The Red Cross gives tips to heat your home safely during the cold months
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) - American Red Cross volunteers have responded to two separate house fires in Rockford this past week. As temperatures drop, families are encouraged to take several steps to heat your home safely. “Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires in this country,” said Kellie O’Connell,...
Community input wanted for Rockton Comprehensive Plan
ROCKTON, Ill. (WIFR) - Those who live in Rockton are invited to participate in an upcoming community workshop as the village develops its new Comprehensive Plan. Village leaders say the plan serves as a roadmap for future growth and development and impacts how and where people live, work and experience Rockton.
Majestic Sycamore is NLI’s December Tree of the Month
NLI’s Legacy Tree Program is pleased to announce the 2025 December Tree of the Month is a Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) at Oak Ridge Forest Preserve, 8322 Blomberg Road, Cherry Valley, IL. It stands 110 feet tall, has a 94-ft. average crown spread, and a circumference of 166.2-inches (that is...
Stephenson Co. Sheriff urges state lawmakers to revisit SAFE-T Act
STEPHENSON COUNTY, Ill. (WIFR) - Stephenson County Sheriff Steve Stovall joins a growing list of Northern Illinois sheriffs pushing for changes to the state’s SAFE-T Act. A video with prior, related coverage is attached to this article. “As Sheriff of Stephenson County, my responsibility is to protect the people...
Beloit Memorial High School newspaper earns awards
The Increscent, Beloit Memorial High School’s student newspaper, and three of its staffers earned honors in the 2024-25 Kettle Moraine Press Association competition. The awards were detailed in a Dec. 11, 2025 story posted in the Beloit Daily News. According to the story:. The Increscent was one of four...
Community supports Winnebago Middle School at annual holiday market
Winnebago Middle School brings festive cheer to the community with a holiday market over this weekend.
Hometown Holiday brings festive cheer to Roscoe
ROSCOE, Ill. (WIFR) - Holiday spirit filled the streets of Roscoe as families gathered for the village’s annual “Hometown Holiday” celebration. The community event featured festive lights, local vendors, holiday music and a tree lighting. Children could also visit Santa and families enjoyed seasonal treats and...
Toys from Santa Flight distributed to Stephenson County children
STEPHENSON COUNTY (WIFR) - Area families got some holiday cheer Sunday thanks to the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program. People with the program brought holiday gifts to children in Stephenson County. The toys came from Saturday’s Santa Flight at the Chicago Rockford International Airport. More than...
Former Rochelle city manager selected to fill Washington city administrator position
Washington Mayor Lilija Stevens chose former Rochelle City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh to be their city’s next administrator.
Beloit Public Library receives grant for children’s learning lab
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) - A public library in the area received a $5,000 grant to support the development of an interactive learning lab. Ecolab Foundation has awarded a grant to Beloit Public Library to transform its children’s area into Discover PLAYce, a learning lab scheduled to open in the fall of 2026.
