• Notable Night Sky News

Let's find out now 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.

• Route 50/County Line Road claims two more victims

That intersection at Route 50 and County Line Road in far northern Kankakee County has claimed two more victims. Illinois State Police say it was just after 7:30 Friday night when the semi-truck and mini van collided at the intersection. Manhattan Fire says when they got there they found a total of seven people, one of them already dead at the scene. One of the injured later died of their injuries. Will County Coroner Laurie Summers identifies one of the dead as 35-year-old Tejaswi Patha of Aurora. State Police say the intersection was closed until about midnight while the wreckage was cleared and the crash investigated.

• Iroquois County lifts burn ban

The burn ban for Iroquois County has been lifted. In a press release, the Iroquois County Emergency Management Agency says authorities lifted the ban Sunday as significant rainfall over the county has "greatly reduced" the risk of rapidly spreading fires. Over the weekend, officials in Jasper County Indiana decided to extend that burn ban until at least Friday of this week. A burn ban remains in effect for Newton County Indiana through the end of the month.

Hear the unforgettable true stories of Kankakee County. Search for "This One Time in Kankakee" wherever you get your podcasts or click here: https://pod.link/1843321847

• Peotone Police issue community alert

Peotone Police are asking folks in the area to be on alert. In a Facebook post, Peotone Police report one of their officers was flagged down about 11 Wednesday night near Beecher Road and Harlem Avenue by two people who said they'd been highjacked at gunpoint. The victims say a white vehicle stopped in front of their 2020 Kia Soul and four men with guns got out and took their car, before taking off northbound on Route 50. Officials say you should always be aware of your surroundings and they say if you are approached by someone that's armed, you shouldn't resist, but instead cooperate, move to safety and call 9-1-1.

• Drought concerns persist

Another week without much rain and drought concerns continue to grow across the area. The map released Thursday by the US Drought Monitor has about four percent of Kankakee County in the "moderate drought" category with the other 96 percent of the county listed as abnormally dry, those numbers unchanged from last week. Seven percent of Iroquois County is listed as in severe drought, 23 percent in moderate drought and the remaining 70 percent listed as "abnormally dry". 86 percent of Ford County is listed as in severe drought with the rest of the county in moderate drought. 65 percent of Grundy County and 29 percent of Will County is considered to be in moderate drought, the rest of each of those counties listed as simply abnormally dry.

Across the state line, the entirety of Newton and Benton Counties in Northwest Indiana are listed as "abnormally dry", while 20 percent of Jasper County is considered in moderate drought and the rest of it listed as abnormally dry. The map just released today includes data gathered by the US Drought Monitor through Tuesday of this week.

• Kankakee County gets State grants for road projects

The Kankakee County Board's Highways, Waterways and Buildings Committee met today. During the meeting, County Engineer Greg Heiden told the committee he had some good news. Heiden said the money from the state will cover the county's portion of bridge replacement over Trim Creek and Pike Creek, with the Federal Government covering the rest of the cost. The third project, according to Heiden, is the reconstruction of Guertin Street in St. Anne. The State has promised the county three-million dollars toward the St. Anne project. The County has until 2029 to complete the work

• What to do around Kankakee County this weekend

There's a lot going on around Kankakee County this weekend. With a look at a few of the events, here's Nicole Gavin, Executive Director of Visit Kankakee County

• Police chase in Channahon nets five arrests

Five people are in custody after a police chase involving a U-Haul packed with stolen Amazon boxes on I-80. Investigators say the suspects stole more than 30-thousand dollars worth of packages from an Amazon facility in Channahon before fleeing in two vehicles. Officers used spike strips to disable their tires and end the pursuit. The suspects were taken into custody without further incident. Police say multiple charges are pending as the investigation continues.

• Kankakee City Police report gun arrests

A traffic stop Wednesday netted Kankakee City Police a gun arrest. According to reports, it was just before six Wednesday night when officers stopped a car in the 800 block of South Elm for a suspended registration. While talking to those inside the car, officers say they could smell the odor of burnt cannabis coming from inside. Reports say the driver of the

Hear the unforgettable true stories of Kankakee County. Search for "This One Time in Kankakee" wherever you get your podcasts or click here: https://pod.link/1843321847

• No injuries reported when silo collapses in Martinton

No one was injured when a concrete and rebar grain silo collapsed Wednesday afternoon in Martinton. In a press release, Iroquois County Emergency Management says firefighters were called to the Donovan Farmer's Co-op about 10:30 yesterday morning. While there, one of the firefighters noticed a bulge starting to form in the 50-year-old silo. Some of the more than 30-thousand-bushels of soybeans began to be emptied from the silo and the property was evacuated, then just before one yesterday afternoon the silo collapsed. The collapse blocked streets in the area and knocked out power to Martinton. Officials from the power company say they expect power to be returned to the Village sometime today.

• State budget shortfall surges

Illinois is facing a 267-million dollar deficit based on the budget approved back in May. The reason, according to the state's office of management and budget, is a drastic drop in corporate income tax receipts since the start of the current fiscal year. Governor J.B. Pritzker's office said the president's Big Beautiful Bill is costing Illinois more than 800-million dollars in corporate and individual income tax receipts. The FY26 budget includes a hundred-million dollar reserve to cover a budget shortfall, but it's proven not enough, as the governor is calling for agencies to propose changes or funding transfers to cover the remainder.

• Sheriff Downey on ICE

During Wednesday morning's meeting of the Kankakee County Board's Criminal Justice Committee, County Sheriff Mike Downey was asked what he knew about recent ICE activities in Kankakee County. Sheriff Downey said because of State law that doesn't allow local law enforcement to interact with ICE, he finds things out much like everybody else.

Downey pointed out that sometimes people assume when they see a black SUV with dark tinted windows that it's ICE, but he said a lot of different types of people drive those SUV's.

• Overdose deaths down so far this year

During this morning's meeting of the Kankakee County Board's Criminal Justice Committee, County Coroner Bob Gessner gave a rundown of statistics for the county this year. Gessner said the number of deaths from overdose are down.

Gessner said he plans to continue the education process by talking to more classes in different schools in the coming months.

• Domestic violence a concern in Kankakee County

During this morning's meeting of the Kankakee County Board's Criminal Justice Committee, County State's Attorney Jim Rowe gave an update on crime statistics so far this year. Rowe said aggravated battery is the second most prevalent crime in Kankakee County.

• New Animal Control facility maxed out last month

During this morning's meeting of the Kankakee County Board's Criminal Justice Committee, County Animal Control Director Kari Laird gave an update, saying the new Animal Control Facility on Mooney Drive in Bourbonnais was recently put to the test. Laird credited her staff for working nearly around the clock while the facility was overloaded.

Hear the unforgettable true stories of Kankakee County. Search for "This One Time in Kankakee" wherever you get your podcasts or click here: https://pod.link/1843321847