Rockford, Winnebago County | featured news

CHICAGO — A lawsuit challenging Illinois' same-sex marriage ban can proceed in Cook County.

BELVIDERE — A Boone County Board member has been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol.

CHICAGO — A judge refused Gov. Pat Quinn's request on Friday to stop legislators from being paid while he appeals a court ruling that determined withholding the money — a consequence he imposed for lawmakers' inaction on Illinois' massive pension crisis — was unconstitutional.

The sunny streak will continue today with highs in 80s in most spots.

ROCKFORD — Franklin T. Byrd had spent the day on his mother’s couch watching music videos, a Norinco semi-automatic assault rifle across his lap and a .45-caliber Colt pistol on the cushion. It was May 22, 2009.

SHIRLAND — A vast wetland owned by former Rep. Dave Winters could be sold to the Winnebago County Forest Preserve District as part of a plan to open it to birders and other nature lovers.

ROCKFORD — The unemployment rate fell from 11.4 percent in July to 10.7 in August, matching the largest July to August jobless rate decline this century for the Rock River Valley.

ROCKFORD ­— A new Winnebago County budget that will raise property taxes was approved Thursday. The County Board voted 11-9 on a $198 million budget, divided over whether it should collect about $600,000 more in property taxes next year.

INSIDE: How they voted

CHICAGO — Three years after he was elected with support from Sarah Palin and other tea party activists, Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger finds himself in new territory: the target of a primary battle waged by people who say he’s not conservative enough.

ROCKFORD — Owning Toad Hall is one big to-do list for the Naruz family. The business — some call it a Rockford institution — is filled from floor to ceiling with hundreds of thousands of vinyl records, books, comic books, CDs, DVDs, posters and audio equipment.

INSIDE: If you go