Friday, October 24, 2025

Kankakee man charged in Oswego deathA Kankakee man is charged in a deadly stabbing at a Chick-fil-A in suburban Oswego. Police say Tracey Land was making a delivery to the restaurant on Route 34 early Wednesday when Darryl Lee Junior of Kankakee broke into the business and attacked him with a hammer and knife.  Land died following the attack.  Lee reportedly left the restaurant and stabbed another man from behind.  That victim remains hospitalized in stable condition.  Lee faces a number of charges, including murder and attempted murder.Drought concerns worsen, despite recent rainsDespite recent rains, drought concerns across the area have increased. According to the latest map just released today by the US Drought Monitor, some 20 percent of Kankakee County is now considered to be in moderate drought, that number up from just three percent last week. The remaining 80 percent of the county is considered to be just abnormally dry. The map shows about seven percent of Iroquois county to be in severe drought, 70 percent of the county in moderate drought and the remaining 23 percent considered abnormally dry. The map shows 86 percent of Ford County and 78 percent of Livingston county now considered to be in severe drought. Meanwhile 88 percent of Grundy County is considered to be in moderate drought, up about 20 percent from last week's numbers. 36 percent of Will County is considered to be in moderate drought, 56 percent abnormally dry and the remaining seven percent without any drought concerns at allAcross the State line, about 52 percent of Newton, 37 percent of Jasper and five percent of Benton Counties considered to be in moderate drought, with the rest of those counties considered just abnormally dry. The map includes data gathered by the US Drought Monitor through Tuesday of this week.Ooky Spooky light show this weekend at OlivetIf you're looking for something different to do with the family this weekend, you might consider the Ooky Spooky Light show at the Strickler Planetarium at Olivet. Madeline Shepley is the Planetarium Director.  Show times are six and 7:30 this evening and then 4:30, six and 7:30 tomorrow night at the Strickler Planetarium on Olivet's Campus. What to do around Kankakee County this weekendTime now to find out what's 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 CountyCounty Finance Committee reviews budget numbersDuring Thursday morning's meeting of the Kankakee County Board's Finance Committee, Finance Director Steve McCarty gave an update on the budget for the new fiscal year. McCarty noted county finances continue to be strong.  McCarty noted that the budget includes more than seven million dollars in grants that might not be in place next year. County explores bulk buyingDuring Thursday morning's meeting of the Kankakee County Board's Finance Committee, County Auditor Colton Ekhoff gave the committee an update on a project he'd been working on to save the county some money.  Eckhoff explained that each department in county government will be able to take advantage of the savings.  Ekhoff noted that in the end it's up to each department whether they want to be a part of the program or notDarren Bailey family killed in crashFour family members of Illinois Republican candidate for Governor Darren Bailey are dead after a helicopter accident.  Bailey's campaign announced that his son, Zachary, daughter-in-law Kelsey, and grandchildren, 12-year-old Vada Rose and seven-year-old Samuel, were all killed.  The couple's other child, 10-year-old Finn, wasn't on the helHave a news tip to share? Send us a text!Listen to more great shows on the WVLI Podcast Network:This One Time in Kankakee  (Narrative Storytelling)Kankakee Valley Community Happenings  (Businesses & Non-Profits)The voices you trust, beyond the dial.