Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Bourbonnais hires news Police ChiefThe Village of Bourbonnais has a new Police Chief. During last night's Village Board meeting, Mayor Jeff Keast announced his pick for law enforcement's top spot in the Village.   That vote was not without its controversy as the majority of the trustees stated while giving their vote they had concerns about the way the search was conducted. Many feeling the Village Trustees had been left out of the decision making process, taking away the "advise and consent" guaranteed them by Village Ordinance. For his part, Chief Morefield said with his 32-and-a-half years at Bourbonnais and a prior seven with the County Sheriff's Department, he feels he's the right person for the job.  Also during last night's meeting, Trustees passed an ordinance setting spending limits in the village for the new fiscal year, with spending pretty much on par with where it's been in recent years. Another of the "ComEd 4" headed to prisonAnother member of the so-called "ComEd Four" is headed to prison.  Anne Pramaggiore was sentenced yesterday to two years behind bars.  The former ComEd CEO, John Hooker, Michael McClain, and Jay Doherty were all found guilty in 2023 of conspiring to influence and reward former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in order to assist with the passage of legislation favorable to the utility.  Pramaggiore was ordered to report to prison on December 1st.  Hooker was sentenced last week to a year-and-a-half in prison and ordered to report October 14th.  McClain will be sentenced Thursday and Doherty will learn his fate August 5th. Governor signs squatter billA bill cracking down on squatters in Illinois is set to become law.  Governor JB Pritzker signed the state's Squatter Bill into law yesterday.  The bill makes it easier for police to remove squatters from someone's home.  It also differentiates squatters from tenants, making it easier for property owners to regain control of their home.  The law goes into effect next year.Have 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.