Lil Zim

Meet Shannon Zimmerman, aka, Lil Zim; Q98.5’s own crafting queen, animal lover, chocolate aficionado, and country music enthusiast who has been helping you start your day since 2010 and stands at a whopping 5 feet 2 inches tall. (hence the nickname). Off the mic, Shannon is a devoted mom to two daughters, three dogs, and a cat. She loves her hometown of Rockford, Illinois, raising awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and writing about and reading true-crime stories.

All Aboard! It’s Time for Pumpkin Pickin’ Fun at the Illinois Railway Museum

Do you know what's cooler than driving to a local farm to pick your perfect pumpkin? Riding a train to pick your perfect pumpkin!

5 Wisconsin Town and City Names That Have Seriously Weird Origins

To steal a line from Shakespeare; "What's in a name?", well in the case of these 5 Wisconsin towns and cities it's a whole lot of weirdness.

How This Illinois City Got Its Name Is Lame to the 100th Degree

The biggest question everyone asks about Rockford, Illinois is; how did it get its name?

Is it Illegal to Make Prank Phone Calls in Illinois?

A 19-year-old woman from Rockford, Illinois was recently arrested for calling 911 and hanging up nearly 700 times over the span of 7 days.

CREEPY: Do These Pics Prove This Old Illinois Prison Is Really Haunted?

Some people say the Old Joliet Prison in Joliet, Illinois is incredibly haunted, and after seeing these pics of what it looks like today, it's hard not to agree.

Walmart Pulls T-shirts From Illinois and Wisconsin Stores Over One Hidden Dirty Word

Can you spot the hidden naughty word on this shirt that Walmart recently had to pull from store shelves? (Caution...it's a VERY naughty word).

Watch Wisconsin Police Rescue A Live Bobcat From a Car Grill

A Wisconsin Sheriff's Department received a call about a bobcat that was stuck in a car grill, and what happened next was all caught on body cam footage.

One Big Thing You Shouldn’t Do To Your Car When It’s Below Zero in Illinois

Experts say that starting your car and letting it warm up before driving actually does more harm than good to your engine.

3 Important Things Every Illinois Homeowner Needs to Do Now To Prevent Frozen Pipes

With 25 to 35 below-zero windchills expected in Illinois over the next few days, here are some simple things you can do to prevent your pipes from freezing.

Thieves in Illinois Stole a $45,000 Tractor, But No One Can Figure Out How

The Winnebago County Sheriff's Department is asking for the public's help locating a $45,000 tractor that was stolen from Meridian Implement in Rockford last week.