• Emil Jones evades prosecution

State Senator Emil Jones the Third is striking a deal with prosecutors. The Chicago Democrat agreed to a deferred prosecution deal that will leave him with no conviction. As part of the agreement, he must admit to certain illegal conduct and pay a fine. Jones was set for retrial next month on bribery charges. His first trial in April ended in a mistrial after the jury couldn't reach a verdict on three criminal counts. Jones was accused of taking money from a red-light camera company executive to kill legislation requiring traffic studies for automated camera systems.

• Holiday food give-away this weekend

Seniors across Kankakee County are invited to a special Holiday Food Giveaway tomorrow in Bradley. According to a press release, seniors from all over the county are invited to a food giveaway beginning at 9:00 Saturday morning at the Bradley Community Building on West Broadway. Food will be given out on a first come, first served basis. There is a limit of one package per household. Event organizers ask seniors residing in Kankakee County to show up early to ensure they get some food. The event has been made possible by the Bradley Lions Club, Speckman Realty, and the Women's Club of Kankakee.

• New tea room opens this weekend in Kankakee

While you're in Downtown Kankakee this weekend for the Christmas Parade, you can get a sneak peek of the new tea room set to open soon at the French Heritage Museum. Kankakee County Historical Society Executive Director Veronica Featherston with the details. The Judy Anna Tea room will open on a regular basis at the French Heritage Museum sometime next year.

• Handling holiday stress

There's no doubt that the Holidays can be a stressful time of year for many of us. Rachel Nietfeldt from Riverside's Pathways Program gave us a few tips on how to manage that stress on a recent episode of the Kankakee Valley Community Happenings podcast with Mike Tomano.
(Riverside)
You can listen to the full episode of Kankakee Valley Community Happenings wherever you get your podcasts.

• Kankakee County bridges to be replaced

Two Kankakee County bridges will get replaced at no cost to the county board, thanks to the Illinois Department of Transportation. At Thursday morning's Highways, Waterways, and Buildings Committee meeting, two resolutions were passed for bridge replacements on County Highway 13 over Pike Creek and County Highway 14 over Trim Creek. County engineer Greg Heiden. Heiden says that figure is for the Pike Creek bridge, which will be replaced first on Vincennes Highway. The cost of the Trim Creek bridge that IDOT has also offered to cover is three hundred and twenty thousand dollars.

• VAC renovations okayed by committee

The Kankakee County Board Highways, Waterways, and Buildings Committee passed a resolution Thursday morning to recommend the Veteran's Assistance Commission of Kankakee County be allowed to remodel their front office in Bourbonnais, but not without some debate. VAC Superintendent Eric Peterson says they specifically budgeted for this project in their 2026 budget. The lowest bid for the VAC front office remodel project was around eighty eight thousand dollars from Johnson Downs. The remodel still needs approval from the VAC board and full county board in order to move forward.

• Drought concerns deepen

Despite recent snowfall, drought concerns are growing across the area. The latest numbers just released Thursday by the US Drought Monitor

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

• State unemployment steady

Illinois' unemployment rate remains steady. The state Department of Employment Security says the state's jobless rate in September was unchanged at four-point-four-percent. Non-farm payroll jobs decreased by 22-hundred.

• Herscher Police "lock your doors"

Herscher Police are asking area residents to make sure they lock their doors. In a Facebook post, Herscher Police Chief Kurt Quick says due to recent burglaries in Clifton and surrounding communities he wants to remind you to lock your doors. The also ask you call their department or 9-1-1 if you see any suspicious activity.

• Indiana redistricting nears end

A final reading is expected for Indiana's redistricting bill today. The Indiana Senate approved a second reading of the measure Wednesday afternoon. Democrats proposed three amendments to House Bill 1032, but all were rejected. If approved by the full Senate without any amendments, the bill would next head to Governor Braun's desk for signing. If the bill is passed and then signed into law, it would allow the Indiana General Assembly to significantly change the state's congressional maps before the 2026 midterms.

• OD deaths down this year

The Kankakee County Board Criminal Justice Committee met Wednesday and County Coroner Bob Gessner gave the committee an update on the number of overdose deaths in the county this year. Gessner said fentanyl continues to be responsible for most of the overdose deaths in the county.

• Adoption fees lowered on some pets at Kankakee County Animal Control

During Wednesday morning's meeting of the Kankakee County Board's Criminal Justice Committee, Animal Control Administrator Kari Laird told the committee some of the animals in their facility have reduced adoption fees just in time for Christmas. You can contact animal control for more information

• Courthouse renovation plans continue

During Wednesday morning's meeting of the Kankakee County Board's Criminal Justice Committee. 21st Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Thomas Cunnington gave an update on planned renovations at the County Courthouse. Cunnington said the Supreme Court has to approve the plan because, while ADA compliant, the courtroom wouldn't be up to Supreme Court standards. Cunnington also reminded the committee that he'll be stepping down and Chief Judge at the end of the year and Judge Bill Dickenson will take over as of January first.

• Downey touts County pilot program

During Wednesday morning's Kankakee County Board Criminal Justice Committee meeting, Sheriff Downey once again brought up how successful the Mental Health Pilot Program has been at Jerome Combs Detention Center. Sheriff Downey said officials from Franklin and McHenry counties have already visited Kankakee County detention facilities for training to start up their own mental health pilot programs for their inmates.

• Downey explains new law

At Wednesday morning's Kankakee County Board Criminal Justice Committee meeting, Sheriff Mike Downey was asked what his opinion was on a bill Illinois Governor JB Pritzker just signed into law Tuesday that blocks ICE agents from entering court houses, hospitals, and other facilities to place people under arrest. Sheriff Downey added that the bill passed by the governor yesterday is really directed at ICE agents and not so much local law enforcement.

• Salvation Army needs toys

The Salvation Army of Kankakee Christma

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

• Crime Stoppers Tip of the Week

There's been a rash of motor vehicle thefts in Kankakee County recently. With our Crime Stoppers Tip of the Week, here's Kankakee County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Trent Bukowski. Tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and could result in a cash reward.

• FDA issues cookie dough recall

The FDA is issuing its highest consumer risk warning for a cookie dough. Doughy brand chocolate chip cookie dough was recalled last month by Hudson River Foods over possible salmonella contamination and now the FDA is classifying that recall as a Class I recall. That means using or being exposed to the dough could cause serious health consequences or even death. The New York company says 113 units of 12- ounce Dough brand chocolate chip dough was sold in 15 states, including Illinois. The dough carries a "best by" date by July 4th, 2026.

• Public libraries to have OD reversal drugs after first of the year

Public libraries in Illinois will soon have opioid overdose reversal agents on hand. The Illinois Department of Public Health added public libraries to the list of locations allowed to let trained staff members administer agents in the event of a suspected overdose on the property. The revised standing order will make it easier for libraries to comply with new provisions of the Illinois Local Library Act, which takes effect on January 1st.

• Madigan asks Trump for pardon

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is asking President Trump for a pardon of his federal corruption conviction. Madigan recently filed a clemency petition with the Office of the Pardon Attorney. The Chicago native is currently serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence in federal prison after being convicted earlier this year on charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, and bribery. Federal prosecutors say Madigan conspired with others to get ComEd to make monetary payments to his associates in exchange for favorable legislation.

• Rensselaer Chamber of Commerce Dinner

The Rensselaer Chamber of Commerce held their annual dinner meeting last night at the Embers. Pat Fox was named the Chamber's Citizen of the year, noting her work on the Little Cousin Jasper Festival. Some 100 people were on hand last night for the dinner.

• Iroquois Memorial Hospital receives gift from Iroquois Federal

Iroquois Memorial Hospital has announced they've gotten a 50-thousand-dollar gift from the Iroquois Federal Foundation to support the hospital's new Rehabilitation Therapy Center, which is set to break ground next spring. In a press release, IMH says the center will expand the hospital's outpatient rehabilitation services and serve as a centralized hub for physical, occupational and speech therapy.

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