Chemtool Industrial Fire Complete News Conference (06/16/21)

The Rockford Register Star's coverage of the Chemtool industrial fire incident in Rockton, Illinois. Several representatives from emergency responders and the health department briefed reporters on the latest details regarding health concerns for people and the environment. We'll hear from Rockton …

Not Just a Game with MMA star Corey Anderson

The former Hononegah wrestler, and UFC fighter, Corey Anderson, is now working his way up the Bellator ladder and recently advanced to the semifinals of the light heavyweight Grand Prix, with a $1M prize awaiting the winner. Anderson sat down and talked about his personal life, and his professional…

First Free Rockford Worship Band sings "Amazing Grace"

The First Free Rockford Worship band performs during a community prayer event at the intersection of South Main Street at Morgan Street Saturday, May 1, 2021, in Rockford. Brother Carlos Chacon, South Side Outreach Ministry and a Spanish language minister with the Salvation Army, who hosted the eve…

Kathy Reum Searches for Her Son

Kathy Reum is looking for closure. Her 28-year-old son, Patrick Michael Reum, was last seen around 6 p.m. on Dec. 12 walking out of his house in the 400 block of South First Street in Rockford’s Haight Village neighborhood. Kathy Reum and volunteer search teams were mobilized Saturday to walk along…

Not Just a Game with Iowa wrestler Tony Cassioppi

Tony Cassioppi, the former Hononegah wrestler who won two state titles with an undefeated record back in his high school days, is starting to make some noise at the top college level now, too. Cassioppi finished third in the Big Ten Championships at heavyweight for the second year in a row, and the…

Not Just a Game with Tom Guse, Zack Derus and Ethan Ackerman

Head coach Tom Guse and point guard Zach Derus talk about Lutheran's undefeated boys basketball season, and what they could have done with a state tournament this year, during this week's "Not Just a Game" podcast, with host Jay Taft. Then, Winnebago's star post player Ethan Ackerman, who missed th…

Not Just a Game with Sister Stephanie Baliga, the Running Nun

Sister Stephanie Baliga used to run competitively for Auburn and then the University of Illinois, but now she does it to help fund the Mission of Our Lady of Angel and its food pantry that feeds over 1,000 people a day. Sister Stephanie, this week's guest on the "Not Just a Game" podcast, organizes…

How to make an award-winning snow sculpture with Fran Volz

Fran Volz carves a mermaid out of snow on the empty lot at the corner of North Church Street and John Street on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, in Rockford. Volz, a professional sculptor, bought the property after a fire destroyed a home there in the summer of 2020. He began sculpting by making Smurf stat…

Not Just a Game with Anthony Billups, CHAPTER 2

Anthony Billups, the former Hononegah star pitcher who transformed into an artist and musician in the Nashville, Tennessee, scene, talks about his mural-painting business as well as his music career. He just released his third country-music album, and he plays one of his new songs, "Nashville Super…

Not Just a Game with Anthony Billups, CHAPTER 1

Anthony Billups was a star pitcher for Hononegah back in the late-90s and early 2000s, and went on to pitch his way through college. But a car accident and temporary blindness set him on a path toward art and music, and now he's a rising star in Nashville, Tennessee. Here is Chapter 1 of 2 of Billu…