Kirkland, IL Local News and More

Here’s the full card for the Rockford Hero Rumble with 6 new bouts

ROCKFORD — Rockford Hero Rumble announced six additional bouts for this Saturday’s boxing showcase featuring first responders in the ring. The event now includes seven bouts with police, firefighters or other first responders and six matchups where amateur fighters from Rockford Patriots Boxing Club take on opponents from around the region.

tedmag.com

IDEAL Industries Ranks No. 14 on Most Loved Workplaces List

SYCAMORE, Ill. — IDEAL Industries, a global leader advancing industrial electrification and power management solutions, ranked No. 14 on the 2026 America’s Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces list, developed by Best Practice Institute (BPI) and featured in The Wall Street Journal. This distinction marks IDEAL’s second recognition this year after ranking 4th on the 2026 Global Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces list earlier in the year.

Sycamore, IL · 1d

rockrivercurrent.com

First Midwest Group building new multitenant site at Machesney Crossings

MACHESNEY PARK — First Midwest Group is developing a new multitenant commercial building at the corner of Illinois 251 and Illinois 173. The 14,000-square-foot building will stand in front of Old Navy, TJ Maxx, Five Below and other businesses in Machesney Crossings, a retail development built in 2005. The...

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Belvidere North fullback Zavian McElroy is crushing in the playoffs

Football players try to turn up their games another notch in the playoffs. Belvidere North senior fullback Zavian McElroy has certainly done that the last two weeks.

Belvidere, IL · 2d

MyStateline.com WTVO WQRF

Chicago woman sentenced after reporting fake shooting through 20+ emergency calls

A Chicago woman was sentenced to jail and probation after being found guilty of making more than 20 false 911 calls to report a non-existent shooting in Rochelle.

Rochelle, IL · 1d

hoodline.com

Rockford Man Already Jailed In Murder Case Now Charged In 2022 Killing

A Rockford man already sitting in the Winnebago County Jail on a separate murder charge is now facing a second first-degree murder count, this one tied to the 2022 shooting death of a 56-year-old woman inside her own home. Mario Perkins, 37, is accused of killing Tracy Morell, who was shot in the 3500 block of Green Dale Drive more than four years ago.

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Deahri Steele sentenced to more than 15 years for fatal 2021 DUI crash

Deahri Steele, 23, the man who killed East High School student Mason Hada in a high-speed DUI crash in 2021, has been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison.

MyStateline.com WTVO WQRF

Machesney Park man gets nine-year sentence for fatal 2025 Rockford hit-and-run

A Machesney Park man was sentenced to nine years in prison for the January 2025 hit-and-run death of Michelle Jones in Rockford.

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We Are Illinois

Want a Real Christmas Tree? These Farms Near Rockford Let You Cut Your Own

Skip the parking lot tree shopping! These northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin farms offer families the chance to pick and cut their own Christmas tree.

Poplar Grove, IL · 2d

rockrivercurrent.com

More votes filter in for close race between Syverson, Mertens

ROCKFORD — Candidates for 35th District state Senate continue to watch results filter in as they wait to learn the final outcome of a close contest that’s separated by less than a percentage point. Democratic Party challenger Sarah Mertens, a Crystal Lake educator and martial arts instructor, said...

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WGN News

New low-dose CT scan aims to protect Chicago area firefighters from toxic exposure

Chicago area firefighters who serve on the front lines are now in line for a low-dose CT scan.

Chicago, IL · 1d

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Rockford teen receives nine-year sentence for bike stabbing incident

19-year-old Adrian Tucker will spend the next nine years in prison after stabbing another man over a bicycle earlier this year.

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Rockford Public Schools considers maxing out property tax levy for 2026

Rockford Public Schools is considering a 2026 property tax levy at the state-allowed maximum, which officials project will lower the overall tax rate due to rising property values despite potentially increasing individual tax bills.

MyStateline.com WTVO WQRF

Belvidere increases security at meetings as tensions over data center proposal continue

Belvidere will implement enhanced security screenings, including metal detectors, at upcoming city meetings following intense debate over a proposed data center and the recent arrest of a man accused of threatening a city council member.

Belvidere, IL · 21h

everafterinthewoods.com

This Rockford, Illinois Italian Kitchen Still Serves Square-Cut Thin Pizza Under A Leaning Tower Of Pisa

A Leaning Tower of Pisa stands inside a dining room in northern Illinois. It leans right over the tables while families pass the pizza. I can’t imagine a kid who wouldn’t point at it. The pizza deserves attention too. It comes thin, crisp, and cut into squares, the...

Rockford, IL · 16h

rockrivercurrent.com

Cherry Valley community solar project to power more than 700 homes and businesses

CHERRY VALLEY — A new community solar project capable of powering more than 700 homes and small businesses has come online in the village. The 7.4-megawatt solar farm spans nearly 34 acres east of the intersection of South Mulford and Sandy Hollow roads, just north of the U.S. 20 bypass.

Cherry Valley, IL · 22h

rockrivercurrent.com

Olson Funeral to host veterans appreciation luncheon

ROCKFORD — Olson Funeral & Cremation Services will host a complimentary veterans appreciation luncheon on Monday at its new Three Oaks Chapel & Legacy Life Celebration Center. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the center, 1100 N. Lyford Road, in Rockford. The event includes a...

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Rockford Register Star

Anderson Japanese Gardens sets final fall dates

Anderson Japanese Gardens and Fresco at the Gardens will end regular-season operations after Nov. 8, giving visitors a few more days to see the garden's fall scenery before the winter break. The garden will remain open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily through Nov. 8, according to a community announcement. Fresco will also serve its final breakfast and lunch of the season Nov. 8. Visitors can walk the garden's paths and see its waterfalls and autumn landscape before the seasonal closure. “Fall at Anderson Japanese Gardens is truly magical,” said David Anderson, a founding family member of Anderson Japanese Gardens. “It’s a time when the Garden glows with color, the air feels crisp and calm, and every corner offers something beautiful to see. We encourage everyone to come out and enjoy this last week before we close for the season.” Illuminated at Anderson Gardens begins Dec. 3 The garden will reopen for Illuminated at Anderson Gardens from Dec. 3 through Jan. 3. The winter event features colorful uplighting and thousands of lights throughout the trees and landscape, according to the announcement. Woodfire Pizza and a rotating selection of food trucks will be available each night, along with indoor dining

sevenlakes.news

First Widespread Freeze of the Season Drops Lows to the Upper 20s for Rockford, Galena, and the Quad Cities Friday and Saturday Nights

ROCKFORD, Ill. — The first widespread freeze of the season is expected across Illinois on Friday and Saturday nights. After a long stretch of above-average warmth, temperatures will fall into the upper 20s in northern areas. Much of the rest of the state will drop into the low 30s. The freeze will officially end the 2026 growing season.