Verdict Delivered in 2021 Bradley Murder, Essex Hit-and-Run Investigation, and Memorial Day Weekend Events - Friday, May 22nd, 2026

FBI Investigation in Diamond, I-57 Produce Spill, and Pritzker Declares State Disaster - Wednesday, July 1st, 2026

In this edition of the WVLI News Update, host Rob West brings you the essential headlines impacting the region as the area heads into the holiday weekend. This episode covers an ongoing extreme heat warning and critical safety measures, alongside a developing joint investigation by the Grundy County Sheriff's Office and the FBI in Diamond. Listeners will also hear crucial travel safety insights from the Illinois State Police regarding projected record-breaking highway traffic, details on an I-57 commercial vehicle rollover, and important holiday fireworks warnings from local fire officials. Additional segments highlight a federal sentencing case involving election fraud, law enforcement requests for assistance with local infrastructure thefts, and Governor JB Pritzker's recent state disaster proclamation. The broadcast wraps up with regional financial updates, a major lottery jackpot announcement, and the latest updates in sports. Listen to the full episode to get the complete details on all of these developing stories. Have a news tip to share? Send us a text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2512429/fan_mail/new] Listen to more great shows on the WVLI Podcast Network: This One Time in Kankakee [https://thisonetimeinkankakee.buzzsprout.com]  (Narrative Storytelling) Kankakee Valley Community Happenings [https://pod.link/1805226181]  (Businesses & Non-Profits) The voices you trust, beyond the dial.

Tragic Rural Manteno Crash, Extreme Heat Warnings, and Dropping Gas Prices - Tuesday, June 30th, 2026

In this episode of the WVLI News Update, host Rob West delivers critical local reports impacting Kankakee, Iroquois, and surrounding counties. The National Weather Service has issued an upgrade to an extreme heat warning for the area, prompting crucial safety advisories from regional health and veterinary experts regarding families and pets. The broadcast also covers an ongoing police investigation into a fatal accident involving a cyclist in Manteno, a recent arrest related to animal cruelty in Onarga, and key modifications to the upcoming holiday mail delivery schedule. Additionally, listeners will get an overview of shifting local gas price metrics and a recap of the latest results for the White Sox and the Cubs. Listen to the full episode to get all the vital details and stay informed on these developing stories. Have a news tip to share? Send us a text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2512429/fan_mail/new] Listen to more great shows on the WVLI Podcast Network: This One Time in Kankakee [https://thisonetimeinkankakee.buzzsprout.com]  (Narrative Storytelling) Kankakee Valley Community Happenings [https://pod.link/1805226181]  (Businesses & Non-Profits) The voices you trust, beyond the dial.

Illinois Heat Wave, Jury Duty Scams, and QuickTrip Groundbreaking in Kankakee - Monday, June 29th, 2026

The latest edition of the WVLI News Update with Rob West covers critical updates impacting Illinois and Indiana communities. This episode details an incoming severe weather alert for Illinois, a breakdown of regional gas prices heading into the holiday weekend, and an urgent public safety warning from the Kankakee County Sheriff's Police regarding a recent scam targeting local residents. Additionally, hear about the upcoming week-long community celebrations in Manteno, a major economic development project breaking ground in Kankakee, and updates on massive lottery jackpots, stargazing opportunities, and regional sports scores. Listen to the full episode to get all the vital details and stay informed on these developing stories. Have a news tip to share? Send us a text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2512429/fan_mail/new] Listen to more great shows on the WVLI Podcast Network: This One Time in Kankakee [https://thisonetimeinkankakee.buzzsprout.com]  (Narrative Storytelling) Kankakee Valley Community Happenings [https://pod.link/1805226181]  (Businesses & Non-Profits) The voices you trust, beyond the dial.

Tensions Flare on Manteno Village Board, Kankakee Police Search for Murder Suspect, and Local Super Bowl Champion Honored - Friday, June 26th, 2026

In this episode of the WVLI News Update, host Rob West covers a series of significant local developments impacting the community. The program leads with the recent tensions surrounding the Manteno Village Board's special meeting regarding the reinstatement of the village attorney and the conflicting statements from local officials. Additionally, the update provides crucial information from the Kankakee City Police Department regarding an ongoing search for a suspect in a recent investigation. Listeners will also hear about a local athlete's prestigious induction into the Illinois Sports Hall of Fame, a health alert from the Chicago Department of Public Health concerning a measles exposure at O'Hare International Airport, and an overview of upcoming community events. Tune in to the full episode to get all the details on these stories, regional sports updates, and fluctuating gas prices. Have a news tip to share? Send us a text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2512429/fan_mail/new] Listen to more great shows on the WVLI Podcast Network: This One Time in Kankakee [https://thisonetimeinkankakee.buzzsprout.com]  (Narrative Storytelling) Kankakee Valley Community Happenings [https://pod.link/1805226181]  (Businesses & Non-Profits) The voices you trust, beyond the dial.

I-65 Road Rage Arrest, Kankakee Break-In Investigation, and New Transportation Fund For Veterans - Thursday, June 25th, 2026

In this episode of the WVLI News Update, host Rob West delivers an objective breakdown of the latest breaking news, regional political developments, and community events impacting Kankakee, Illinois, and Northwest Indiana. The update begins with an active residential burglary investigation being conducted by the Kankakee City Police Department on North Entrance Avenue following a forced entry caught on surveillance. In major sports and economic news, the ongoing efforts to secure a new stadium for the Chicago Bears take a major turn as Indiana Governor Mike Braun details a specific Hoosier city as a top contender, drawing a stark contrast between state business environments. Meanwhile, rival alternative proposals continue to emerge closer to home within the Chicago area, prompting Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to signal readiness for a special legislative session. Listeners will also hear about significant regional economic variances, including a substantial gap in fuel prices between Illinois and Indiana reported by AAA. The episode highlights key community events and non-profit initiatives, including the ongoing schedule for the 51st Annual Bourbonnais Friendship Festival, a newly launched transportation fund dedicated to assisting local veterans with critical travel costs, and the continuation of the Kankakee Municipal Band Summer Concert Series. Finally, a concise summary of recent professional sports scores and an outlook on international tournament group play wraps up the broadcast. To get the full context, specific figures, and complete details on all of these developing stories, listen to the full episode. Have a news tip to share? Send us a text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2512429/fan_mail/new] Listen to more great shows on the WVLI Podcast Network: This One Time in Kankakee [https://thisonetimeinkankakee.buzzsprout.com]  (Narrative Storytelling) Kankakee Valley Community Happenings [https://pod.link/1805226181]  (Businesses & Non-Profits) The voices you trust, beyond the dial.