WVLI News Update

On the November 3rd ballot, voters across Bourbonnais Township will decide whether to abolish the Bourbonnais Township Road District. In part two of this WVLI News Update Special Report, host Jake LaMore speaks with Bourbonnais Township Supervisor Jeff Umphrey to discuss the Township Board’s perspective on the referendum and the arguments supporting a "Yes" vote.  In this interview, Umph...

Ahead of the November 3rd election, Bourbonnais Township voters will decide whether to abolish the Bourbonnais Township Road District. In this special report from the WVLI News Update, host Jake LaMore sits down with Bourbonnais Township Highway Commissioner Jason Diaz to discuss his perspective on the referendum and why he is encouraging residents to vote "No." In this interview, Diaz a...

This edition of the WVLI News Update with Rob West covers local and regional developments across eastern Illinois and northwest Indiana. The broadcast examines recent retail gasoline price movements and the scheduled expiration of Indiana's state gasoline tax suspension. Reporting also details the latest data from the U.S. Drought Monitor affecting area counties, the pending ballot referendum...

In this edition of the WVLI News Update with Rob West, Illinois State Police seek the public's assistance in identifying potential additional victims following the arrest of 46-year-old Michael L. Wiggins of Bradley on multiple child sexual assault and abuse charges. Investigators believe there may be additional unidentified victims across Kankakee, Watseka, Champaign, and Decatur. In Iroquoi...

In this edition of the WVLI News Update with Rob West, Kankakee City Police apprehend a 28-year-old Bourbonnais man following a Monday morning shooting on East Court Street that left one person hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The episode provides coverage of the contested Kankakee County Clerk election ahead of Election Day, featuring statements from incumbent Dan Hendrickson and...

In this edition of the WVLI News Update, host Rob West delivers comprehensive coverage of breaking local news and key civic developments across Kankakee County and the surrounding region.  Topics covered in this episode include: Kankakee police investigations into a Monday morning shooting on East Court Street that left one suspect wounded, alongside reports of shots fired over the weekend on East...

In this edition of the WVLI News Update with Rob West, comprehensive local and regional coverage spans breaking public safety news, local governance, infrastructure, and community events across Kankakee, Will, and Iroquois counties.  Will County authorities are investigating a fatal crash on Peotone-Wilmington Road at Center Road involving a passenger car and a semi-truck that resulted in two fata...

In this edition of the WVLI News Update, host Rob West covers critical developments across Kankakee County and surrounding areas.  Bradley police are actively investigating an isolated shooting incident on the North Street I-57 overpass that left two people dead late Thursday night. In economic news, Illinois drivers are seeing another sudden spike at the pump, with Kankakee area gas prices surgin...

In this edition of the WVLI News Update with Rob West, local reporting covers key county government decisions, township governance disputes, election preparations, and community headlines across Kankakee County. The Kankakee County Board Executive Committee examines a proposal to withdraw from the Kankakee Regional Land Bank, centering on questions of municipal tax equity and program jurisdiction....

On the November 3 ballot, voters within the Bourbonnais Public Library District will decide on a proposed funding referendum. In this WVLI News Update Special Report, host Jake LaMore sits down with Jeremy Van Kley of the Vote Yes for Bourbonnais Public Library campaign committee to break down the details, numbers, and community impact behind the measure.  The discussion covers key topics every di...

In this edition of the WVLI News Update with Rob West, local authorities investigate a series of crimes and share upcoming community updates across Kankakee County.  Manteno police and Kankakee County Crime Stoppers report a break-in at a North Main Street bar where six gaming machines were heavily damaged by masked suspects who fled in a dark Dodge Durango—a vehicle believed to be tied to a broad...

In this edition of the WVLI News Update with Rob West, local reporting covers public safety developments, municipal appointments, community events, and seasonal health alerts across Kankakee County. Kankakee City Police are investigating three separate weekend shots-fired incidents reported on East Hickory, East Willow, and West Hawkins, involving property damage to vehicles and residences. Kankak...

In this edition of the WVLI News Update, guest host Jake LaMore fills in for Rob West to bring you the latest breaking news and community reports across Kankakee County and northwest Indiana.  Leading today's update, Indiana State Police have arrested a Lowell woman on 42 felony counts following a three-year investigation into forged court documents and financial fraud tied to a Merrillville...

In this edition of the WVLI News Update, host Rob West covers key local developments across Kankakee County and regional headlines.  Mayor Chris Curtis has announced Garrick Kasper as the nominee to serve as Kankakee's next Fire Chief, succeeding the retiring Chief Bryan LaRoche. The report details Kasper's background, the selection process, and the upcoming City Council vote.  Environme...

In this edition of the WVLI News Update with Rob West, Indiana State Police investigate a fatal multi-vehicle crash involving a semi-truck that forced the overnight closure of southbound Interstate 65 near Remington.  In Kankakee County legal news, 21st Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Bill Dickenson provides an update on ongoing courthouse renovations and announces upcoming judicial retirements that...

In this edition of the WVLI News Update, host Rob West delivers comprehensive coverage of breaking public safety developments, county administration changes, and regional reports across Kankakee and Iroquois counties.  Police in Kankakee have taken 50-year-old Marveo L. Gray into custody on preliminary armed robbery charges following an attempted robbery at a South Schuyler Avenue liquor store. In...

This edition of the WVLI News Update with Rob West delivers reporting on public safety emergencies, infrastructure development, and local governance across Kankakee and Ford counties.  In Paxton, fire investigators continue looking into the origin of a multi-building commercial blaze along Railroad Avenue after nearby workers reported hearing explosions before warehouse flames erupted. Two structu...

This episode of the WVLI News Update with Rob West covers key local news, civic developments, and regional events. Coverage begins with Columbus Day, highlighting holiday closures across government offices, banks, and schools, alongside the history and ongoing debate surrounding Indigenous Peoples Day. In local government news, the Kankakee City Council approved two honorary street designations ho...

In this episode of the WVLI News Update, host Rob West reports on critical local news, government actions, public safety alerts, and community events affecting Kankakee County and the surrounding region.  Key Topics Covered in This Episode: Local Public Safety & Crime: Coverage of a collision near downtown Kankakee involving a 12-year-old e-bike rider, an arrest following a severe battery inci...

This episode of the WVLI News Update with Rob West delivers full coverage of essential local news, law enforcement developments, economic announcements, and community events across the region. Key reporting includes a felony arrest by the Will County Sheriff's Office in Lockport, an ongoing death investigation following a discovery at Radzinski Park in Rantoul, and details on a $55 million ma...

This episode of the WVLI News Update with Rob West covers key local news, public safety alerts, community announcements, and regional sports updates across Kankakee and Iroquois counties. Kankakee City Police are investigating an early morning garage break-in on South Winfield, supported by surveillance footage showing multiple suspects. Kankakee County Health Department Administrator John Beevis...

This episode of the WVLI News Update with Rob West delivers key local headlines, health advisories, community developments, and sports news.  In local governance, the Manteno Village Board meeting saw praise for Mayor Annette LaMore from Trustee Joel Gesky following months of tension, while Mayor LaMore issued an apology regarding a recent incident with student volunteers. Meanwhile, data from Vis...

This episode of the WVLI News Update with Rob West covers key local headlines, public safety advisories, community achievements, and regional sports updates across Kankakee and surrounding counties.  Jake LaMore reports from the Kankakee County Courthouse lawn on the annual Firefighters Memorial ceremony. The event featured remarks from Kankakee County State's Attorney Jim Rowe and retired Fi...

In this edition of the WVLI News Update with Rob West, Kankakee County State's Attorney Jim Rowe announces that the Third District Appellate Court has upheld the murder convictions and life sentences for Dee Eastman and Phillip Horrell. The update also highlights the annual Fallen Heroes Memorial ceremony on the Kankakee Courthouse lawn, historical folklore traditions surrounding October, and...

In this episode of the WVLI News Update, guest host Jake LaMore fills in for Rob West to deliver essential local and regional headlines. Coverage begins with a report from the Frankfort Police Department regarding a fatal two-vehicle crash on Lincoln Highway. The update also highlights Indiana Governor Mike Braun's decision to extend the state's gas tax suspension for another 30 days, ke...