News

The Rockford Symphony Orchestra (RSO) has chosen Linc Smelser to be the next conductor of the Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra (RSYO). The RSO announced the selection Friday.

In the announcement, RSO Music Director Steven Larsen said he was delighted to have Smelser as the RSYO's new conductor.

Saturday's groundbreaking for a $24 million dollar library expansion can't come soon enough for Dee Coover. The library director walked into her office this week to sweltering temperatures. She called to get the problem fixed and heard a familiar refrain from workers.

"It's been remodeled several times so everything is in the way of what I am trying to work on. It's just that everything is old...antiquated," said service technician Chad Phund.

He's been called to the to 80-year-old building several times to "put band-aids on band-aids."

Here we are, knee-deep in summer, with vacation on the mind this weekend.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is bringing the debate over guns into his re-election campaign.

Quinn says the issue of military-style weapons represents a fundamental difference between his policies and and Republican candidate Bruce Rauner.

"My opponent thinks people should have assault weapons as they see fit. Do folks here agree with that? Do you agree with that?"

Quinn was speaking at a church on Chicago’s West Side to support a ban on high-capacity guns.

Rauner said people have a right to own so-called assault weapons at a primary debate back in February.

The jobless rate in all of Illinois' metro areas dropped again last month. State officials Rockford's rate was 1.5 percent lower than the year before. 

A northern Illinois Congressman wants the international community to freeze the assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Those comments come from 16th District Republican Adam Kinzinger.

Rockford police made an arrest after a series of recent home burglaries. They happened along Grant, Sherman and Sheridan avenues over the last few days. The 25-year-old suspect was also wanted in connection with retail theft.

After a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last month, certain companies are exempt from providing birth control as part of their insurance plans. They don't have to cover contraception if it conflicts with owners' religious beliefs.

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin is proposing legislation to require these companies to share that information with job seekers.

Durbin, a Democrat, says potential employees have the right to know.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed a new state capital construction bill. It invests $1.1 billion in road and bridge projects around the state. The plan will be paid for by selling bonds. Among the projects:

Ogle and Winnebago County

·         $26 million to resurface 31 miles of Interstate 39/U.S. 51 in Winnebago and Ogle counties.

Carroll and Whiteside County

·         $4 million to resurface 14.3 miles of Illinois 40 from Milledgeville to Coleta in Carroll and Whiteside Counties.

A plan to close eight Rockford elementary schools and build two new ones is on its way to a vote by the school board. Last night, the school district held the last of 39 public meetings about the proposal.