Scot Bertram

Scot co-hosts the Stateline area's #1 morning talk show along with Riley O'Neil. Riley & Scot are Rockford's longest-tenured morning show, together since 2008. Scot has spent more than six years with the station consecutively and eight overall. He is a political junkie, a baseball-lover, and a die-hard White Sox fan. He's also a music devotee, owning more than 700 albums. During his radio career, Scot also has worked for ESPN 1000 in Chicago and for the Rockford Lightning. He grew up in Darien, IL and is a proud graduate of North Central College in Naperville.

Don’t Look For a Quick Tax Refund From Illinois

If you were planning to quickly file your tax returns this year in the hopes of getting an big refund check from the state of Illinois, you might want to start making other financial plans. The Illinois Department of Revenue says taxpayers will have to wait until after March 1 to receive income tax refunds...

Proposed Bill Aims To Help Illinois Manufacturers

John Gregory -- Illinois Radio Network Manufacturing companies wouldn't have to pay state income tax on their profits under a new bill in the General Assembly. The legislation would allow manufacturers to deduct whatever net income they make in Illinois from their tax liability, essentially exempting their profits from the 5...

Morning Headlines: Thursday, January 7

Stephenson Co. Coroner’s Office says 15-year-old Andreayah McBain died due to an overdose Man Arrested in Bomb Threats to Janesville Mall Company to plead guilty to using foreign materials on Rockford courthouse Rockford Housing Authority undergoes major security changes Police Searching For Three Suspects In Dixon Robbery Rochelle Rebrand Hopes To Stimulate Downtown Area Rockford Aldermen h

ComEd Warns Scammers are Posing as Utility Company Reps

ComEd is warning customers about scam artists posing as employees. According to Channel 7 in Chicago: ComEd reports a 260 percent jump in the number of scams between last November and December. Scammers contact customers by phone and in-person to tell them their service will be disconnected unless payment is made...

Deer Hunting Continues Through Mid-January In Illinois

Dave Dahl -- Illinois Radio Network Illinois deer hunters continue to thin the herd. The late-winter antlerless season and the special chronic wasting disease season run concurrently, with the first weekend just past and the second weekend Jan...

Morning Headlines: Wednesday, January 6

New Superintendent for Belvidere Schools Fire breaks out at Morgan St. woodworking business Beloit Man Sentenced on Federal Drug Charges Rockford Has Violent 2015: 19 Homicides Hononegah scrambles to find replacement sites after bubble collapse License Plate Sticker Renewals Drop After Reminders Halt

Sen. Ron Johnson: Voters Have Clear Choice on National Security [AUDIO]

We're always pleased to welcome U.S. Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin to the show. This week he joined us on the morning the President was set to unveil his executive orders on guns. We spent some time talking about that topic and turned the conversation to national security and the President's failed foreign policy...

Illinois Lawmaker Wants Panel To Look at Fantasy Sports

Now that the NFL regular season has come to an end, perhaps this is not quite as big of a deal for daily fantasy sports players. But the future of the industry in Illinois still is very much in doubt. There's a pretty interesting (and lengthy) primer on where we stand at legalsportsreport...

Rauner Would Sign Legislation Allowing Rahm Recall

John Gregory -- Illinois Radio Network The effort to allow the Mayor of Chicago to be recalled has the support of Gov. Bruce Rauner. Rauner says he’d sign the legislation introduced last month by State Reps. LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago) and Mary Flowers (D-Chicago), though he added that he’d prefer a statewide recall bill be considered by the General Assembly...

Morning Headlines: Tuesday, January 5

Council Lays Over South New Towne Vote, Mayor Expects Legal Action Two Rockford Pastors Speak Out Against East Side Housing Proposal Juvenile Arrested for Making Threats on Social Media Aimed at Genoa-Kingston High School 2 New Officers Sworn Into Beloit Police Department Janesville Police investigate alleged meth lab across from Rock County Courthouse Ten men arrested after undercover female