Rockford ranked No. 1 on Realtor.com's list of the Hottest Housing Markets in December, surpassing 300 other metro areas across the country.

Pawn shop owners charged A family that owns several pawn shops throughout Central Illinois is being charged by the Illinois Attorney General for allegedly running an organized retail crime enterprise.

Ah, Rockford—the accidental midway stop that nobody asked for but everyone now loves. Back in the early 1830s, three intrepid travelers from Galena decided to plop down here, likely because they were tired of trudging between Chicago and Galena without a decent rest stop.

The post Surprising Illinois City Becomes the Hottest Housing Market for the First Time appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Rockford-area residents respond to new legislation that will align Illinois driving standards with the rest of the country.

Rockford's Charles "Chuck" Jefferson was a Winnebago County Board member and served in the General Assembly for 13 years. He died at age 79.

A longtime Rockford area lawmaker has died. Chuck Jefferson served in elected office for 24 years, beginning as a Winnebago County Board member in 1990. That was followed by 13 years representing the 67th district in the statehouse, where he also served as Assistant Majority Leader for the Democrats.

Community members and lawmakers mourn the death of former 67th District Representative Charles “Chuck” Jefferson of Rockford.

It's been cold, and while it hasn't been an absolutely brutal winter in Rockford, Chicago, and Northern Illinois as a whole, the weather still kind of sucks.

Former Illinois State Representative Chuck Jefferson, who covered the city of Rockford and other Stateline-area communities, has died. Jefferson served the state's 67th District for 14 years. Prior, he served as campaign manager for Charles Box, Rockford's first black mayor, in the 1980s.

One new Illinois law will have an impact on Illinois youth, especially those within the foster care system. The Haircare Plan (HB5097) will require every youth in

Rockford may be just the fifth largest city in Illinois, but its housing market has been named the hottest in the nation.