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
Illinois Cicada Spring Invasion: Do You Know About Their Pee?
By now, you've probably heard about this once-every-200-years emergence of cicadas we're about to experience this spring here in Illinois and some other places. There are going to be billions, if not a trillion of these bugs surfacing throughout Illinois, but the one thing not many are discussing is the problem with cicada urine.
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.
These Are The Hardest To Pronounce Town Names In Illinois
From difficult to say Native American town names to old-world town names that we've decided to pronounce differently, Illinois has got a tongue-tying city or town name for everyone.
When Do We Change Our Clocks In Illinois? This Weekend!
Since our elected officials can't seem to get off of their butts and dump this twice-yearly habit of springing forward and falling back (even though over 75% of people want it gone), we're going to have to do it again this weekend. But, as an added bonus, at least you get to lose an hour's worth of sleep.
Can You Identify Illinois Cities And Towns By Their Nicknames?
As you probably know, Rockford has a few nicknames. You've probably already heard of The Forest City, Screw City, The Fastener Capital Of The World, Reaper City, Illinois' 2nd City, and maybe even Furniture City, but did you know that many other Illinois cities and towns have nicknames, too? Let's take a look at some.
Here’s What The Average Illinoisan Spends On Fast Food Per Year
As we've seen food prices skyrocket over the past 4 years, we know that fast food is not the money-saving option it once was. But have you ever taken a moment to total up how much you drop on fast food over the course of a year? It's okay if you haven't, because someone else has done the math for you on this one.
Illinois Chick-Fil-A Lovers: Company Says Toss This Sauce Now
Another day, another recall. Well, maybe recall isn't exactly the right word to use here, so let's go with another day, another request from a company that you throw away its leftover product because it could cause you problems. There, fixed it.
Free For Leap Day: Illinois Joints That Offer Freebies Today
I didn't realize until this morning that February 29th, or Leap Day, was a day that inspired restaurants and other spots throughout Illinois and the rest of the country to offer up discounts or freebies. Regardless, it is a day for freebies and discounts, so I'll expect you to remember that in four years. Now go take advantage of the day.
Springtime’s Bug Time In Illinois: Here Are The Deadliest We Have
Say what you want about Illinois' frigid, snowy winters, but one thing is for certain: we're pretty much bug free from November to March. However, with this unseasonably warm weather we've been enjoying, the creepy-crawlies will be out and about sooner than usual. Let's look at the deadliest bugs we have in Illinois right before we see them in person.
Popular Steakhouse Is Closing 40 Locations Including Illinois
Yet another popular dining spot is having some struggles at various locations throughout the country, including right here in Illinois. The full list and locations of all possible closures hasn't been released yet, but one Illinois location has already closed its doors permanently.