Local news deserves
a clear paper trail.

Our coverage

Machesney Park, Loves Park, Rockford, Roscoe, Rockton, South Beloit, Winnebago County government and local school districts.

Facts before frequency

We plan to summarize public notices, meeting agendas, school announcements and other reliable local information. Articles must link to original sources, distinguish proposals from decisions and preserve dates and uncertainty. We will not invent events, quotations or sources.

AI disclosure

We use AI to prepare original summaries from linked sources. The preview’s civic guides were generated with AI and are not reports of current events. Read this policy for details about our use of AI.

What may publish automatically

Once a verified publishing service is operating, routine meeting notices, noncontroversial community announcements and other low-risk updates may qualify. An allowlisted source alone does not make a story safe. Publication also requires evidence, date checks, duplicate detection and factual validation.

What requires human review

Crime, allegations, individual student information, minors, elections, contested political claims, medical or safety advice, emergencies, obituaries and other sensitive or uncertain subjects will be held for review. An AI score cannot override that hold.

Corrections and accountability

Substantive corrections will be dated and explained on the affected article. A public contact channel and publisher information page are being prepared.

Current status

Winnebago County News publishes source-linked civic guides, community news and verified event listings. The events service stores source links and update logs. Daily news article automation and full editorial administration are not connected. Subscriber accounts use hosted ChatGPT sign-in, with monthly and annual subscriptions processed through PayPal. Existing civic guides and event listings remain free. Subscriber editions require verified paid access.