News

By Michael Tarm Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday commuted the 14-year prison sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was convicted in a wide-ranging political corruption case just months…

By Jim Hagerty Reporter ROCKFORD - The Rockford Police Department has released a sketch of a possible serial rapist who officials say has targeted victims on the northwest side. The suspect is described as a black male in his…

Staff Report ROCKFORD - To commemorate National Heart Month, Mercyhealth is inviting the public to a free dinner at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 25, at Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road. In addition to dinner, guests will hear from…

By Cole Lauterbach CHICAGO - To compete with record low unemployment, the U.S. Census is offering higher wages than it has ever offered. With Illinois’ unemployment rate at 3.7 percent in December, Ellisa Johnson deputy regional director…

By Michael Balsamo, Colleen Long and Zeke Miller Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Unbowed by a public rebuke from his attorney general, President Donald Trump says he has the "legal right" to intervene in criminal cases and sidestep…

Staff Report ROCKFORD - A Rockford man has been charged with sexually assaulting a child younger than 13, police announced Friday. Pierre Hayes, 22, is charged with predatory criminal sexual assault, an allegation that stems from a…

By Matthew Lee and Kathy Gannon Associated Press MUNICH (AP) — The United States and the Taliban have reached agreement on a temporary truce that will take effect in the coming days and, if successfully completed, will lead to a formal…

Staff Report ROCKFORD - The Rockford Police Department is investigating a strong-armed robbery, after patrol officers responded to an incident Thursday on the city's near-east side. At approximately 6:55 p.m., officers arrived at 6th…

Staff Report ROCKFORD - The Rockford Police Department is investigating whether a string of crimes are connected. Police say the crimes in question are five sexual assaults and two strong-armed robberies that occurred on the city's…

By Jim Hagerty Reporter ROCKFORD - A 33-year-old Rockford woman faces criminal charges after another woman died from a drug overdose. Suzette A. Vasquez is charged with two counts of drug-induced homicide and two counts of delivery…

Staff Report ROCKFORD - Winnebago County State’s Attorney Marilyn Hite Ross, on Thursday, announced that 39-year-old Sergio L. Puentes has been sentenced Judge Randy Wilt to a total of 22 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.…

Staff Report ROCKFORD - Mayor Tom McNamara, on Thursday, announced that he has appointed Anqunette Parham as executive director of the city's Human Service Department Parham is an attorney with more than a decade of health care and…

By Jim Hagerty Reporter ROCKFORD - Winnebago County State’s Attorney Marilyn Hite Ross and Rockford Police Chief Dan O'Shea, on Thursday, announced charges against 12 people in a countywide drug-trafficking investigation. Those…

Staff Report Fourth-graders in Illinois on average scored 218 on a standardized reading test administered last year, which is one point below the 2019 national average calculated by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).…

By Greg Bishop SPRINGFIELD - An interim annual financial report shows Illinois spent more in the previous fiscal year than it collected in revenue despite claims from elected officials that the state's budget was balanced. A public…