school art teacher Lisa Jimenez was named Illinois Middle Level Art Educator of the Year by the Illinois Art Education Association.

Her 23 years of teaching and active work as an artist in Rockford earned her the state honor.

Local leaders met Thursday at Think Big Corporation’s Executive Leadership Roundtable to discuss how small businesses can join upcoming projects—such as Metra rail improvements and affordable housing—with city officials urging local firms to play an active role in Rockford’s growing economy.

Illinois enacted the Family Justice Centers Act (House Bill 4949) that creates a framework for multiagency centers to help survivors access coordinated services under one roof.

The law builds on Rockford’s model from 2020 and was signed on Aug. 7 to extend support for survivors statewide.

Longtime homeowners in Rockford are listing their properties as market options grow after years of low supply.

Annette and Gene Shields decided to sell their cherished home (fixed up since 2008) as increased inventory in Winnebago, Boone and Ogle counties meets strong local demand.