News

Shaw Local newspapers received a combined 33 awards Thursday, June 5, 2025, in news contest categories that included general excellence, photography, news writing, opinion writing, design, community service and editorial pages.

Pittsburgh Steeler Jonathan Ward, a Kankakee native and 2016 Bishop McNamara graduate, will host his sixth annual skills camp at Kankakee High School next weekend.

Unplug & Play is designed to encourage residents of all ages to enjoy an electronics-free afternoon outdoors at The Grove.

Kankakee's Friday Night Concert Series kicks off this Friday with a Rock Night at the city's downtown Hill Stage. The free, family-friendly events feature live performances and rotating food and drink vendors.

Bourbonnais is like many other communities in Illinois who are dealing with the state phasing out the annual grocery tax funds on Jan. 1, 2026.

The first mosquito batches to test positive for West Nile virus this year in DuPage County, the DuPage County Health Department has confirmed.

Kankakee police arrested a Chebanse man after he allegedly left an infant unattended inside a van.

In a vote on the payment of bills amounting to $692,890, some objections were raised by Trustee Mike Barry, who expressed concern over the final cost compared to the original estimate.

Two proposed ordinances regarding a proposed gaming cafe each had the first of two readings Monday during the Bourbonnais board meeting.

Bourbonnais Interim Police Chief Jason Sztuba explained a change in the route for this year’s Friendship Festival Grand Parade.

Kankakee High School may be the site of a public-access, outdoor fitness court if District 111 is able to secure the grant funds needed for its construction.

Kankakee County Sheriff’s police arrested Stephen N. Nelson of Momence after he allegedly fired multiple rounds from a firearm in the backyard of his residence in the 11000 block of East Parrish Street Friday.

Beecher School District 200U retirees Tammy Wehling and Amy Propper got some special recognition last week at an assembly recognizing years of service as the district concluded another school year.

Lunchtime Bites and Beats returns for its second year at The Grove at Robert Goselin Memorial Park in Bourbonnais.

Bourbonnais officials will hear the first reads for two ordinances that deal with a grocery tax and sales tax at Monday’s board meeting.

The architects behind the planning of a $70 million facility overhaul at Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School are taking extra time to work out the building’s schematic design.

A proposed gaming cafe in Bourbonnais moved a step closer to approval Wednesday.

A roundup of area student accomplishments at colleges.

A list of births from Kankakee hospital.

The city of Kankakee and IDOT held a public meeting on the impending rebuild of the Interstate 57 312 interchange.

Bradley-Bourbonnais' scholastic bowl team placed 221st out of 336 teams last weekend in the 2025 High School National Championship Tournament in Atlanta, Ga.

A portion of northbound Interstate 57 in Kankakee County is closed following the crash of a commercial truck at approximately 5:30 a.m. today.

Peoples Bank of Kankakee County recently announced the promotion of Matt Olszewski to executive vice president/chief operating officer.

Midland Wealth Management, a division of Midland States Bank, recently announced that Peter Riskind has joined as Senior Wealth Advisor, based in Midland’s Chicago office and serving clients throughout Chicagoland and across the country.

A recent complaint by residents about people operating off-terrain vehicles and motorcycles off road near their homes led Bourbonnais trustees to amend its disorderly conduct and noise ordinance at the May 19 meeting.

The Salvation Army of Kankakee is requesting donations for its Summer Fundraiser event, running through July.

We need a budget that is balanced in reality, not just in rhetoric.

More than 150 people attended the KVSO fashion show on May 15.

A two-vehicle crash Sunday at the Kankakee/Will County Line sent both drivers to the hospital.

Weekend prep sports update

Kankakee County Treasurer Nick Africano said the 2024 property taxes (payable in 2025) were mailed out on or around May 20.

This year’s Memorial Day Weekend won’t feel much like the unofficial start of summer.

In an effort to combat any misinterpretations for county employees on submitting expense reports, Kankakee County Auditor Colton Ekhoff updated the policy manual for travel/expense reimbursement.

The renovation of the former Jaffe Drugs building has hit a few snags.

A list of births at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee.

With Manteno still under its first month of the new administration of Mayor Annette LaMore, another change was in store at Monday’s village board meeting.

Bourbonnais village trustees approved naming Bourbonnais Police Commander Jason Sztuba the interim police chief at Monday’s board meeting.

At the May 15 Highways, Waterways & Buildings Committee, Kankakee County Board officials have updates on a couple projects underway and the planning stages for another.

Marjorie LaReau will be celebrating her 100th birthday with an open house.

Manteno Mayor Annette LaMore appointed Jim Hanley as superintendent of public works and Alan Swinford as chief of police.

Craig Toepfer was sworn in as a trustee of the village of Bourbonnais board during Monday night’s meeting.

A new store specializing in vintage clothing and music, Glue Man Vintage & Records, had its grand opening Friday at 616 S. Main St.

Eldon C. Childs, of Bradley, died as a result of injuries he sustained in a structure fire Sunday.

Kankakee High School seniors who haven’t earned enough credits to graduate won’t be allowed to walk in Thursday’s commencement, a change in practice from years past when students close to the finish line were allowed to participate.

The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, part of the 2025 St. Katharine Drexel Route, was greeted by more than 200 worshipers outside the St. John Paul II‘s Settles Center early Sunday evening in Kankakee to start the local celebration of the historic event.

Two people were taken to an area hospital following a two-vehicle crash on Illinois Route 115 near 2000S Road southwest of Kankakee Monday afternoon.

Two people on a jet ski survived after it went over the dam on the Kankakee River in Kankakee Sunday afternoon.

Kankakee police arrested a 23-year-old mother of two children for allegedly harming one of them.

A third arrest has been made by Kankakee police related to a shooting in the 200 block of South Rosewood Avenue on April 30.

Kankakee police arrested Frances T. Rogers earlier this week after officers allegedly found her with a gas can and a lit cigarette as she stood on the porch of a residence in the 700 block of East Locust Street.