Local

Freeport Police Chief Matthew Summers to retire next month

March 29, 2023 @ 10:48 am

From news release Rock River Current Get our mobile app FREEPORT — Freeport Police Chief Matthew Summers will retire next month after 28 years...

Youth hockey scholarship honors the life and legacy of former Rockford coach Eri...

March 28, 2023 @ 7:12 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — A new youth hockey scholarship will honor the life and legacy of...

Forward for Fun, which helped launch new events across Rockford, returns in 2023

March 28, 2023 @ 10:41 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — A program that helped create block parties, neighborhood celebrations, food festivals and...

Rebuild starts April 3 on 'one of the worst roads in the entire city' of Rockfor...

March 27, 2023 @ 6:00 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Construction begins next week to overhaul a roughly half-mile stretch of Charles...

Rockford Family Eye Care to end operations inside Crusader Community Health in R...

March 24, 2023 @ 1:04 pm

From news release Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Rockford Family Eye Care will end its practice inside Crusader Community Health,...

RVC President Howard Spearman recognized by Honor Society for support of student...

March 21, 2023 @ 12:47 pm

From news release Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Rock Valley College President Howard Spearman will be honored by the Phi...

Fred VanVleet Family Foundation donates $35K to allow youth to tour historically...

March 17, 2023 @ 1:03 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — When the Wabongo Leadership Council accepted a $35,000 donation Friday from the...

Camera Craft, Rockford's last locally owned camera store, will close in April

March 17, 2023 @ 8:00 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Camera Craft, the last independently owned camera store in the region, will...

Parks Chamber leader to retire next month, successor named lead it 'into the fut...

March 17, 2023 @ 6:00 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app LOVES PARK — Tonya Lamia will retire next month as the leader of the...

World-renowned architect Jeanne Gang to design future Women's Baseball Center in...

March 17, 2023 @ 6:00 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — World-renowned architect and Belvidere native Jeanne Gang will design the future International...

Hard Rock gifts $2K to African-American Resource Center at Booker in Rockford

March 14, 2023 @ 4:43 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Rockford Casino: A Hard Rock Opening Act and its customers donated $2,000...

Millennium Fountain in Rockford was never designed for people to play in. That's...

March 14, 2023 @ 6:00 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Millennium Fountain in the city’s downtown is a popular spot to beat...

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Life-changing Rockford baseball program featured in national Dick's Sporting Goo...

March 13, 2023 @ 4:38 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — A new commercial from Dick’s Sporting Goods sets out to highlight how...

This Rockford violinist was born deaf, here's how 'music became her voice'

March 8, 2023 @ 4:32 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Sarah Pearl Anderson’s first violin was gifted to her as a tool...

YWCA's Women of Achievement Awards honor inspirational leaders and difference-ma...

March 6, 2023 @ 4:06 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app CHERRY VALLEY — The YWCA Northwestern Illinois on Monday honored seven women for their...

Riverfront luxury lofts coming to Beloit, future tenants can pre-lease now

March 1, 2023 @ 3:47 pm

Rock River Current Get our mobile app BELOIT, Wis. — Hendricks Commercial Properties announced Wednesday that it is pre-leasing for future tenants of its...

Machesney Park to use $500K state grant to acquire and demolish flood-prone prop...

March 1, 2023 @ 3:03 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app MACHESNEY PARK— The village was awarded a $506,150 state grant on Wednesday to continue...

Chocoholic Frolic posts another year of sold-out sweets to benefit The Arc of Wi...

February 24, 2023 @ 5:25 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app CHERRY VALLEY — Cravings for chocolate treats were satisfied this week at a sweet...

YMCA in Rockford launches new strategy to support boys and young men of color

February 23, 2023 @ 9:00 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — The YMCA of Rock River Valley is joining a national movement to...

Vote early, get free coffee at Inzombia in Rockford

February 23, 2023 @ 12:09 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — If you cast your vote early in the April election, you can...

Rockford's 5 independent bookstores team up to boost each other's business with ...

February 23, 2023 @ 6:00 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — When Dave Pedersen opened Maze Books last summer, one of his earliest...

Tropical Smoothie Cafe plans to expand across Rockford region, offer career grow...

February 22, 2023 @ 6:00 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Tropical Smoothie Cafe plans to open its first restaurant in the city...

New parking lot designed to give aging veterans easier access to Korean War Memo...

February 21, 2023 @ 3:30 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app LOVES PARK — A partnership between the city of Loves Park and the Rockford...

Transform Rockford to host Rockford School Board candidate forum

February 21, 2023 @ 5:55 am

From news release Rock River Current Get our Newsletter ROCKFORD — Transform Rockford will host a forum next week to help voters familiarize themselves...

Early voting for the April 4 election begins Thursday

February 20, 2023 @ 11:43 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our Newsletter ROCKFORD — Early voting for the upcoming April 4 election begins on Thursday. Early voting,...

A history of highlights: Boone County museum opens new sports exhibit

February 16, 2023 @ 6:00 am

By Paul Anthony Arco Special to the Rock River Current Get our mobile app BELVIDERE — A highway sign paying tribute to the Belvidere...

Windy City Snowmen, Keith Country Day School take home top honors in Illinois Sn...

February 11, 2023 @ 7:06 pm

By Mary Sisk Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Keith Country Day School won the high school division and the Windy City...

Rockford Casino starts 2023 with near-record admissions, revenue

February 10, 2023 @ 11:05 am

Hard Rock Casino numbers Infogram By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Rockford Casino kicked off 2023 by...

Carpenter's Corner thrift store to open in March in former Rural Oaks Schnucks

February 10, 2023 @ 6:00 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Carpenter’s Place has set an opening date for its new thrift store...

Sportscore Two in Loves Park to host tourney for top collegiate lacrosse teams i...

February 9, 2023 @ 2:44 pm

From news release Rock River Current Get our mobile app LOVES PARK — The top collegiate lacrosse teams in the Midwest will compete this...

In Youth We Trust Council awards funding to three youth-led projects

February 9, 2023 @ 1:08 pm

From news release Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois’ In Youth We Trust Council has...

How Rockford Speedway hopes to preserve its history after the racetrack is gone

February 9, 2023 @ 6:00 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app LOVES PARK — The Deery family wants to make sure a part of the...

'It's hard to sculpt slush': Rockford snow sculptors face challenging weather fo...

February 9, 2023 @ 5:45 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Jack Gerard has seen just about every variety of weather during his...

Why now? Behind the Rockford Speedway's decision to make this its final season

February 8, 2023 @ 3:47 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app LOVES PARK — Years ago, Tom Deery recalls, people would talk about going “up...

Rockford Speedway says this season will be its last, ending 76 years of racing h...

February 8, 2023 @ 8:34 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app LOVES PARK — The Rockford Speedway said Wednesday that this upcoming season would be...

Here are your 'Best of' winners for 2023 Rockford Region Restaurant Week

February 7, 2023 @ 2:10 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Local foodies said for the second year in a row that Ernie’s...

Grassroots food bank in Rockford at risk of losing its space without fast fundra...

February 6, 2023 @ 6:00 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — A grassroots food bank on the city’s northwest side is making a...

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What will happen with Hard Rock's temporary Rockford casino? Here's the 'leading...

February 2, 2023 @ 11:14 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Geno Iafrate said when he came to Rockford to open Hard Rock‘s...

Rock House Kids meets fundraising goal, prepares to go forward with expansion

January 30, 2023 @ 5:35 pm

By Steve Summers and Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Rock House Kids has received a $250,000 state grant...

Popeyes in Rockford reopens more than 3 months after being struck by vehicle

January 27, 2023 @ 2:53 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — The Popeyes restaurant on East State Street reopened this week after being...

How a new loan initiative aims to foster fast fixes to dilapidated Rockford home...

January 27, 2023 @ 1:50 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — A new organization that helps rehab vacant and dilapidated homes by filling...

$2.6M in state funds to help AAR Corp. grow its jet-repair workforce in Rockford

January 26, 2023 @ 3:37 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — The state will provide AAR Corp. an additional $2.6 million to help...

Pritzker visits Rockford to announce repairs to one of the city's busiest and bu...

January 26, 2023 @ 12:12 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — One of the city’s busiest and bumpiest roads will get an upgrade...

Rockford Casino customers donate $2k in unused vouchers to United Way of Rock Ri...

January 25, 2023 @ 11:51 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Rockford Casino: A Hard Rock Opening Act customers donated $2,000 worth of...

Cameras are now available for Freeport's pilot ring doorbell program

January 19, 2023 @ 2:10 pm

From news release Rock River Current Get our mobile app Update: As of 10:15 a.m. Friday, Jan. 20, all cameras have been claimed FREEPORT...

'Exciting journey': Rockford Symphony Orchestra selects Yaniv Attar after 3-year...

January 18, 2023 @ 3:17 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Rockford Symphony Orchestra made its final movement Wednesday in a roughly three-year...

Soar Awards, which brings some of gospel's biggest names to Rockford, returns to...

January 18, 2023 @ 12:20 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Justin and Rebecca Francis faced pressure to move their annual award show...

By the numbers: Here's a look at how Hard Rock fared in Rockford in 2022

January 18, 2023 @ 7:05 am

Hard Rock Casino numbers Infogram By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Rockford Casino: A Hard Rock Opening Act...

It's showtime: New event space opens near former Schnucks on Rockton Avenue in R...

January 18, 2023 @ 6:00 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — A new venture inside the Rockton Avenue Shopping Center on the city’s...

It's showtime: New event space opens near former Schnucks on Rockton Avenue in R...

January 18, 2023 @ 6:00 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — A new venture inside the Rockton Avenue Shopping Center on the city’s...

Photos: Barber-Colman complex in Rockford then and now

January 17, 2023 @ 6:30 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Time and vacancy have been cruel to the former Barber-Colman factory on...

Visitors bureau: Stroll on State attracted more than 70K people to downtown Rock...

January 13, 2023 @ 10:19 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — This year’s Stroll on State attracted more than 70,000 people to downtown,...

3 new service organizations occupy United Way Strong Neighborhood House in Mache...

January 13, 2023 @ 6:00 am

From news release Rock River Current Get our mobile app MACHESNEY PARK — Three nonprofits that offer help ranging from education assistance to mental...

OSF HealthCare names new leader for colleges of nursing in Rockford and Peoria

January 12, 2023 @ 8:36 am

From news release Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — OSF HealthCare has named a new leader for Saint Francis Medical Center...

Laurent House Foundation in Rockford wins Wright Spirit Award

January 9, 2023 @ 12:37 pm

From news release Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — A nonprofit that preserves the only building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright...

Galaxy Hair Studio to move from Roscoe to downtown Rockford

January 6, 2023 @ 6:00 am

By Mary Sisk Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — A new hair studio with stylist suites and a spa is coming...

Rockford man's winning run on 'Jeopardy!' ends on third day

January 5, 2023 @ 4:56 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — An Auburn High School graduate’s winning run on “Jeopardy!” came to a...

Rockford's 'Jeopardy!' champion: How he practices, what he says you should read ...

January 5, 2023 @ 10:50 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Lloyd Sy dethroned a “Jeopardy!” super-champion. Then he defended his title with...

Festival of Lights in Rockford draws more than 105K visitors, near last year's r...

January 4, 2023 @ 10:36 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our newsletter ROCKFORD — The annual Festival of Lights drew more than 105,000 people to Sinnissippi Park...

Large funeral procession to escort North Park firefighter past station to funera...

January 2, 2023 @ 6:16 pm

From news release Rock River Current Get our mobile app MACHESNEY PARK — A funeral procession on Tuesday will escort firefighter Brian Rehnberg past...

Wonder what's in the cards for the new year? Rockford tarot reader sees annual b...

December 30, 2022 @ 7:00 am

By Mary Sisk Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — The start of a new year brings a lot of uncertainty, and...

Podcast: 2022 Year in Review with Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara

December 30, 2022 @ 6:05 am

Mayor Tom McNamara joins Steve Summers on This Week in the Stateline for a year-end review of 2022. They cover all the biggest developments...

Podcast: 2022 Year in Review with Rockford Ma...

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New year, old clothes: Rockford alterations store issues 'No Buy New Year Challe...

December 30, 2022 @ 6:00 am

By Mary Sisk Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Tad More Tailoring and Alterations has an eco-friendly New Year’s resolution it...

Belvidere Police Department offering free rides home for New Year's

December 29, 2022 @ 2:20 pm

By Mary Sisk Rock River Current Get our mobile app BELVIDERE — The Belvidere Police Department is offering free rides home on New Year’s...

How to get a free safe ride home in Winnebago County on New Year's Eve

December 27, 2022 @ 10:48 am

From news release Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office and LaMonica Beverages are partnering again this...

How to get a free safe ride home in Winnebago County on New Year's Eve

December 27, 2022 @ 10:48 am

From news release Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office and LaMonica Beverages are partnering again this...

Rockford gas prices fall to their lowest average in 2022

December 27, 2022 @ 8:45 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — In the final week of the year, gas prices in the city...

Looking for a little fun before Christmas? Here are 10 things to do in the Rockf...

December 21, 2022 @ 6:00 am

By Mary Sisk Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Need some plans before Christmas this weekend? Look no further. From ice...

Festival of Lights braces for winter storm, which could shutter display and hamp...

December 20, 2022 @ 12:11 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — The volunteer team behind Festival of Lights is bracing itself for this...

Downtown Rockford gets new electric vehicle charging stations

December 20, 2022 @ 6:00 am

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Two electric vehicle charging stations have been installed near the Embassy Suites...

'Positive and exciting': Rockford named among 9 underrated real-life winter wond...

December 20, 2022 @ 6:00 am

By Mary Sisk Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — The All Aglow holiday display at Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, protected natural...

Rockford gas prices drop to lowest level since start of the year

December 19, 2022 @ 2:14 pm

By Mary Sisk Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Gas prices in the city declined for the sixth consecutive week, dropping...

Mondelez agrees to sell gum business, including Loves Park plant, to maker of Me...

December 19, 2022 @ 12:33 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app LOVES PARK — Mondelēz International has agreed to sell its developed-market gum business, including...

Mondelez agrees to sell gum business, including Loves Park plant, to maker of Me...

December 19, 2022 @ 12:33 pm

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app LOVES PARK — Mondelēz International has agreed to sell its developed-market gum business, including...

Rock Valley and Crusader launch scholarships for students pursuing high-demand h...

December 19, 2022 @ 11:42 am

By Mary Sisk Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Rock Valley College and Crusader Community Health have announced new annual scholarships...