Rock River Current

The Laurent family lived in this Frank Lloyd Wright designed home on Spring Brooke Road from 1952 until 2012. The home is shown Sunday, May 28, 2023, in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current) By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our free e-newsletter ROCKFORD — One of the city’s most architecturally significant homes has made the cover of a new book celebrating the work of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

Ray Richmond Jr, commander of the Jefferson-Horton American Legion Post 340, talks Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at a news conference announcing state funding for his post and other Rockford-area organizations.

State Rep. Maurice West announces his campaign for mayor on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at the Jefferson-Horton American Legion Post 340 in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current) By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — State Rep. Maurice West announced on Tuesday that he’s running for mayor of Rockford, launching his campaign less than 24 hours after Mayor Tom McNamara revealed he would step down at the end of August.

Mayor Tom McNamara conducts an interview with 13-WREX on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at Prairie Street Brewhouse in Rockford. McNamara won reelection with 78% of he vote. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current) By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Mayor Tom McNamara has decided to step down a little more than a year into his third term, setting the stage for a mid-term election to decide the future mayor.

Mayor Tom McNamara announces his resignation on Monday, July 27, 2026, inside City Council Chambers in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current) By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Mayor Tom McNamara will step down at the end of August to take a job leading the Illinois Municipal League, a statewide organization that advocates for nearly 1,300 cities and towns on state and federal issues.

Julian Lugo faces off with Tyrone Johnson on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, during the Rockford Boxing Classic. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current) By Steve Summers and Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our free e-newsletter ROCKFORD — An annual competition featuring boxers of all ages and skill levels is coming back for a fifth year. The Rockford Boxing Classic takes place at 5 p.m. Saturday underneath the Rockford City Market pavilion at State and Water streets. The event is free.

The former Centennial United Methodist Church, 219 S. Second St., is planned to become 10 apartments and a restaurant and banquet hall. The 144-year-old building is pictured Friday, July 24, 2026, in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current) By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — A 144-year-old church in the city’s historic Haight Village could be revamped into 10 apartments with additional space for a restaurant and banquet hall under a new redevelopment plan.

Team USA celebrates with its ticket to the Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals on Saturday, July 26, 2027, at Rivets Stadium in Loves Park. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current) Photos by Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app LOVES PARK — Team USA will return here next year. The USA Baseball Women’s National Team beat Canada 12-0 on Saturday at Rivets Stadium to become the first team to punch its ticket to the World Cup Finals in 2027.

Rock Valley College and Rockford University graduate Miles Lang applauds after RU President Patricia Lynott, Rockford Promise Executive Director Kaylene Groh and RVC President Howard Spearman complete the signing of a memorandum of understanding on Friday, July 24, 2026, that allows Rockford Promise scholars to transition from RVC to RU with scholarship support.

The former Morris Kennedy School, which was also Ken-Rock Community Center most recently Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy, will be torn down to make way for a new Culver’s restaurant at 3218 11th St. The building is shown Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Rockford.