Notable Night Sky News
Time to find out what’s going on overhead this week, with our Notable Night Sky News, here’s Madeline Shepley, astronomy professor and director of the Strickler Planetarium at Olivet
Manteno Field Fire
Manteno Fire Protection District Firefighters report a field fire in Rockville Township Friday afternoon. In a press release, firefighters say the fire involved a field of standing corn and nearby farms were called to help cut fire breaks into the fields to help with putting out the blaze. In all, a total of about 10 acres of corn burned, the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Jasper Co IN burn ban extended
Officials in Jasper County Indiana have extended their burn ban through the end of the week. It had been set to expire on Friday, but has now been extended through Friday the 31st. Officials in Benton County Indiana and Iroquois County here in Illinois both lifted their bans earlier this week. Newton County’s no burn October continues through Friday the 31st.
Boundary Committee meets
The Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Committee held its first meeting Wednesday, but only Indiana members attended. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker says Indiana is trying to pull a “stunt” that is “not going to happen.” The Hoosier state is seeking to absorb 33 counties from Illinois that have voted to secede from the state. Downstate Illinois Succession’s Scott Carpenter says they want to be free from “bad Illinois law.”
Entries being accepted for Kankakee Christmas Parade
Entries are being accepted for the City of Kankakee Christmas Parade. Kankakee Mayor, Chris Curtis
Christmas Parade entry forms can be found on the City of Kankakee’s website.
Numbers up at KCC
Illinois community colleges have once again recorded steady growth, marking the fourth consecutive year of enrollment increases, according to the Fall 2025 Illinois Community College Opening Enrollment Report released today by the Illinois Community College Board. Kari Nugent, Vice President for Advancement, Marketing and Public Relations at Kankakee Community College says their enrollment numbers are up.
Registration is now underway for the Spring 2026 semester at KCC.
Haas pushes for improvements to dangerous intersection
79th District State Representative Jackie Haas recently sat down to chat with me (Rob West) for an edition of the WVLI News Update Special Report podcast. During the conversation she addressed several local concerns, among them the intersection of Route 50 and County Line Road in far northern Kankakee County. Representative Haas says she’s working to try to make the intersection safer, even though it’s not exactly in her district
Representative Haas says she contacts IDOT every time there’s an accident at that intersection since her constituents pass through that intersection, even though it’s not in her District. You can hear the complete interview with Representative Haas on our website or wherever you get your podcasts.
Primary filing period starts today
Today’s the day to start filing your petitions if you want to be on the ballot for the March 17th Primary Election in Kankakee County. County Clerk Dan Hendrickson
Hendrickson says petitions can be filed in his office anytime during normal business hours
The County Clerk’s office will be open until five o’clock in the evening of November 3rd for last minute filers.
Village of Bourbonnais holds first ever Pet Parade and Photo Contest
The Village of Bourbonnais held their first ever Howl-o-ween Pet Parade and photo contest Saturday. Photo contest winners were voted on through the Village’s Facebook page. Placing third was Bear whose owners the Goodrich Family dressed them up as Winnie the Pooh. Second place was Dumpling owned by the Louer Family who was dressed like a bat and the winner was Talley Mae, owned by the Pippin Family who was dressed up like a boxer. 46 families and pets showed up for Saturday’s Pet Parade and there were 14 entries in the online photo contest. You can see the entries on the Village of Bourbonnais’ Facebook page.
University park Fatal ID’d
We have the name now of the person that was killed when they were hit by a train in University Park Thursday morning. University Park Police say the person was hit at the railroad crossing at University Parkway and Governor’s Highway Thursday morning. Will County Coroner Laurie Summers identifies the deceased as 19-year-old Richard E. Laba Junior of University Park. The University Park Police Department and the Canadian National Railroad Police are investigating the crash.
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