Good morning, Rockford.

Blue is a terrier and pit bull mix, about 7 months old, available for adoption at Winnebago County Animal Services located at 4517 N Main St. Families can meet her today to give her a loving forever home.

Local nonprofit Hearts with Soles partners with Culver’s at 236 N.

Phelps Ave. on Tuesday, Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. to raise funds by donating 20% of qualifying sales to help provide new sneakers and socks for children facing footwear insecurity.

Community members visited Zae’s Classic Chicago Hotdog and Polish to support the English family after the loss of their 18-year-old daughter, Yvette English, on Monday, Oct.

12. Visitation is Tuesday, Oct.20 (9-11 a.m.) with a funeral at 11 a.m. at St. Luke Baptist Church in Rockford.

The Cox family opened The Copper Lantern on Thursday, Oct.

15 at 716 Indiana Ave after seven months of renovations in the former Lithuanian Club, a venue now hosting weddings, birthday parties and memorials – preserving a local landmark for community celebrations.

The Rockford Area Arts Council held a guided tour yesterday at the former Illinois National Guard Armory (605 N.

Main St.) as cleanup neared completion to transform the 90-year-old Art Deco building into a cultural civic center. The nonprofit plans to begin construction in 2028 and open the venue in 2030.

Rockford Armory Building displayed its cleanup progress on Friday morning with an EPA grant removing environmental hazards; construction will begin next year at the historic venue as community input (capital stacks are in process) guides its restoration for completion by 2030.

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Sting performed at Hard Rock Live Rockford Friday night and broke ticket sales records in the venue's two-year history — making it the fastest-selling concert and adding to a growing lineup of major artists.

Rockford-area high school students met with local manufacturers during CEANCI’s annual manufacturing day at the Advanced Technology Center in Belvidere on Friday.

Over 300 students from 12 schools learned about welding, robotics and other skills to guide their future careers.

UW Health nurse practitioner Chrissy Miller advises parents to watch for bullying signs such as isolation, depression and physical symptoms—document incidents to involve schools if needed.

Her guidance comes after recent local youth suicides.

BlockShopper.com data shows Winnebago County property owners paid 1.8% of home values in taxes in Q3 2026 — more than twice the national average.

Durand, Pecatonica and Cherry Valley saw the highest rates amid a median home price of $205,000 and a typical tax bill of $3,652.