WVLI News Update

Second property tax payment due this week Now that Labor Day is passed, Kankakee County Treasurer Nick Africano wants to remind you that the second installment of your property tax bill is due this week.  Africano says you can also pay your tax bill online if you like. He adds once this year’s taxes are paid and we hit the first of next year, you can register for another way to pay your property t...

Tourism up in Kankakee County Tourism in Kankakee County showed major returns in 2024. Nicole Gavin, Executive Director of Visit Kankakee County, breaks down the numbers for us.  According to a press release sent by Gavin, visitor spending dipped slightly last year by one half of a percent but claims that's indicative of a strong and stable tourism sector.  What to do around Kankakee County t...

Kankakee City Police make arrests in August 7th shooting Kankakee City Police report a pair of arrests in connection with an incident earlier this month that sent two people to the hospital. According to reports, it was just after 11:30 in the evening on Thursday August 7th when officers were called to a report of gunfire at Crestlane Apartments. When they got there, officers say they found a larg...

Crime Stoppers Tip of the Week Kankakee City Police are looking into a pair of robberies to pizza delivery people Saturday evening. With our Crime Stoppers Tip of the Week, withKankakee County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy, Trent Bukowski.  Tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and could result in a cash reward.  Tourism up in IL Illinois leaders are touting record-breaking tourism revenue...

Powerball jackpot rolls over....again  The Powerball jackpot rolled over again.  With no grand prize winner on Monday night, the jackpot jumps to 815-million-dollars.  The next drawing takes place Wednesday with the cash option just shy of 368-million-dollars. Kankakee house hit by gunfire Just after 1:30 Monday morning, Kankakee City Police were called to the 700 block of South Wall for a report...

CSL's plasma donation cite on Rte 50 not on closure list CSL Behring says their plasma donation center on Route 50 is not one of those scheduled to be closed by the company. Late last week it was announced Behring plans to make a 15 percent cut to its workforce and close of 22 of it's plasma donation centers in the U.S. In an email, CSL Behring representatives say the 15 percent reductio...

Governor signs "Missing Persons Identification Act" A new Illinois law will create new guidelines for missing persons investigations.  Governor Pritzker signed the Missing Persons Identification Act last week.  The bill requires law enforcement to immediately take a report when they are notified of a missing person and enter it into the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System.  The law also...

Drought concerns lessen The latest map just released today by the US Drought Monitor shows significant improvement in drought conditions across the area. Today's map puts just over two percent of Kankakee County in the "abnormally dry" category and the rest of the county without any drought concerns at all. Today's map places pretty much all of Iroquois, Livingston and Grundy C...

Former O'Bama administration staff members call for fairer legislative maps in IL Two bipartisan former Obama administration officials are pushing for fairer maps in Illinois' state legislative districts.   Former U.S. Commerce Secretary Bill Daley and ex-Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood are leading an effort to establish a ballot initiative in 2026 to reform the redistricting process...

Powerball rolls over again The Powerball jackpot has rolled over once again.  There was no grand prize winner on Monday night, pushing the already-massive jackpot up to an estimated 643-million dollars.  Taking the cash option on that would net you nearly 291-million bucks.  Of course striking it rich is anything but easy.  Odds of walking away with all that money are roughly one in 292-million. ...

Notable Night Sky News Time now to take a look at what's going on overhead this week. With a look at our Notable Night Sky News. IDOT looks for "snowbirds" It may be August, but the folks at the Illinois Department of Transportation are already thinking about winter. IDOT is looking for what they call “snow birds”, the seasonal employees that will work for IDOT either by the month o...

Documentary planned for Lane Bryant murders A documentary is in the works about the 2008 Lane Bryant murders in Tinley Park.  Filmmaker Charlie Minn is putting together a documentary titled "Who Killed These Women: The Tinley Park 5."  No arrests have been made after five women were shot and killed inside the Lane Bryant store inside the Brookside Marketplace Shopping Center during a rob...

ISP continues search for alleged Gibson City shooter Authorities are still searching for a man accused of shooting two officers in Ford County over the weekend.  State police say officers responded early Saturday to the 100 block of Ash Street in Gibson City on a report of a naked man, identified as David Jordan.  While making contact with Jordan at his home, a Gibson City Police officer and Ford...

Crime Stoppers Tip of the Week Manteno Police are looking into a burglary that happened last Saturday.  Tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and could result in a cash reward. County Board sets officials salaries During Tuesday morning's Kankakee County Board meeting, the Board voted to set the State's Attorney's annual salary. The County Board also voted to set the Public Defenders...

Manhunt continues for Gibson City man Illinois State Police continue the search for the man believed to have been responsible for shooting two police officers and setting fire to a home in Gibson City early Saturday morning. Troopers say officers responded about 2:30 Saturday morning to the 100 block of Ash Street in Gibson City on a report of a naked man, identified as David Jordan, walking outsi...

Man wanted in Gibson City shooting Illinois State Police are investigating after two police officers were shot in Gibson City early Saturday morning. Troopers say it was just after 2:30 Saturday morning when officers were called to a report of a naked man, identified as 70-year-old David D Jordan of Gibson City, walking in the 100 block of Ash Street. Reports say when officers tried to make contac...

One killed in Rte 50 crash Illinois State Police are investigating after another fatal crash this morning at Route 50 and County Line Road in far northern Kankakee County. Reports say the crash happened just after 7:30 this morning and involved three vehicles. Troopers say three people were taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries and one of the three died at the hospital. Route 50 had to...

Kankakee Municipal Band summer concert series wraps up tonight The Kankakee Municipal Band summer concert series wraps up tonight at the Palzer Band Shell in Bird Park. The concert starts at seven o'clock tonight.  Kankakee City Police report fight over a parking space Kankakee City Police report a fight Tuesday afternoon. According to reports, it was just before 12:30 Tuesday afternoon when...

New subdivision planned for Bourbonnais Plans for a new subdivision are underway in the Village of Bourbonnais. During last night's Village Board meeting, trustees passed an ordinance approving a general development and phasing plan for the Pony Farm Subdivision, planned for the area across from Turnberry Subdivision west of town.  Plans call for Pony Farm to be 120 lots with 24 platted in th...

Riverside Foundation names Samaritan of the Year The Riverside Healthcare Foundation's President's Circle dinner was held last night. The highlight of the night was the awarding of the 2025 Samaritan of the Year award. Last night's dinner was held at Riverside's Atrium Building on Kennedy Drive in Bradley.  Gladiolus Fest begins today in Momence The 87th annual Momence Gladiolu...

Petition period starts tomorrow for March elections Nominating packets will be available starting tomorrow for anyone interested in running for an elected county position in the March primary.  Hendrickson added that if you have any questions about the packets you can call the Kankakee County Clerk’s office.  Lake Co IN Fair continues The Lake County Fair in Crown Point, Indiana continues today. ...

What's going on around Kankakee County this weekend There's plenty to do in Kankakee County this weekend. With a look at a few of the events. Kankakee County Fair Continues The Kankakee County Fair continues today at the fairgrounds just south of Kankakee.    Health Fair tomorrow in Kankakee Hippocrates Medical Clinic in downtown Kankakee will host a “Back to School Health Fair” Saturday...

No injuries reported when semis collide just outside Manteno 5000 East Road and 9000 North Road east of Manteno were closed for about three hours yesterday after two semi trucks collided. According to the Kankakee County Sheriff's Office, the accident happened around 1 yesterday afternoon when the semi traveling south on 5000 east road turned on 9000 north road in front of the other semi. No...

Kankakee County Fair opens today The Kankakee County Fair opens today at the fairgrounds just south of Kankakee. Crime Stoppers Tip of the Week Kankakee County Sheriff's Police are looking for information about an attempted burglary that happened July 21st at a shed in rural Reddick.  Tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and could result in a cash reward.  Have a news tip to share? Send us a...

Livingston County Task Force arrests Kankakee man A Kankakee man has been arrested by Fairbury Police following an investigation into alleged sex crimes against a child. According to a press release from the Crimes Happening Against Our Students Task Force, 42 year old Jacob D. McCorkle of Kankakee was taken into custody by Fairbury Police early Monday morning in Forrest for allegedly attempting t...