WVLI News Update

In this edition of the WVLI News Update hosted by Rob West, comprehensive local reporting covers major public safety, municipal government, and community developments across Kankakee County and surrounding areas.

Coverage opens with details on the arrest of 24-year-old Jaciah D. L. Eason by Kankakee City Police on kidnapping charges following an investigation that led officers to the Peotone Travel Center. In municipal government news, the Kankakee City Council reviews ongoing discussions regarding feral cat management, progress on the Kankakee Riverwalk development, and a successful turnout for the Kankakee River Regatta, which will host national championship races through 2029.

Additional local government reports highlight contentious discussions at the Manteno Village Board meeting, including the removal of trustee comments from the agenda and the rejection of a motion to appoint a new Director of Building and Zoning. The Manteno board also received confirmation of full compliance regarding Gotion's 24-hour fire brigade following an unannounced inspection. In Bourbonnais, trustees approved a special tax on potential cannabis retailers and reviewed plans for a multi-phase warehouse distribution park.

Further reporting includes an arson investigation on South Myrtle Street in Kankakee, a Crime Stoppers call for information regarding shots fired in Grant Park, Iroquois County's new AI partnership for roadway and bridge maintenance, and Kankakee County Board recognitions for March 10 tornado recovery efforts alongside $865,000 in approved building roof repairs. The update concludes with a complete sports recap covering Major League Baseball, Chicago Fire FC, and the start of the NFL regular season.

Listen to the full episode for all the details and complete reporting on these stories.

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This One Time in Kankakee  (Narrative Storytelling)

Kankakee Valley Community Happenings  (Businesses & Non-Profits)

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In this edition of the WVLI News Update with Rob West, top regional news stories cover the reopening of US 231 in Jasper County following a multi-day closure due to a cooking oil spill, key guidance from pediatric psychologist Dr. Bakht Siddiqui for Suicide Awareness Prevention Month, and new findings published in The Lancet suggesting that 45% of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed through lifestyle modifications.

Additional news coverage includes first-degree murder charges filed against a Frankfort woman, registration opening for the 13th Annual Scarecrow Contest at Perry Farm in Bourbonnais, findings from a Cleveland Clinic survey regarding men's health trends on social media, and a tribute to long-serving Momence Fire Protection District Engineer Robert "Bob" Stetson. The update also features fire safety advisories from the Rensselaer Volunteer Fire Department, weekly astronomy insights in Night Sky News with Madeleine Shepley, information regarding Clove Alliance's expanded Paxton office, warnings about AI-driven investment scams, and a summary of Chicago sports action.

Listen to the full episode for complete coverage and detailed reporting on each of these stories.

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This One Time in Kankakee  (Narrative Storytelling)

Kankakee Valley Community Happenings  (Businesses & Non-Profits)

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In this edition of the WVLI News Update with Rob West, key news headlines and holiday weekend updates across Kankakee County, Will County, and surrounding areas in Illinois and Indiana are covered in detail.

The report begins with an ongoing heat advisory issued by the National Weather Service, bringing heat index values near 105 degrees ahead of expected relief by Sunday. Regional travel updates highlight a minor drop in Labor Day weekend gas prices across Illinois and Indiana, along with coverage of Indiana Governor Mike Braun’s decision to extend the state’s gas tax holiday.

Crime coverage includes a Peotone Police investigation into a fast-paced smash-and-grab robbery at the Peotone Travel Center involving sledgehammers and gaming machines, a burglary at a Kankakee School District 111 storage unit at Meadowview Shopping Center where wheelchairs and equipment were stolen, and residential burglaries in Bourbonnais. Additionally, the Will County Coroner has identified 31-year-old Michelle Robinson as the bystander killed in a Lockport shooting.

Community news previews the return of the Kankakee River Regatta, Fridays After 5 in Bourbonnais, and ShoeFest at Camp Shaw-waw-nas-see, along with traffic safety warnings from the Illinois State Police and the Kankakee County Sheriff's Department regarding Labor Day roadway patrols. Additional coverage details USDA emergency disaster loans announced by Governor JB Pritzker for farmers impacted by severe March storms.

The update concludes with a complete regional sports recap covering the Chicago Cubs, White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Fighting Illini football's season-opening victory, Chicago Fire FC, NASCAR playoff kickoffs, and the upcoming Chicago Bears season opener.

Listen to the full episode for all the details and complete reporting.

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This One Time in Kankakee  (Narrative Storytelling)

Kankakee Valley Community Happenings  (Businesses & Non-Profits)

The voices you trust, beyond the dial. 

Stay informed with the latest regional news, weather, and sports coverage on this episode of the WVLI News Update with Rob West. High temperatures and excessive heat advisories continue across Illinois, with heat index values projected to reach as high as 110 degrees. Ahead of the Labor Day holiday weekend, gas prices see an uptick across Illinois and Indiana as Indiana prepares to re-implement its state gas tax.

In local community updates, the Watseka Area Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual awards dinner, recognizing local educator Phil Wilkey as Citizen of the Year alongside Lifetime Achievement Award winners Tony and Dalia Lashus. In Kankakee, city police investigate a residential burglary on South 4th Avenue and search for a masked suspect seen with a knife on South Schuyler Avenue. Meanwhile, state health officials report the first West Nile virus fatality of the year in Illinois.

Additional coverage includes event and fundraising updates from the United Way of Kankakee and Iroquois Counties, a Chicago Bears survey gauging fan feedback on a potential relocation to Hammond, Indiana, and the upcoming retirement of Bourbonnais Village Administrator Mike Van Mill. Bradley Mayor Mike Watson also provides a progress update on the $90 million Mattel-branded waterpark planned near I-57. Finally, get a full sports wrap-up featuring MLB scores, Chicago Fire FC, University of Illinois football, and the Chicago Bears.

Listen to the full episode for all the details on these local headlines and complete regional reporting.

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This One Time in Kankakee  (Narrative Storytelling)

Kankakee Valley Community Happenings  (Businesses & Non-Profits)

The voices you trust, beyond the dial. 

In this episode of the WVLI News Update, host Rob West provides essential local news, weather alerts, and safety information for Kankakee and the surrounding Illinois areas.

Coverage begins with an active National Weather Service heat advisory, high temperature forecasts, and key advice on recognizing heat-related illnesses from Riverside Medical Center emergency preparedness coordinator Jay Kindle. Dr. Jennifer Kempke of Bradley Animal Hospital also shares crucial tips on protecting pets during extreme heat.

Reporter Jake LaMore details the National Weather Service's official confirmation of a new Illinois state-record hailstone found in Kankakee, measuring 6.6 inches in diameter. Additional stories include a multi-state recall on Halloween candy due to undeclared allergens, regional gas price reductions leading into the weekend, local road closures for the Kankakee River Regatta, and a Crime Stoppers update from Chief Deputy Trent Bukowski regarding a distraction burglary in rural Grant Park. The episode wraps up with scores and updates for the White Sox, Cubs, Cardinals, Chicago Fire FC, and the Chicago Bears.

Listen to the full episode for all the details, official statements, and complete local reporting.

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This One Time in Kankakee  (Narrative Storytelling)

Kankakee Valley Community Happenings  (Businesses & Non-Profits)

The voices you trust, beyond the dial. 

In this edition of the WVLI News Update, host Rob West covers critical developments across Illinois and Northwest Indiana.

Extreme heat conditions hit the region with heat index values reaching up to 105 degrees, prompting heat advisories from the National Weather Service. In state news, Indiana Governor Mike Braun announces an official investigation into Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) following extended power outages and damage from severe storms, while FEMA establishes local relief centers.

Regional law enforcement updates include grooming and delinquency charges against a Wilmington man in Grundy County, criminal sexual assault charges filed in Will County, a burglary investigation in Grant Park involving fake ComEd workers, and an active manhunt in Fairbury for a home invasion suspect.

Additional coverage highlights positive local developments, including a $40,000 city-approved upgrade to the Kankakee Amtrak depot waiting room and a record-breaking $500,000 donation awarded to veteran non-profit Project Headspace and Timing. The update concludes with scores and upcoming schedules for the Chicago Cubs, White Sox, Cardinals, Chicago Fire, and the Chicago Bears.

Listen to the full episode for all the details and in-depth reporting on these stories.

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Listen to more great shows on the WVLI Podcast Network:

This One Time in Kankakee  (Narrative Storytelling)

Kankakee Valley Community Happenings  (Businesses & Non-Profits)

The voices you trust, beyond the dial. 

In this episode of the WVLI News Update, host Rob West covers key local, regional, and national developments. The broadcast opens with details on two weekend fires addressed by the Grant Park Fire Protection District on Saturday afternoon: a garage fire on Esson Farm Road and a home fire on Lake Matonga Trail. In local political news, three Manteno residents—Eric Peterson, Jacob Carlile, and Eric Urbanowski—announced the formation of the Leadership Party to run for Village Trustee in the April 2027 consolidated election.

Legal coverage includes the 20-year prison sentence issued to Donovan DeWayne Burbridge in Will County circuit court following an attempted first-degree murder conviction tied to an attack at the Joliet River Valley Juvenile Detention Center. The update also details a police investigation into a non-credible social media threat involving Grant Park Community School District 6, a train-semi collision at a crossing in St. Anne, and major food safety announcements, including a recall of Lundberg Family Farms Jasmine White Rice and an ongoing nationwide Cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce.

Additionally, astronomy professor Madeline Shepley outlines stargazing opportunities regarding the red supergiant Mu Cephei and the third quarter moon in this week's Notable Night Sky segment, followed by a regional sports summary covering the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Fire FC, the conclusion of the Chicago Sky season, NASCAR at Daytona, and the Chicago Bears' preseason finale. Listen to the full episode for all the details and comprehensive coverage of these stories.

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This One Time in Kankakee  (Narrative Storytelling)

Kankakee Valley Community Happenings  (Businesses & Non-Profits)

The voices you trust, beyond the dial. 

In this edition of the WVLI News Update hosted by Rob West, top regional news and community events across Illinois and Indiana are covered in detail. The report opens with coverage of a severe crash at the intersection of Center and Bar Roads near Peotone that sent two people to the hospital, including one victim airlifted in critical condition. Kankakee County Health Department Administrator John Bevis provides key insights into local West Nile Virus monitoring, positive mosquito sample testing, and preventive guidelines for residents. Additional coverage details an early-morning residential fire in Keener Township, Indiana, where occupants escaped without injury, as well as statements from Governor JB Pritzker addressing NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's remarks on the Chicago Bears' stadium plans.

The episode also details declining gas prices across Illinois and Indiana heading into Labor Day weekend, alongside activity guides for the Will County Fair, the Watseka Family Fest, and local community weekend events hosted across Kankakee County. The update concludes with a sports roundup covering the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Fire FC, Chicago Sky, NASCAR, and Chicago Bears preseason football. Listen to the full episode for all the details and complete reporting.

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Listen to more great shows on the WVLI Podcast Network:

This One Time in Kankakee  (Narrative Storytelling)

Kankakee Valley Community Happenings  (Businesses & Non-Profits)

The voices you trust, beyond the dial. 

This episode of the WVLI News Update with Rob West covers key local headlines across Illinois, including the confirmation of the state's first human case of West Nile Virus in Piatt County alongside additional probable cases in Northern Illinois. The update also features details on a mobile food pantry pop-up in Bourbonnais, daily event schedules for the 123rd Will County Fair, an arrest in Watseka following a narcotics investigation, and an upcoming open house regarding the Bourbonnais Career Center Road subarea development plan. Listeners will also hear health guidance on optimal napping durations from sleep experts, updates on the approved FEMA-funded demolition of the Nettie Davis school building in Watseka, kickoff details for the Watseka Family Fest, and viewing times for tonight's partial lunar eclipse. The report concludes with a complete local sports rundown covering the White Sox, Cubs, Cardinals, and upcoming weekend games for Chicago Fire FC, Chicago Sky, and the Chicago Bears. Listen to the full episode for all the details.

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Listen to more great shows on the WVLI Podcast Network:

This One Time in Kankakee  (Narrative Storytelling)

Kankakee Valley Community Happenings  (Businesses & Non-Profits)

The voices you trust, beyond the dial. 

In this edition of the WVLI News Update with Rob West, local coverage begins with the arrest of a 44-year-old Manteno resident on child sex-related charges following a joint investigation. The update highlights the annual U.S. News & World Report public high school rankings, where Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School and Manteno High School took top local honors in Kankakee County. Additional coverage includes a national recall on high-potency thyroid medication, a residential burglary investigation in Bradley, and Illinois securing over $1 billion in federal grant funding to expand high-speed internet.

The episode also details opening day events at the 123rd Will County Fair, a federal disaster declaration for Indiana following severe storms, expert advice on West Nile virus prevention, and a Kankakee County Crime Stoppers tip regarding a burglary in Limestone. The update concludes with a full recap of regional sports, including outcomes for the White Sox, Cubs, Cardinals, Chicago Sky, Chicago Fire FC, and the Chicago Bears. Listen to the full episode for complete details and in-depth reporting on all of these stories.

Have a news tip to share? Send us a text!

Listen to more great shows on the WVLI Podcast Network:

This One Time in Kankakee  (Narrative Storytelling)

Kankakee Valley Community Happenings  (Businesses & Non-Profits)

The voices you trust, beyond the dial.