WVLI News Update

Notable Night Sky News Let's find out now what's going on overhead this week. With our Notable Night Sky News, here's Madeline Shepley, Astronomy Professor and Director of the Strickler Planetarium at Olivet.  Route 50/County Line Road claims two more victims That intersection at Route 50 and County Line Road in far northern Kankakee County has claimed two more victims. Illinois Sta...

Peotone Police issue community alert Peotone Police are asking folks in the area to be on alert. In a Facebook post, Peotone Police report one of their officers was flagged down about 11 Wednesday night near Beecher Road and Harlem Avenue by two people who said they'd been highjacked at gunpoint. The victims say a white vehicle stopped in front of their 2020 Kia Soul and four men with guns go...

No injuries reported when silo collapses in Martinton No one was injured when a concrete and rebar grain silo collapsed Wednesday afternoon in Martinton. In a press release, Iroquois County Emergency Management says firefighters were called to the Donovan Farmer's Co-op about 10:30 yesterday morning. While there, one of the firefighters noticed a bulge starting to form in the 50-year-old silo...

Kitchen fire damages Kankakee home Kankakee City Fire Department personnel were called out again overnight. This time, firefighters were called to a home in the 400 block of South Osborn Avenue for a kitchen fire. When they got there, firefighters say they found heavy fire in the kitchen and the home owner trying to put it out with a garden hose. Firefighters quickly put out the blaze, but not bef...

Fire damages apartment building Kankakee City Fire Department personnel were called to a fire in an apartment in the 200 block of Crestlane Monday night. According to reports, it was just before 10 last night when firefighters were called to the fire that started when frying food was left unattended on the stove. Reports say there was significant damage to the apartment where the fire started and...

Man killed in fatal crash identified We have a name now of the motorcyclist killed Sunday when his motorcycle collided with a car on Route 17 west of Kankakee. Illinois State Police say the crash happened just before 10 yesterday morning at Route 17 near 3000 West Road. Kankakee County Coroner Bob Gessner says 31-year-old Trevor Waddell of Braidwood was taken from the scene of the crash to the hos...

Sister Jean dead at 106 A beloved figure in college basketball is dead at 106.  Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt was the team chaplain for Loyola-Chicago for decades.  She was put in the spotlight back in 2018 as the Ramblers made a Cinderella run to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament, praying with the team before every game and relentlessly cheering them on.  Loyola President Mark Reed said, "...

Alcohol use up among Illinois teens A recent study shows adolescents in Illinois are drinking alcohol at nearly twice the national average.  The Illinois Youth Survey, that's conducted every two years, shows that in 2024 eighth graders were using more alcohol and teens more cannabis.  What's perhaps more alarming is the data showed that one in ten eighth graders said they got alcohol thr...

Jasper County Sheriff warns of scam Jasper County Indiana Sheriff Pat Williamson is warning of a scam going around the area. In this scam, the victim gets an email or phone call saying there's a warrant for for your arrest  because you didn't show up for jury duty.  Williamson says if you get one of these calls you should hang up the phone and call the jurisdiction they said they were fr...

National Guard to be in Chicago National Guard troops could be hitting the streets of Chicago very soon despite legal challenges from the city and the state of Illinois.  Chicago and Illinois joined forces to sue the Trump administration to block the president from sending the National Guard to Chicago.  However, a federal judge declined to issue a temporary restraining order yesterday.  It was re...

Missing Will Co child found, safe Will County Sheriff's Police report a child reported abducted Sunday morning has been found safe. In a press release, Wil County Sheriff' Mike Kelley says it was just before 10:30 yesterday morning when deputies were called to the 19-thousand-500 block of West Goodwin Road for a report of domestic battery and child abduction. When they got there they wer...

Fire damages Kankakee Home An electrical issue is thought to have been the cause of a fire in the 700 block of Wildwood Avenue in Kankakee overnight. Kankakee Fire Chief Brian LaRoche says the call came in just before 12:30 this morning and when firefighters got to the scene they found a small fire in one of the bedrooms of the home. The fire was quickly put out and reports say it seemed to have s...

21st Judicial Circuit elects new Chief Judge The 21st Judicial Circuit, which includes Kankakee and Iroquois Counties, will have a new Chief Judge at the start of the new year. It was announced yesterday that Chief Judge Thomas Cunnington will step down from that position and Circuit Judge Bill Dickenson has been selected to take over January 1st. The Chief Judge is elected by the judges on the ci...

One injured in Tuesday crash One person was sent to the hospital following a three-vehicle crash on nine-thousand north at Career Center Road Tuesday morning. Reports say it was just after eight yesterday morning when a westbound car slowed to turn south onto Career Center Road and was hit from behind by a motorcycle which continued on and hit another car that was traveling eastbound through the i...

Parole check nets Iroquois County Deputies two arrests Iroquois County Sheriff's Police report a pair of arrests. According to reports, deputies, along with members of the Iroquois County Probation Office were conducting a probation check at a home in Milford when a search allegedly turned up some drug paraphernalia and a pair of brass knuckles. Iroquois County Deputies say they arrested 42-y...

Iroquois/Ford Counties issue burn ban That burn ban is back in effect in Iroquois County. In a press release, the Iroquois County Emergency Management Agency, Easter Illinois Mutual Aid Fire Association and the Iroquois County Board last night, re-issued that burn ban effective at 12:01 this morning. The ban asks those living in Iroquois County to refrain from any type of open burning or use of fi...

Sprout baby food recall expanded Sprout Foods is expanding its recall of baby food pouches due to lead concerns,  It's recalling additional lots of Sprout Organics Sweet Potato Apple and Spinach pouches.  The baby food comes in three-and-a-half ounce pouches.  Sprout initiated the recall after it found elevated levels of lead during routine testing.  The product was sold online or at Walgreen...

Jasper Co Deputies look for missing person The Jasper County Indiana Sheriff's Police are asking for help to find 49-year-old Garry Noe the third. Noe is considered homeless and had been living out of his pick-up truck  in Remington, Indiana. Family members who have regular contact with Noe say they've not heard from him since September 15th. The last information Jasper County Deputies h...

• Kankakee City Police report an arrest in connection to a burglary to a home over the weekend.  • Services have been announced for the Momence Junior High school student who passed away Friday.  • Watseka City Council discuss the demolition the old Opera House.  • Winner's for the Bourbonnais Township Park District's Scarecrow Contest have been announced.  These stories and more on toda...

State Police re-open Momence Burger King murders case Illinois State Police is asking for the public's help in solving a nearly 20-year-old double homicide cold case at a Burger King in Momence.   Pam Branka and Paul Jones were both employees of the fast-food restaurant attached to the Circle K gas station on Gladiolus Street.  In January 2007, police received a 911 call from the eatery.  A f...

Momence Police report child's death Counselors will be available today at Momence schools, that after a Momence Junior High Student died Friday night. In a Facebook post, Momence Police say the student passed away sometime Friday evening, but provide no other details about the death. Have a news tip to share? Send us a text! Listen to more great shows on the WVLI Podcast Network : This One Ti...

Dr. Hamdan named Riverside Foundation Samaritan of the Year The Riverside Healthcare Foundation awarded its Samaritan of the year award last night. This year's winner, Dr. Joehar Hamdan said he was humbled to win the award.  Dr. Hamdan is an oncologist with the Riverside Cancer Institute.  Drought concerns return With several days without significant rainfall, drought concerns are starting to...

Senator Joyce reminds drivers to be careful during farm safety week It's Farm Safety Week in the State of Illinois. 40th District State Senator Patrick Joyce reminds drivers to be on the lookout as harvest season starts to ramp.  Senator Joyce adds farm safety extends to the farmer in the field as well.  Farm Safety Week in the State of Illinois runs through Sunday.  First West Nile Virus dea...

Crime Stoppers Tip of the Week Time now for our Crime Stoppers Tip of the Week. With that, here's Kankakee County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Trent Bukowski.  Tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and could result in a cash reward.  Farm Safety week continues This if Farm Safety Week in the State of Illinois, and as farmers gear up for the harvest season, Illinois State Police Troop...

Bourbonnais passes ordinance outlawing sale of certain drugs During last night's Bourbonnais Village Board meeting, trustees passed an ordinance outlawing the sale of Cannabinoid and Kratom products inside village limits. Village Attorney Patrick Dunn.  Dunn says the ordinance will become law once it's published, which will be in the next 10 days. Also at last night's meeting, trust...