Community Corner
š± Patch AM: What Gabrielle Torina says sheād change as Rockfordās next mayor
Make time for Woodsong Summer Concert - Dancing Queen: An ABBA Salute on the Rockford Patch calendar
Good day Rockford! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- What Gabrielle Torina says she'd change as Rockford's next mayor
- How Rockford finally brought Detective Kevin Rice's killer to justice
- Rockford reels after three shootings in one night on West Side
Also on today's calendar: Woodsong Summer Concert - Dancing Queen: An ABBA Salute and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: Why are elevator jokes so good ? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Sunday: Periods of sun; less humid, with a high of 81 and low of 57 degrees.
- Monday: Times of clouds and sun, temps: high: 80, low: 60.
- Tuesday: Partly sunny and warm, with a high of 85 and low of 70 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Rockford Ald. Gabrielle Torina launches mayoral campaign (rrstar.com) — Rockford residents now have another choice in the upcoming mayoral race, as 5th Ward Alderwoman Gabrielle Torina has officially launched her campaign. Emphasizing accountability, transparency, and opportunity in every neighborhood, she joins Democrat State Rep. Maurice West and Republican Derrick Kunz in a growing field to lead the city's next chapter. 
2. The Thread: The murder of Detective Kevin Rice and the hunt for his killer (mystateline.com) — Rockford readers are taken back to the 2001 murder of Detective Kevin Rice, the city's first officer killed in the line of duty in decades, and the intense manhunt that followed. The piece recounts how investigators identified gang member William Buck, secured key evidence, and ultimately won a 60-year sentence that courts have repeatedly upheld. It also reflects on Rice's legacy and the family he left behind.
3. Shocking video shows shooting in Rockford that killed a 28-year-old man Tuesday (centralillinoisproud.com) — Rockford's West Side is reeling after security footage captured three suspects fatally shooting 28-year-old Louie Lee at his Jonathan Avenue home, one of three shootings Tuesday night. Police say the incidents were targeted, not random, while Mayor Tom McNamara and Chief Carla Redd urge the community to confront the root causes of the city's violence together.
4. Disability Accommodations (osfhealthcare.org) — Students in Rockford considering Saint Anthony College of Nursing can request disability accommodations directly through the Associate Dean of Support Services at the North Mulford Road campus. The policy outlines how to start a request, who reviews it, and how appeals work if a student feels unfairly treated. It emphasizes both ADA compliance and the student's responsibility for any related costs.
5. Want to go apple-picking? Some Illinois orchards might not open after several spring frosts killed crops. (chicagotribune.com) — Northern Illinois apple orchards, including those near Rockford, are grappling with repeated spring frosts that wiped out crops and even forced one McHenry County orchard to close for the 2026 season. Climate experts say warmer winters and earlier blooms are leaving trees more vulnerable to damaging freezes, with Rockford seeing several more warm spring days than in 1970. Growers describe costly mitigation steps and warn that this year's damage could affect future harvests too.
📸 Around Rockford
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Rockford
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
- Woodsong Summer Concert - Dancing Queen: An ABBA Salute →
Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 2715 S Main St, Rockford
6:00 pm - Labor Day - No School
Wm Nashold Early Childhood Center Rockford, IL 61109 - Board of Fire & Police Commissioners Meeting →
Rockford, IL Calendar, 204 First Street, Rockford
11:00 am - Mobile Library Stop--Bloom Elementary School
East Branch East -
3:00 pm - Girls Tennis vs Jefferson HS
Rockford East High School 1304 26th St, Rockford, IL 61108, USA
4:00 pm - IYSA B License Course
Atwood Center Indoor Sports Center
4:30 pm - Boys Soccer (Jv & Var) vs Boylan HS @ Swanson Stadium - Guilford HS
Rockford East High School 2801 Shaw Woods Dr, Rockford, IL 61114, USA
5:00 pm - Girls Volleyball (Fr, JV & Var) vs Jefferson HS
Rockford East High School Rockford, IL 61108
5:00 pm - City Council Meeting →
Rockford, IL Calendar, 425 E. State Street 2nd Floor, Rockford
5:30 pm - Traffic Commission Meeting →
Rockford, IL Calendar, 425 E. State Street 2nd Floor, Rockford
5:30 pm - Historic Preservation Commission Meeting →
Rockford, IL Calendar, 425 E. State Street 2nd Floor, Rockford
5:30 pm - Community Relations Commission Meeting →
Rockford, IL Calendar, 425 E. State Street 2nd Floor, Rockford
5:00 pm
Sunday September 6
Monday September 7
Tuesday September 8
Wednesday September 9
Thursday September 10
📣 Rockford Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Rockford PatchAM possible:
- Beegoshop — 8154468485
- Mike's Mowing & More Inc — (815) 721-4464
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- We worked with the T-Mobile representative at Sam's Club, Alex Reyes, and he was absolutely fantastic;
very helpful, professional, and knowledgeable. He clearly knew exactly what he was doing and made the whole switch incredibly easy for us. He went… (Nextdoor Eastridge) - This incident occurred again, two days following the initial bee sting.
Fortunately, I was prepared with my EpiPen. This is my other hand, which, while not as swollen as depicted in the first image, remains sore. As you… (Nextdoor Krug's Pine Tree Hill)
- Walworth Cellars posted a job opening for Assistant Station Manager in Rockford. Apply here.
- Edelman Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, Electric & Solar posted a job opening for HVAC Manager (Rockford) in Rockford. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Rockford here.
Ok Rockford! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Because they work on so many levels ! (Thank you Gary M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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