Riley O'Neil has logged more hours behind a microphone than any other Rockford radio personality, starting out with his hiring at WROK in February of 1983. He’s also the longest-tenured morning show host in WROK's 100-year history, with 22 years as the host of the WROK Morning Show. He’s a multi award-winning commercial producer, voice-over artist, and much sought after product and service endorser for multiple local businesses. In addition to hosting the WROK Morning Show with Joe Dredge, Riley also writes for 1440WROK.com, covering everything from Illinois' best local restaurants, to some of the wildest and funniest things Illinois residents have gotten themselves into, and everything in-between.
Riley O'Neil
Here’s When (And How) They’ll Dye Chicago’s River Green
Many things just scream St. Patrick's day; lots of green clothing, lots and lots of green beer, shamrocks, parades, corned beef and cabbage, and of course, the traditional dyeing of the Chicago River. Here's when and how Chicago authorities plan to make the river turn green.
Illinois Shelter: Name A Litterbox After Your Ex For Valentine’s!
Why take the high road and forget all about that failed romance when you can name a litterbox or a cockroach after the person who broke your heart? Why indeed.
Check Out These Illinois Animals On The Endangered Species List
There are far more endangered and threatened animal species in Illinois than I have space to write about, but here are a few you may have heard of, and maybe a couple of animals you didn't even know were living in Illinois.
How About A Valentine’s Visit To Illinois’ Most Romantic City?
I know, when you think of romantic Northern Illinois towns and cities you automatically think of New Milford, Chemung, or Elmoville...maybe Loves Park, too. However, there is another place in this part of the state that actually made the list of the 140 Most Romantic Small Towns in America.
Midwest Woman Steals Amish Horse And Buggy From Walmart Lot
There are weird crimes taking place every hour of every day, but swiping an Amish horse and buggy out of a Walmart parking lot may have won the prize for the weirdest crime in the nation last Saturday.
When People Leave Illinois, They Go Mostly To These 3 States
We've been hearing for years about something called "Outbound Migration" here in Illinois, which is a fancy way of saying "kissing a state goodbye." Illinois may no longer be the state leading the nation in outbound migration, but we're near the top. Ever think about where you'd move if you left Illinois?
Coming To Illinois Next Spring: Billions And Billions Of Cicadas
Sure, we've had cicadas around here before, but next May will bring tens of millions of them out of the ground here in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin, as Brood XIII cicadas emerge with numbers as high as 1.5 million cicadas per acre!
World’s Largest Christmas Light Maze: About An Hour From Rockford
There's no shortage of cool, fun, and interesting holiday things to do in and around the Rockford area, and the rest of Illinois offers up some great things, too. However, no one will think you and your family are being disloyal to the Land of Lincoln if you hop the border to check out what's going on in Franklin, Wisconsin.
Illinois Loves Dogs, But How Many Are You Allowed To Have?
Nearly everyone loves pets, and dogs hold a slight edge over cats in total numbers here in Illinois. But, how many canines can you legally have running around in your yard here in Illinois?
Deer Everywhere: Here Are The Odds Of You Hitting One In Illinois
We've just gotten into white deer mating season here in Illinois, and the biggest danger to both deer and humans during "rutting season" is that Illinois' white-tailed deer population is running around all over the place, especially roads and highways, looking for love...or at least a quick hook-up.
Northern Illinois Town Named To “America’s Most Romantic” List
I know, when you think of romantic Northern Illinois towns and cities you automatically think of New Milford, Chemung, or Elmoville...maybe Loves Park, too. However, there is another place in this part of the state that actually made the list of the 140 Most Romantic Small Towns in America.
That’s Not Amazon: Illinois Residents Being Scammed By Fake Calls
Bad actors pretending to be someone that they are not isn't a new phenomenon here in Illinois. However, it's one that seems to just keep going and growing strong, stealing people's money and making off with their identifications, passwords, user-names and more.