News

There will be a grand opening of the Community Healing Resource Centers’ Live Free Illinois from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Second Baptist Church, 717 N. Wildwood Ave. in Kankakee.

A dedication ceremony for the newly-erected Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, the subject of Alexis McCullough's Eagle Scout service project, was held Saturday at Marcotte Park.

First Financial Bank and its associates will host a book drive at from May 5-21 at the bank’s location in Kankakee, continuing the bank’s ongoing efforts to support financial literacy.

Compeer Financial awarded scholarships to 41 students in Illinois, including Benjamin Harpster, of St. Anne, and Cole Saathoff, of Manteno.

There will be no changes to the makeup of the Bourbonnais Elementary School Board, as all five who were sworn in during the board's reorganization meeting Tuesday were incumbents.

A list of recent births at Kankakee hospitals for April 2025

Former Manteno Mayor Tim Nugent reflects on his 20 years at the helm.

Bourbonnais Elementary students are back in class today after an incident involving the theft of catalytic converters from its buses caused school cancellation Thursday.

Troy A. Sample, of Manteno, was arrested Wednesday by Manteno police following a week-long investigation into allegations involving the unlawful recording of a minor.

UPDATE: Bourbonnais Elementary School District officials are actively working to restore transportation and resume school as soon as possible after 21 buses were damaged this morning in a theft of catalytic converters.

According to published reports, President Donald Trump’s inaugural committee accepted a $1 million donation from Gotion Inc., the Chinese manufacturer that will soon open its lithium battery factory plant in Manteno.

KCCSI is hosting a fundraiser Sunday to benefit for the community.

UPDATE: Classes were canceled today for Bourbonnais Elementary District students following the theft of the catalytic converters from the buses.

After much debate the contracts for Chris LaRocque, village administrator; Jim Hanley, superintendent of public works; and Alan Swinford, chief of police, were approved Monday by a 4-2 by the Manteno trustees.

It was proclaimed Mayor Paul Schore Day in the village of Bourbonnais Monday.

Chris Gibson has been selected as the next superintendent of Central CUSD 4. He will take over for the outgoing superintendent, Matt Maxwell, on July 1.

The River Valley Wind Ensemble will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a free public concert Friday at 7 p.m. in the BBCHS Auditorium.

A 23-year-old man is listed in critical condition in a Chicagoland hospital and his alleged attacker is in custody following an incident early Tuesday morning in Bradley.

A small kitchen fire caused $10,000 in damage to a second-floor apartment in the 300 North Dearborn Avenue.

Riverside Healthcare in Kankakee recently announced the its Baby & Beyond Fair, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Annette LaMore was sworn in Monday night as the new mayor of Manteno, as well as trustees Mike Barry and Peggy Vaughn and clerk Keri Rolniak

The Zonta Club of Kankakee recently announced that Brianna Meehan is the recipient of the 2025 Zonta Women in Business Leadership Award.

Two memorial monuments honoring the sacrifices of Gold Star families, those who have lost love ones in active military duty, will be dedicated in the area Saturday.

Local nonprofit Let's Ketchup has kept the good going by helping area school districts eliminate lunch debt and stock essentials for Care Closets.

Due to a threatening message directed at Tri-Point schools, classes were cancelled today at the district’s three schools.

UPDATE: Kankakee Police Chief Chris Kidwell said officers responded at approximately 1:07 a.m. to the crash that occurred in the 900 block of South Cobb Boulevard.

Bradley Elementary schools have seen some attendance improvements after ramping up efforts to combat chronic absenteeism this school year.

A list of area births at Kankakee hospitals.

The Kankakee School Board voted Monday to extend Superintendent Teresa Lance's contract by one year and give her additional time to move to the area. She will also receive a 4% salary increase next year.

Municipal Bank promotes Weir to COO.

Bourbonnais Mayor Paul Schore takes a look back on serving the people of Bourbonnais for 28 years.

Voters in Kankakee County this election determined who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townshi

Voters in Grundy County determined this election who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries.

Work on the facade of the former Jaffe Drugs building will soon begin.

Voters in Kendall County this election determined who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries. See the results here.

Herscher School District is one of only nine school districts in the entire state of Illinois to currently hold a certification from Great Place To Work.

Patricia Gonzalez has been hired in Kankakee School District 111 for a new superintendent's cabinet position that will oversee the multilingual program, special education program, student success department and health services.

Kankakee County officials gathered in Aroma Park to mark the beginning of the sediment removal project on the Kankakee River.

A Momence dog named Sheba who was adopted from the Iroquois County Animal Rescue has been featured on the cover of FIDO Friendly Magazine.

Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee has been named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals, according to an independent quality analysis provided by Premier Inc.

Bird Park on Kankakee’s west side is getting its first update in years. he $1.2 million project will bring Kankakee Valley Park District’s flagship park more into the 21st Century.

Kankakee County is set to finally launch the long-awaited dredging of the Kankakee River at the Aroma Park boat ramp at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Potawatomi Park at 307 W. Front St.

The BBCHS Ironclad Robotics team is preparing to face off against 600 of the best teams in the world at the 2025 FIRST Championship in Houston.

As a follow-up to the Kankakee Valley Park District Board meeting of March 24, I would like to clarify some points from the much-appreciated article written by Jeff Bonty which appeared in the Daily Journal on March 27, 2025.

A list of births at Kankakee hospitals.

Kankakee School District 111's assistant superintendent of business services gave an update on the forensic audit currently looking into the district's spending on its former Youth Empowerment Program.

The 2024 crime rate for each Kankakee, Bourbonnais and Bradley police departments showed each trending down.

Betty Hutton is celebrating her 90th birthday with an open house for family and friends.

Kankakee County is hoping it can sell the former animal control shelter on Stanford Drive.

Annette Zimbelman, a defeated Manteno Choice Party candidate in the April 1 village board election, was appointed Monday to fill the remaining two years of village Trustee Wendell Phillips on Monday.