WVLI News Update

Winter Storm Predicted this Weekend

A winter storm is expected to hit a large portion of Illinois and Indiana this weekend.  The National Weather Service says heavy snow will likely begin falling tomorrow, with up to six inches possible in some parts.  A winter storm watch will be in effect throughout the day.  The hazardous conditions could make travel very difficult.

Car Windows Broken on Kankakee's West Side

Several windo...

• Kankakee Police Provide Update on Sunday Night's Homicide

Kankakee City Police have provided an update on Sunday night's Homicide investigation of a Chicago man on East Court Street. According to a press release, surveillance footage shows 20 year old Donnie Smith of Chicago exit the store, remove a handgun from his waistband, and fire at the driver of a Buick sitting in the parking lot. The driver of the Buick fi...

• Fight at Bradley Central School Basketball Game

A fight at a Junior High Basketball game in Bradley led to the arrest of a Saint Anne man Thursday night. According to police reports, Bradley officers along with Kankakee County Sheriff's deputies and Bourbonnais police responded to Bradley Central School in the 200 block of North Wabash Avenue around 6:30 Thursday night in reference to a fight in the gym during a boys b...

• Man Shot and Killed in Kankakee Sunday Night

A person was shot and killed late Sunday night on Kankakee's east side. According to a press release from Kankakee City Police, the homicide occurred just before 10:30 Sunday night in a parking lot in the 900 block of East Court Street. When officers arrived on the scene after reports of several gunshots fired in the area, they found 20 year old Donnie E. Smith of Chicago ly...

• Kankakee City Police Make Weapons Arrest

A weapons call made to Kankakee City Police Wednesday resulted in the arrest of a 25 year old Kankakee man. According to police reports, officers were called to a business in the 500 block of South Washington Avenue just after eleven Wednesday morning to a report of two people sitting in a blue SUV outside the business. The caller also stated the driver had a handgun sitting on their...

• ICC cuts rate increase requests

The Illinois Commerce Commission is cutting down the rate requests of two big gas utilities in the state.  The ICC reduced Ameren Illinois' rate request for its natural gas delivery services by nearly 56-million-dollars.  The ICC also cut more than 146-million-dollars off Nicor's Gas' rate request for its natural gas delivery services.  The decision was made after the commissio...

• Senator fires staffer who posed as lawyer

A staffer of U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth is out of the job after being accused of posing as a lawyer for a man detained at an ICE facility.  Capitol News Illinois obtained a letter Duckworth sent to the acting director of ICE on Monday, notifying him that Edward York had been fired.  York was a constituent outreach coordinator in Duckworth's Belleville office.  He was accused ...

• Bourbonnais Board passes tax abatement ordinances

The Bourbonnais Village Board last night voted to abate taxes that would have been collected next fiscal year to make bond payments. Village Finance Director Tara Latz.  Latz says without the abatement, Bourbonnais residents' tax bill would be anywhere from 146 to 511 dollars more next year depending on the value of their property. 

• One injured in Monday crash

• No injuries from Sunday crash

There were no injuries reported from a crash on I-57 Sunday morning. According to reports, it was just after six Sunday morning when State Police were called to the Southbound side of the interstate just north of the Bradley/Bourbonnais exit for a two car crash. Reports say one car rear-ended the other...the crash is still under investigation.

• Notable Night Sky News

Time now to find...

• Full SNAP benefits restored

Those in Illinois that get SNAP benefits will get their full benefit amounts for November.  The State Department of Human Services is restoring the benefits now that the federal government shutdown has ended.  IDHS anticipates that the remaining benefit payments will be made over the coming days, with all SNAP recipients receiving their full November benefits by November 20th.

• Bradley Pol...

In this WVLI News Update Special Report, Rob West gets expert advice from Sue Smith, a 26-year veteran of the official Butterball Turkey Talk Line.

Get ready to master your holiday meal as Sue, a registered dietitian and "Butterball University" graduate, shares invaluable tips to help you spend less time stressing and more time enjoying the day.

In this episode, you'll get answers to all your biggest Thanksgiving quest...

• Mahomet school board member pleads not guilty in Kankakee County crash

A Mahomet School Board member charged with hitting a State Trooper's car earlier this year in Kankakee County is pleading not guilty.  State police say in March, the trooper responded to a report of debris in the roadway on I-57 near Chebanse.  The trooper parked their squad car in the right lane and removed the debris.  The trooper was returning to...

• Crime Stoppers Tip of the Week

Local authorities continue to look for information about a double homicide from New Years Day. With our Crime Stoppers Tip of the Week, here's Kankakee County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy, Trent Bukowski.  Tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and could result in a cash reward. 

• Lottery jackpots grow

There was no winner in last night's 900-million-dollar mega mil...

• It's Veterans Day Today

Today is Veteran's Day, the day we set aside to honor those who have served in America's armed forces. Originally called Armistice Day, November the 11th marked the end of World War I and the signing of the Armistice between Germany and the Allies.  Hostilities in the first world war ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. It wasn't until 1954 it was made an offi...

• Veteran's Observance Held

The third annual Veteran's Day Observance was held Saturday at the Ray Ollie Memorial at the AN Webber Logistics building on Kankakee's South Side. Keynote speaker for the event was Retired US Air Force Major Dennis Davoren who spoke about his struggles with PTSD and alcoholism.  Retired Major Davoren is a veteran of several conflicts, including Desert Storm, Bosnia and Iraqi Freedom...

• Coal City man arrested on child sex charges

Coal City Police report the arrest of a 46-year-old man on child sex related charges. In a press release, Coal City Police say David A Hietschold Junior was arrested Wednesday following a search warrant at his home in the 800 block of East Division.  As a result of the search, Hietschold was arrested on three counts of Criminal Sexual Assault and one count of Predatory criminal Se...

• Flags across IL ordered to 1/2 staff

The state of Illinois is paying tribute to former Vice President Dick Cheney.  Cheney died this week at the age of 84 due to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease.  Illinois is honoring him by flying Flags at half staff throughout the state until sunset on November 13th.  Cheney served as the nation's 46th vice president under George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009. 

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• Madgian appeals conviction

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is appealing his conviction on federal corruption charges.  Madigan's attorneys claim prosecutors flouted recent Supreme Court rulings reining in the use of the bribery and fraud statutes and stretched the laws "past their breaking points."  Madigan began serving his seven-and-a-half-year federal prison last month after being convicted e...

• Bradley Police arrests Kempton man

Bradley Police report the arrest of a Kempton man after he allegedly threatened Police. According to reports, it was just after 11 Friday night when officers on patrol noticed what appeared to be an argument outside an establishment on West Broadway. A witness told police there was an argument inside the bar over a pool game. One of the men thought to have been involved in that argument, 5...