WQRF-TV (Rockford, IL)

1 day ago | mystateline.com | Tylor Sorensen

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford City Market, a staple of the summer season, opens for its 16th season on Friday. “I’m hoping that all that runs fairly smoothly and that the vendors have a great, great crowd down here and the people come down and enjoy themselves and, you know, kind of kick off the summer with the City Market,” said interim City Market director, Cathy McDermott. Eighteen new vendors will join the more than 50 taking part this year. Honey Boy’s BBQ is among the new additions.

2 days ago | mystateline.com | Tylor Sorensen

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The 2025 Rockford City Market will get underway Friday, but construction on Madison Street has some residents concerned. The construction is expected to last all summer. “Madison Street Construction started Monday, so we anticipate the construction to take all construction season. So by about November. So we should be looking to be complete with it,” said Interim Director of Public Works, Tim Hinkens. The road will be resurfaced and will receive new lights and sidewalks.

2 days ago | mystateline.com | John Clark

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — A bill to create an advisory council for after-school programs passed a committee in the Illinois Senate. Advocates say the first of its kind council would help the Governor’s Office and state agencies track and oversee funding for after-school programs, and recommend guidelines on how funds and grants are distributed. Fifty million dollars were appropriated for the program last year, but have not yet been distributed.

2 days ago | mystateline.com | John Clark

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — An inmate at an Illinois prison has been convicted of murder and hate crime in the killing of a fellow inmate in 2020. Brandon Simonson, 41, of Moorhead, Minnesota, was found guilty of second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, hate crime, and assault in the death of Matthew Phillips. Prosecutors said Simonson, also known as “Whitey,” and another prisoner, Kristopher Martin, 43, conspired to beat Phillips because he was Jewish.

2 days ago | mystateline.com | Vinay Simlot

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – For the first time since becoming the Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Junior took questions from members of Congress. His testimony comes as the U.S. passed 1,000 measles cases across 11 states. In his first three months on the job Secretary Robert F. Kennedy junior has eliminated 1/4 of the health agency’s workforce and cut $11 billion in federal funds for states. Senators say those cuts affected vaccine programs in states.