Rockford Register Star
Heat waves turn homes dangerous for all ages
Most people know that heat waves can be dangerous. What they may not realize is that the heat indoors can be much worse than outdoors. When the power goes out and air conditioning stops, a house starts to function like a greenhouse. Heat enters...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
“He was such a great man to so many people.”
Businessman, quiet philanthropist and beloved family man Joseph Scandroli Sr., has died at age 84. Known as “Big Joe” to those close to him, Scandroli and his younger brother, the late Carl Scandroli, took the reins of Scandroli Construction Co. when...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
IL kids eligible for $1,000 in ‘Trump Accounts’ cash
Illinois babies will soon be automatically enrolled to receive “Trump Accounts” containing $1,000 in seed money. The Social Security Administration announced on July 6 it is launching processes for parents to enroll newborns in “Trump Accounts.” The...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Solar project brings scholarships to Harlem schools
School District and New Energy Equity celebrated the launch of a solar project expected to power 1,002 homes a year and provide scholarships to students. The 5.5-megawatt solar project, built on district-owned land in Machesney Park, Illinois, will...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
Rockford special Olympian dies at 55
An advocate, athlete and former Rockford Public Library page known for his warmth and kindness, Steve Freeman died July 5 at age 55. Despite being born with the genetic disorder Down syndrome, Freeman lived life to the fullest. He was the oldest of...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Our American Vision
As we celebrate 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, we asked Americans across the Midwest a simple question: In a few words, what does America mean to you? The answers we received in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Trump switches planes after summit in Turkey
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump swapped planes, taking the old Air Force One for part of his return from the NATO summit in Turkey, as a security precaution amid renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran, according to a source familiar...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Beef-a-Roo employees say they’re being stiffed, laid off
ROCKFORD — Beef-a-Roo employees who haven’t been paid for weeks are saying they were notified the company is implementing a companywide layoff of all workers and closing its restaurants. Phones at Rockford area Beef-aRoos went unanswered July 8 and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Behr Den victim of overnight break-in
An overnight break-in has forced the owner of Rockford’s iconic Behr Den to close for a few days to assess damage and loss. Jennifer Eaton, sole proprietor of the diner for more than 14 years, said this is the first time she has ever had a problem...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
“This latest FAA ranking reflects the continued confidence airlines, freight forwarders, and logistics providers place in Rockford.”
Chicago Rockford International Airport has reached its highest position yet in federal cargo rankings, reflecting continued growth in freight operations. The airport ranked No. 12 in the United States by landed cargo weight, according to the Federal...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Popular concert series Woodsong returns
The Woodsong Summer Concert Series returns to Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden for a 2026 season with five shows in the Fountain Garden. Concerts take place on select Sundays, offering a lawn-style experience where guests can bring blankets, chairs...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Safety issues beset Silicon Valley defense startup
Ayear ago, Ryan Tseng, the head of U.S. defense tech startup Shield AI, announced his company had turned a new page. h After a gory incident that partially severed a U.S. Navy official’s fingers during a test of its V-BAT drone, Shield AI had addressed...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SWEET LAND OF LIBERTY
The 56 steps, cut from pink granite, ascend to a neoclassical temple that seems plucked from ancient Greece and deposited on a Kentucky hilltop. One for each year of President Abraham Lincoln’s life. h If the first eight steps, rising amid the site’s...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Iowa Whirlpool plant jobs disappear despite tariffs
AMANA, IA – If any company stood to gain from President Donald Trump’s trade war, it was Whirlpool and the workers assembling its iconic appliances in Iowa. But at its “Big Blue” refrigerator plant, so named because of its robin’s-eggcolored siding,...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
Concert, parade, fireworks highlight America 250
It’s America’s 250th birthday, and the Rockford area is celebrating with fireworks, concerts and other events. How is Rockford celebrating? Rockford will celebrate the Fourth of July with a free symphony concert at the Coronado Theatre, a parade,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT’
Rockford City Council delayed consideration of a new tax increment financing district June 29 as a few dozen residents protested it and a potential data center. h Protesters have continued to oppose the establishment of a new tax increment financing...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
NATION & WORLD BRIEFS
Sen. Chris Coons, DDelaware, was taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries after a multi-car crash in Delaware on June 28, the lawmaker announced on social media. “Earlier today, a Delaware driver experienced a medical incident and collided...
Read Full Story (Page 3)
Explore northern Illinois’ county fair schedule
It’s county fair season in Illinois. Whether you’re looking for some family-friendly carnival games or mouth-watering food stands, the next three months are packed with more than 100 county fairs spread across the state. For those looking for fun in...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Mobile grocery store advocates seek funding
ROCKFORD – The non-profit Farmers Rising is teaming with City Center Market in hopes of bringing an innovative “grocery store on wheels” to Rockford, seeking up to $822,000 in financial assistance from the city. City Center Market, a downtown grocery...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
City officials promise not to fund data center
Rockford Planning and Development Committee members are backing the creation of a Tax Increment Financing District in an area south of the Rockford airport that includes land San Diego-based Monarch Energy is eyeing for a potential hyperscale data...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Trump sees wins on immigration, guns
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court handed President Donald Trump victories in two immigration cases June 25. In the divide between gun rights and gun violence, the justices struck down another state law, this one in Hawaii, aimed at curbing guns in public...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Domingos en el Parque brings Latin sounds, culture
ROCKFORD — Domingos en el Parque is returning to Rockford this summer and fall with four free community events celebrating art, music, and culture. The series, organized by the Rockford Park District, features themed events at various locations across...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘NURTURE HOPE’
A teenager scrolls through their phone at the dinner table, barely looks up and answers questions with one-word replies. For many adults, that image has come to stand for a larger fear: that today’s young people are disconnected from others and may be...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘As I retire, I leave with wonderful memories’
Rockford’s nonprofit community gathered the evening of June 18 to learn about the challenges ahead, but also to celebrate a well-deserved retirement and new chapter for the Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence. After 22 years, NICNE...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Historic tree damaged ‘beyond saving’ by storms
SPRINGFIELD, IL — An approximately 175-year-old tree from the Lincoln Home National Historic Site was damaged beyond saving from the June 11 storms, National Park Service officials confirmed. The American linden dating from the early 1850s was...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Obama Center opens
Remember hope and change? The sun-splashed, star-studded dedication of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago on June 18 was designed to echo the sense of excitement and possibility that surrounded former President Barack Obama’s election in 2008 − a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Ehren Jarrett leaves Rockford Public Schools
ROCKFORD, IL — Ehren Jarrett experienced triumph, confronted tragedy, celebrated success and endured disappointment in his 13 years as superintendent of Rockford Public Schools. Hailed for stabilizing one of the largest school systems in Illinois,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Michigan swimmer to tow 250 cannonballs
Jim Dreyer, the 62-year-old long-distance swimmer who calls himself “The Shark” and has achieved unusual feats in the water, is planning a new test of strength: The Michigander aims to tow 250 cannonballs while swimming 22 miles. Take that, UFC...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Supplies of progesterone strained as demand rises
U.S. supplies of progesterone are coming under strain, with patients, clinicians and pharmacists reporting recent intermittent shortages of oral versions of the hormone used in many fertility and menopause treatments. The supply concerns come as women...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Rockford to cover $9.4M shortfall with reserves, avoiding cutbacks
ROCKFORD, IL — Rockford agreed to spend down its reserve funding to close a $9.4 million 2025 revenue shortfall and avoid any cutbacks or service reductions. But the measure may only be a temporary reprieve as Mayor Tom McNamara plans a task force to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
TRIATHLON SHOWDOWN
ROCKFORD, IL — Patrick Ives was one of 170 Rockford-area racers who competed in this year’s IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford triathlon. And on June 14, Ives was the best of them all. “I guess, today, it was me,” Ives said, when asked if he was the top finisher...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘I wanted this one’
This time, Tyler Tanko of Appleton, Wisconsin, made sure his teammate Cody Williams of Sycamore couldn’t repeat as IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford’s overall champion. But he didn’t do it by much. “I knew he was there, the whole time,” said Tanko, who passed...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
State Republicans renew push to reengage Bears
As pressure ramps up on Illinois lawmakers to find a legislative solution to convince the Chicago Bears to stay in Illinois, Republicans are adding proposals to the mix. Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, plans to file legislation that follows the megaproject...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Rockford athletes push limits for IRONMAN
ROCKFORD, IL — As Carole-Anne Stewart contemplated retirement after a more than 38-year career at Collins Aerospace, she wasn’t happy. Stewart, 64, of Cherry Valley, was a successful electrical engineer, but over the years had begun to drink heavily,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
1 dead, damage reported after storms hit Midwest
Severe storms and tornadoes that tore through the Midwest on June 11 left one person dead, downed trees and plunged thousands into darkness with power outages. The storms capped multiple days of outbreaks across several states, with tornadoes, storm...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Forecast calls for sunny skies for IRONMAN 70.3
ROCKFORD — IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford athletes and spectators should prepare for warm summer weather, with temperatures expected to climb into the mid-80s by Sunday afternoon and only a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms later in the day. Current...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
From decks to docks, area guide to dining outdoors
ROCKFORD, IL — Whether you are looking for a great date night, ambiance, a country retreat, fine dining or stunning view, there is a Rockford-area restaurant offering outdoor, patio or rooftop seating to suit your mood. From great Italian food to craft...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘It was a disaster’
The Rev. Corey Brackenridge and his congregation were surprised a year ago to find the street leading to United Faith Baptist Church closed because of IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford. There was no way around, and police weren’t about to endanger the competitors...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
IL lawmakers react to Bears’ announcement
The Chicago Bears have officially made up their minds to leave the land of Lincoln for Hammond, Indiana, after local lawmakers failed to pass a bill incentivizing the team to stay. The team announced the plan June 5, saying the board for the Bears...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Award-winning film shares story of hope and community
ROCKFORD — A Rockford man’s mission of building a one-of-a-kind adaptive sports campus for disabled veterans in neighboring Poplar Grove got some much-deserved attention with the hometown premiere of “Sum Function.” “Sum Function,” a movie directed by...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Forecast for D-Day changed history
To go or not to go? h June 2026 marks 82 years since Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s chief meteorologist, Group Capt. James Martin Stagg, made one of the most important weather forecasts of all time. Defying his colleagues, he advised the general to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
From county fairs to fireworks Save these dates for summer fun
There are plenty of summer events across the Rockford region with county fairs, cultural festivals, live music and major sporting events filling the calendar through Labor Day weekend. Rockford Area Pride Parade Date: June 6 Location: downtown...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Stadium bill fails to clear IL House
SPRINGFIELD — Despite a Hail Mary heave from the Illinois Senate in the final hours of the spring legislative session, state lawmakers ultimately failed to reach the end zone on a bill incentivizing the Chicago Bears to build a new stadium in Illinois....
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Big House Ballgame celebrates Route 66
JOLIET – At the Old Joliet Prison, made famous by the “Blues Brothers” film, the Joliet Slammers baseball team staff were generously handing out tickets to a ballgame recently, helping kick off the statewide celebration of the Route 66 centennial. But...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Hard Rock may bring in hard cash
ROCKFORD — The opening of a 215- to 225-room hotel at the Hard Rock Casino Rockford would bring dramatic changes to the city’s tourism landscape. It would mean additional higher end hotel rooms, something that visitors have been asking for. And it is...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Potential Iran deal puts Trump in a bind
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump finds himself in a bind as he seeks to end the war against Iran: He is under pressure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and get U.S. gasoline prices down but at the same time faces a potential backlash from Iran hawks...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Sum Function’ tells story of wheelchair rugby team
ROCKFORD — A Rockford filmmaker and Marine Corps veteran is bringing his award-winning documentary back to his hometown after a national film festival run. Noah Currier’s “Sum Function” premieres May 30 at Hard Rock Casino
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Streets under construction this May
Rockford Register Star | USA TODAY NETWORK Several construction and improvement projects are underway in Rockford, affecting traffic and public spaces. 11th Street Project (Harrison Avenue to Broadway) Work continues on the 11th Street project...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
CAREER CLASS WITH CREED
The newest crop of interns for Caterpillar had a chance to rub shoulders with company leaders, including CEO Joe Creed, on Tuesday during their intern orientation in Edwards. Over 550 interns from across the United States descended on the company’s...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Trump announces 5,000 troops to Poland
President Donald Trump said on May 21 that an additional 5,000 troops would deploy to Poland, an apparent reversal of an earlier threat to reduce U.S. military presence in the country, as his administration has floated pulling American forces from...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
Communities prepare for 100th anniversary
LIVINGSTON, IL — For 40 years, Felipe de la Cruz Tenorio of Majorca, Spain, dreamed of driving America’s famed Route 66. He still recalls working at a nightclub as a young man and watching HarleyDavidson riders roll in wearing Route 66 jackets. Now...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Universities still hold Native remains, artifacts
Many universities and museums in the United States have long held Native American burial artifacts, other sacred objects and even human remains. Most of these collections were acquired in the late 19th and 20th centuries. They came from grave...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Trump ratings sink, grip on GOP holds
If President Donald Trump’s approval rating is sinking into dangerous territory − and it is − how does he manage to keep vanquishing Republican critics and imposing his will on a compliant Congress? Call it the political dichotomy of the 47th...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Rockford approves bonds for Hard Rock Casino expansion
Rockford could be getting into the hotel and conference center business. At its May 18 meeting, City Council authorized the sale of bonds to finance an expansion of the Hard Rock Casino Rockford. Rockford plans to tap its borrowing power to finance a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
RISING COSTS Data: 1 in 3 households struggles to pay energy bills
Americans’ concerns about being able to afford electricity and home heating fuel have been elevated since the beginning of the Iran war. But recently released nationwide data shows that even before the war began, these concerns were widespread,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Memorial Day events scheduled in Rockford
A parade and two ceremonies honoring veterans are planned for Memorial Day in Rockford. The events begin with the annual parade at 9 a.m. on May 25, according to a community announcement. The parade will start near the intersection of 7th Street and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
IL General Assembly debates data centers
The Illinois General Assembly continues to debate what to do about data centers as the artificial intelligence business keeps booming while communities complain about their energy bills, noise and environmental impacts. Data centers are warehouse-like...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Firm rapidly took over youth hockey teams
As a hockey dad, Murry Gunty saw how money and access can determine which kids make it to the sport’s highest levels. As an investor, he built a business around it. A nine-month USA TODAY investigation found that Gunty, founder of Blackstreet Capital...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Gardening grows life skills alongside produce
I used to teach high school science in Oklahoma, and one day I brought in a stalk from a cotton plant with bolls of cotton still attached. Students asked me why I glued cotton balls to a stick. My students and I lived in a rural town surrounded by...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Without SNAP, recipients prepare to reduce spending
As households across Illinois brace to lose their federal food assistance this month, grocery stores, especially independent grocers across the state, are preparing for the devasting effects of decreased spending. For some independent grocers, whose...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
FINAL SALE FOR LONGTIME STAPLE
ROCKFORD, IL — Family-owned Gustafson’s Furniture & Mattress plans to permanently close and on May 14 begin liquidating its inventory after weeks of struggling to restructure and remain open after key retirements. The business has been a Rockford...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Curran’s Orchard publicly against nearby solar farm
ROCKFORD, IL — Curran’s Orchard is objecting to a 5 megawatt commercial solar farm proposed on a nearby property that it argues could harm its operations. Known for its family-friendly activities and awardwinning apple cider, Curran’s Orchard has for...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Coronado theater to host free summer cinema series
Legends Global Rockford, the Coronado Theatre, and Friends of the Coronado are launching the first-ever Coronado Summer Cinema this summer, according to a community announcement. The series begins Saturday, June 13, 2026, with a showing of “Wicked:...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
CASINO GOES BIG
Hard Rock Casino Rockford plans to add a more than 200-room hotel, spa and fitness facility, new food and beverage offerings and a 15,000-square-foot convention center, with construction kicking off in 2026. “We’re doubling down on Rockford,” Geno...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
COST OF DUE PROCESS
The Rockford Police Department has paid more than half a million dollars to an officer on administrative leave since 2021. h It’s just one example of the expenses the department has faced when officers are placed on administrative leave after being...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Trade court rules against tariff in defeat for Trump
A federal court dealt another blow to President Donald Trump’s trade agenda May 7, ruling against a 10% global tariff the president imposed earlier this year to replace tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court. A panel of judges for the Court of...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Charting his own path
It’s been nearly 1,000 years since King Henry IV stood barefoot in the Italian snow to beg forgiveness after clashes with Pope Gregory VII, and over two centuries since Napoleon imprisoned Pope Pius VII in France. Now, a battle is underway between a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Demographic dynamics upending the world
Government-shaking protests in Bangladesh, Iran, Nepal and Sri Lanka – to name a few – have all in recent years been linked to what demographers call a “youth bulge.” Meanwhile, the economic slowdown in China and ballooning public debt in the United...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Program celebrates 1,000 scholarships and counting
Rockford Promise gathered students, families and supporters May 3, 2026, for Promising Futures, an annual event that celebrates the city-wide college scholarship program. The program recognized 192 students who will be receiving scholarships for the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Low Trump approval threatens Senate GOP
A few months ago, the prevailing thinking in Washington was that while Republicans could lose the House in the 2026 midterm elections, their Senate majority was secure. To win control of the Senate, Democrats would need to upset four GOP incumbents,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Prediction markets see explosive rise
Though prediction markets have been legal in the United States for less than 18 months, they can’t stop making news and making money. On prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket, users can stake real money on just about anything, from the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Colman Yards reboot
ROCKFORD — Milwaukee-based J. Jeffers & Co. plans to kickstart its stalled historic redevelopment of the former Barber-Colman factory campus by breaking the $120 million Phase 1B into smaller chunks, first aiming to convert a pair of connected...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘THERAPEUTIC BENEFIT’
The Food and Drug Administration has announced the winners of national priority vouchers to study the therapeutic effects of psychedelic drugs, shortly after President Donald Trump signed an executive order paving the way for more research. In an...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Food aid doesn’t make people loafers
Millie Morales believes in hard work. “I feel that as an American citizen, we all have a great opportunity to be able to improve our life,” the 58-year-old woman explained in an interview I conducted with her in 2025. “Are you willing to put in the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
HEAD START HURDLES
A new report from the National Institute for Early Education Research found Illinois’ rate of growth in enrollment and funding for universal preschool is slowing, despite state efforts to expand preschool programming. While the report noted Gov. JB...
Read Full Story (Page 1)