It's an annual holiday tradition - the Teddy Bear Toss at a Rockford IceHogs hockey game. Then again, nothing is traditional about 2020.  This year, you'll drive your car through the BMO Harris Bank Center to toss your teddy - or make a clothing donation. IceHogs Director of Business Operations Mike Peck shares information on the event this Saturday (12/19) from 9am - noon. All donated items will be shared with Miss Carly's in Rockford.

Runtime: 5 minutes

John Groh of the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau discusses their Diversity Initiatives announced in honor of Black History Month, and how the agency will better serve all of its residents. John also outlines the steps the RACVB will be taking once the Hard Rock Casino is built, and how the agency is planning ahead in 2021. He recaps the Stroll on State Experience with a tease of new community events and other plans in the months ahead.

Runtime: 9 Minutes.

John Groh, president and CEO of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, joins Steve Summers on This Week in the Stateline to talk about the ways the city is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the debut of "A League of Their Own" and the new Amazon Prime series.

You can get free tickets to an early showing of the new series, which will play at 8 p.m Saturday, July 2 at the Coronado Performing Arts Center. The screening is preceded by a street fair starting at 6 p.m.

Groh said about 300 tickets were reserved in a two-hour span Wednesday after the tickets became available at 3 p.m.

"I think Rockford is going to be put in a really good light," Groh told Summers. "I just think it's so cool that we get to have this premier before anybody else in the country."

Listen to the whole episode below.