WVLI News Update

In this episode of the WVLI News Update, host Rob West covers key local headlines and regional updates. Defense cross-examination continues in the trial of Xanderia Harris regarding the line-of-duty death of Bradley Police Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic and the wounding of Officer Tyler Bailey. Kankakee City Police investigate a residential burglary on West Walnut involving missing airsoft guns, and local firefighters respond to a blaze at a U-Haul facility on Kennedy Drive. Meanwhile, the Bradley Village Board considers a special use permit for an auto sales business on Route 50 and approves a backup generator for Fire Station 2. Additionally, the update highlights back-to-school safety tips from the Kankakee County Sheriff's Department, insights on back-to-school anxiety, the growing Powerball jackpot, and local sports scores for the Cardinals, Sky, and upcoming Chicago team matchups. 

Listen to the full episode for complete reporting, audio clips, and detailed coverage on all of these stories.

Photo credit: Shaw Media/Tiffany Blanchett

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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, Rob West covers critical developments across local news, legal proceedings, state politics, and regional sports.

The update begins with severe overnight weather in Kankakee County, where the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning following reports of rotation and high winds that knocked down tree limbs and left approximately 250 residents without power. In Gibson City, Illinois State Police continue investigating a fatal collision between a car and a school bus carrying members of the Hoopeston Middle School softball team.

Coverage continues with the latest on an Illinois House Committee investigation into a Champaign state representative regarding allegations of wire fraud and obstruction of justice. The report features insights from 40th District State Senator Patrick Joyce on proposed legislative ethics reforms. Legal reporting includes opening developments in the murder trial of Xandria Harris, highlighted by courtroom disruptions surrounding gag order allegations.

Additional stories include a series of gaming machine burglaries under investigation by the Will County Sheriff's Office, a garage fire in Lowell, Indiana, details on the ongoing Lake County Fair, and an update on the $900 million Powerball jackpot. The broadcast concludes with a roundup of regional sports, including updates on the White Sox, Cubs, Cardinals, Chicago Fire FC, Chicago Sky, Chicago Bears training camp, and NASCAR results.

Listen to the full episode for complete reporting, audio clips, and detailed coverage on all of these stories.

Photo credit: Shaw Media/Tiffany Blanchette 

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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 in Kankakee County Circuit Court as opening statements are set for the murder trial of 30-year-old Xandria Harris. Harris is accused in the December 2021 shooting death of Bradley Police Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic and the wounding of Officer Tyler Bailey. Following the selection of 12 jurors and six alternates, trial proceedings are expected to continue through August 21.

In law enforcement news, Kankakee County Sheriff's Police report the arrest of Jason A. Reid of rural Kankakee on charges including grooming and indecent solicitation of a minor following an investigation prompted by an out-of-state group. Meanwhile, Kankakee City Police are investigating a workplace altercation on East Maple Street that sent two employees to the hospital, and Monee Police are seeking information on three suspects involved in an early-morning theft at a gaming cafe on Monee-Manhattan Road.

Additional state and regional coverage includes an Illinois House Ethics Committee investigation into State Representative Carol Ammons following federal wire fraud indictments, as well as the lifting of water conservation restrictions in Braidwood. The update also covers falling regional gas prices across Illinois and Indiana, along with details on local summer events including the 88th Momence Gladiolus Festival, the Lake County Indiana Fair, Fridays After 5 in Bourbonnais, Boathouse Rock in Kankakee, and Wings & Wheels at the Greater Kankakee Airport. The report concludes with a complete breakdown of scores and schedules for Chicago and regional sports teams.

Listen to the full episode for complete reporting, audio clips, and detailed coverage on all of 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 edition of the WVLI News Update, host Rob West delivers comprehensive local reporting on legal proceedings, law enforcement actions, community events, and regional news across Kankakee County and neighboring areas.

Key topics covered in this broadcast include:

• Jury Selection in Police Shooting Trial: Ongoing jury selection details in the murder trial of 30-year-old Xandria Harris, charged in connection with the 2021 shooting death of Bradley Police Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic and the wounding of Officer Tyler Bailey.
• Law Enforcement Reports: A Manteno Police arrest following a road rage incident on Route 50, a Bradley Police robbery arrest on North Bradley Boulevard, and an active Kankakee Police investigation into a reported assault involving a machete on West Station Street.
• Community & Cultural Events: Event schedules for the Momence Gladiolus Festival downtown, along with details on the season finale concert for the Kankakee Municipal Band at Bird Park.
• State Legislation & Policy: State Representative Jackie Haas discusses House Bill 4982 regarding mandatory crisis helpline signage in pharmacies, and Indiana Governor Mike Braun announces a 120-day gas tax holiday.
• National & Sports Headlines: The rising Powerball jackpot reaching $856 million, plus local sports updates covering the Chicago Cubs, White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Sky, Chicago Fire FC, and Chicago Bears training camp.

Listen to the full episode for all the details, official statements, and extended audio reports.

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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 delivers essential local headlines and updates across Kankakee County and surrounding areas. Key stories in this edition include courtroom developments and jury selection in the Xandria Harris murder trial, an arrest following a hit-and-run collision in Gibson City, and an ongoing burglary investigation on the east side of Kankakee.

The report also details an alleged road rage incident in Manteno, a phone scam warning issued by the Beecher Police Department, city council approval for a new downtown Kankakee business, and the latest Crime Stoppers tip of the week regarding a series of commercial burglaries. Finally, the update concludes with a comprehensive Chicago sports rundown featuring scores and updates for the Cubs, White Sox, Cardinals, Sky, Fire FC, and Bears training camp.

Listen to the full episode for all the details and complete local 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 delivers comprehensive coverage of top stories across Kankakee and Will counties. Mayor Annette LaMore addresses ongoing friction within the Manteno Village Board, detailing the five-day unpaid suspension of Village Administrator Chris LaRocque for insubordination, along with disputes regarding board meeting agendas, website access, and village attorney representation.

In additional community news, the Bourbonnais Police Department welcomes new patrolman Thomas Martin, bringing the force closer to full staffing capacity, while the Kankakee Police Department announces the promotion of Jack Klasey to sergeant. The update also covers a water conservation advisory issued in Braidwood, details on upcoming National Night Out festivities at Perry Farm in Bradley, a tabled proposal for transitional homeless housing in Kankakee, and a fatal workplace accident at a processing plant in Gilman. Finally, Illinois State Senator Patrick Joyce discusses recent legislative sessions, local roadway safety improvements, and proposed changes to farm estate tax exemptions, alongside a summary of Chicago sports scores.

Listen to the full episode for complete audio, detailed reports, and in-depth interviews on all of today's top 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 edition of the WVLI News Update with Rob West, local headlines cover critical courtroom proceedings, law enforcement investigations, legislative actions, and regional news across Kankakee, Iroquois, and Will counties.

Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

• Xandria Harris Murder Trial: Kankakee County Circuit Court Judge Kathy Bradshaw Elliott denies a defense motion for a change of venue. State's Attorney Jim Rowe and defense attorney Cierra Norris present arguments regarding community bias, while Assistant State's Attorney Carol Costello is removed from the case. Jury selection is set to begin.
• Powerball Jackpot Surge: No winning ticket was drawn over the weekend, sending the Monday night jackpot to an estimated $748 million.
• Iroquois County Legal Postponement: The trial of former health department administrator Dee Ann Schippert, accused of time sheet fraud, has been officially postponed.
• Kankakee Homicide Arrest: U.S. Marshals in Arkansas arrest 21-year-old Isaiah Houston in connection with the Father's Day shooting death of Randall D. Young in Kankakee.
• Illinois Children's Social Media Safety Act: Governor JB Pritzker signs legislation creating stricter online privacy rules, default protections, and algorithm limits for minors under 18.
• County Building Break-In: Authorities arrest two individuals following an unlawful entry into the Kankakee County Administration Building over the weekend.
• Will County Shooting Charges: A 32-year-old Crete woman faces aggravated battery charges after allegedly shooting her husband.
• FDA Product Recall: Nearly 12.5 million bottles of Rohto Cooling Eye Drops are recalled nationwide over non-sterility concerns.
• Regional Sports Update: Game results and schedules for the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Sky, Chicago Fire FC, and NASCAR.

Listen to the full episode for all the details, audio reports, and complete coverage.

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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 WVLI News Update Special Report, host Rob West sits down with Illinois 40th District State Senator Patrick Joyce to review key outcomes from the spring legislative session and analyze pressing statewide issues. Senator Joyce, who provides a practical agricultural perspective as a working farmer, details the passage of Senate Bill 3208 updating grain wagon weight limits, traffic safety and intersection improvements in Will and Kankakee counties, updates to firearm deer hunting regulations, mental health resource access for county coroners, and municipal business district flexibility.

The episode also covers critical ongoing debates, including the financial burden of the Illinois estate tax on family farms, grid stability and energy policy challenges alongside rising data center demand, ethics reform, proposed amendments to the SAFE-T Act, and discussions surrounding state involvement in Chicago Bears stadium infrastructure.

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In this edition of the WVLI News Update, host Rob West reports on critical local headlines, public safety updates, and upcoming weekend events across Kankakee County and neighboring communities. Key stories in this update include an official investigation into a fatal motorcycle accident near Manteno, former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court regarding his corruption conviction, and a preliminary arson arrest following car fires on South 6th Avenue in Kankakee.

This report also covers event highlights for the Kankakee County Fair and Jasper County Fair, community happenings like Bourbonnais' Cone with a Cop event, health updates regarding an FDA cyclosporiasis outbreak investigation, recent spikes in regional gas prices, and scores for Chicago sports teams.

Be sure to listen to the full episode for complete coverage and all the details on 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. 

This episode of the WVLI News Update with Rob West provides comprehensive coverage of top local news, public safety reports, health guidance, and community events across Kankakee County and surrounding areas.

Key topics covered in this episode:

• Kankakee County Sheriff Personnel Action: An employee is no longer employed by Kankakee County following a social media video capturing insensitive remarks at a local bar. Sheriff Mike Downey issued a public statement addressing standards of professionalism and community partnerships.
• Bradley Police Department Arrest: A 25-year-old Bradley resident was arrested and booked into the Jerome Combs Detention Center for allegedly displaying sexually explicit content to a minor during a video call.
• Regional Traffic Accidents: Updates on a two-vehicle crash involving an SUV and a semi in Momence and a three-vehicle collision near Manteno on Route 50.
• Public Health Updates: Details on the nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak and current West Nile virus monitoring in Kankakee County, including preventative advice from Health Department Administrator John Bevis.
• Law Enforcement Compliance Operation: Results from a joint enforcement detail conducted by Illinois State Police checking parole and sex offender registration compliance across the region.
• Community Events & Fairs: Highlights and event schedules for the Kankakee County Fair, the Jasper County Fair, and the Kankakee Municipal Band's "Golden Jubilee" concert featuring conductors Bob Evans and John Evans.
• Healthcare Education & Lottery Updates: Information on a CNA clinical training partnership between Iroquois Memorial Hospital and Kankakee Community College, along with updates on the Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots.
• Regional Sports Roundup: Recaps for the Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and Chicago Cubs, plus updates on the Chicago Sky and Chicago Bears training camp.

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