WVLI News Update

• 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 the apartment next door, re...

• 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 hospital where he later died o...

• 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, "While we feel grief and a s...

• 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 through an app or delivery ser...

• 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 from to see if the phone call...

• 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 revealed that National Guard ...

• 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 were told 32-year-old Carl E. ...

• 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 started in an electrical out...

• 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 circuit and are elected for t...

• 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 intersection. The motorcycli...

• 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-year-old Dustin Lundberg on ...

• 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 fireworks. Those caught ignor...

• 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 Walgreens in 28 states including Il...

• 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 have is that he may have gon...

• 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 today's WVLI News Updat...

• 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 female was heard screaming b...

• 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.

Hear the unforgettable true stories of Kankakee County. Search for "This One Time in Kankakee" wherever you get your podcasts or click her...

• 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 return to the ...

• 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 death of the year reco...