Riley O'Neil

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.

Travel Time: Illinois’ Most-Googled Summer Vacation Spots

Even if you can't afford more than a "stay-cation" this summer, it doesn't mean that you can't fantasize a little bit about a summer vacation to someplace special by Googling summer vacation spots that appeal to you. That's what Illinoisans have been doing, and here's the list of the 5 most Googled summer getaways by Illinois residents.

Fireflies/Lightning Bugs In Illinois: Why We’re Seeing Less

If you've thought to yourself that there really seem to be less lightning bugs/fireflies out on warm nights than you remember from being a kid, it's not your imagination. Illinoisans are seeing less of them, and there are three primary reasons why.

These 11 Illinois Universities Named To “Best In The World” List

Over 2,500 different universities around the world were evaluated on a variety of criteria to determine the very best, and Illinois makes a great showing with eleven schools landing on the list (and two in the top 100 worldwide).

Feels Like You’re On Fire: Avoid This Nasty Illinois Summer Plant

You probably know all about poison ivy, poison oak, and maybe even poison hemlock, but how much do you know about a blooming Illinois plant that can give you pain like you've never felt before?

Illinois Drinkers: New Study Shows Which Counties Drink The Most

A new study shows that one in six adult drinkers in America are binge drinkers, but in some states, cities, and counties the numbers are higher than that. Although Illinois will probably never outdrink the folks in Wisconsin and Iowa, we've got more than our share of bingers, too. Let's see where they live in our state.

Retired Illinois Nun Taken For $400K In Sweepstakes Scam

Scams are happening all over the country at all times, but it sure seems as though Illinois residents have been getting hit extra hard over the last few months. Everyone, regardless of age, has a target on them, but attempted scams on seniors are skyrocketing.

One Illinois Pizzeria Lands On Food & Wine’s “Must Visit” List

Everyone outside of Illinois seems to think that the only pizza you can find in Illinois is deep-dish, Chicago-style pizza. It's somewhat ironic to see that a well-respected food magazine's pick for Illinois' "must-visit" pizzeria specializes in tavern-style pizza.

Jack-In-The-Box Returns To Illinois After Decades-Here’s Where

You may not remember (depending on your age) Jack in the Box restaurants in Illinois, but we had them. It's been awhile since Jack in the Box was on anyone's radar in this state because the last one closed back in 1980, but it appears that's about to change.

Bigfoot In Illinois: Here’s Why Sightings In Our State Are Up

There's something going on in the woods of Illinois, or we wouldn't be ranked at number-five on the list of states with the most Bigfoot sightings, according to The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization.

New Study Names Illinois’ Wealthiest Small Town–Any Guesses?

We know all about the wealth that can be found in the bigger cities, but what about shining a spotlight on the smaller, quieter towns in Illinois that are doing real well for themselves? A new study takes a look at Illinois' wealthiest small town, along with the wealthiest small towns in our neighboring states and across the country.