Good morning, Rockford.

WIFR and WREX will simulcast their morning newscast on Monday, Sept.

7 as a step in the transition to Rockford News First, with a fresh fall schedule starting Monday, Sept. 14.

Monarch Energy cancelled its power transmission deal with ComEd for a planned hyperscale data center near Edson and Friday roads + the developer said the cancellation delays but does not end the project as it works on a revised timeline.

Nashville’s Watson Twins will perform at Anderson Japanese Gardens this week in Rockford + they plan to play songs spanning their career and share insights about their musical journey.

Somnium: The Book of the Ninth Dimension offers a four-night immersive art experience at Sinnissippi Park from Sept.

4-7; doors open at 7:30 p.m. with the show starting at 8 p.m., and tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for children, and free for kids under 6.

Kelcey Dodd, a first-year kindergarten teacher at Spring Creek Elementary in Rockford, will become the monthly correspondent on Teachers’ Lounge Radio Show — a feature following her journey during the school year, which begins today.

NIU and Wild Roots Nature Center will host a STEAM Cafe event at Lucha Cantina on Sept.

8 to discuss prairie restoration and its benefits for local ecosystems. Tickets cost $5 general & $3 for members, NIU students and alumni.

Durand Community Unit School District 322 administrators earned an average of $98,610 in 2025, ranking 178th lowest statewide and 20.2% below the state average, according to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) report.

The district served 524 students during the 2024-25 school year in Durand.

Angie Ziemer, a Rockford resident, faces her sixth and final round of chemotherapy on Sept.

23 — her journey began after symptoms mistaken for menopause led to an endometrial cancer diagnosis. She urges women to listen to their bodies and seek timely care.

Winnebago hosts Du-Pec Friday night at 7 in a revived Silver Bucket football rivalry – a contest dating back to 1961 that now features former Winnebago player Corey Anderson coaching at Du-Pec.