Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Senator fires staffer who posed as lawyerA staffer of U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth is out of the job after being accused of posing as a lawyer for a man detained at an ICE facility.  Capitol News Illinois obtained a letter Duckworth sent to the acting director of ICE on Monday, notifying him that Edward York had been fired.  York was a constituent outreach coordinator in Duckworth's Belleville office.  He was accused of misrepresenting himself as an attorney and falsifying an official form to visit and secure the release of a Southern Illinois restaurant owner detained by immigration agents.  State Fire Marshal's Office urges holiday fire safetyIllinoisians are urged to practice fire safety while preparing Thanksgiving dinner.  Officials say Thanksgiving is the leading day for home fires involving cooking equipment.  Tips for preparing food include never leaving food that you are frying, boiling, grilling or broiling unattended.  People should also use the turkey fryer outdoors only and keep the area around the stove clear of towels, papers, potholders, or anything that can burn.State launches mobile ID'sIllinois is launching mobile IDs.  Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias [[ ah-LEX-ee jih-NEW-lee-us ]] announced that beginning today, Illinois residents can securely add their state-issued driver's license or state ID to Apple Wallet and present their ID using their iPhone and Apple Watch.  This will allow residents to present their driver's license and state ID in Apple Wallet in-person, online and in-apps at select businesses and organizations.  That includes TSA checkpoints at O'Hare, Midway and dozens of other airports.  The Illinois Mobile ID program will soon expand to Google and Samsung Wallets.Crime Stoppers Tip of the WeekManteno Police are investigating the attempted burglary to an ATM machine at a Manteno Bank early Saturday morning. Kankakee County Sheriff's Police Chief Deputy Trent Bukowski has our Crime Stoppers tip of the week.  Tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and could result in a cash reward.Manteno Trustees get update on auditDuring Monday night's meeting of the Manteno Village Board, the Board got an update from Jim Edmondstone from Greene Forensic Accounting Solutions LLP on the on-going forensic audit of Village finances for the past six year.  Edmondstone did say many of the accounts had small amounts in them and wasn't a sign of any wrong-doing, but could be a book-keeping nightmare. He added the hope is to have a draft version of the audit available to the Board by mid-JanuaryEconomic Alliance of Kankakee County has new President/CEOKankakee County Board Chairman Matt Alexander-Hildebrand has announced new leadership for the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County. Angela Morrey has been named the President and CEO of the organization. Morrey had been the Economic Alliance's Vice President of Business Development and Director of Marketing and Business Attraction prior to being named interim President and CEO earlier this year when Tim Nugent retired from that position.Turkey thaw dayIt's time to get that Thanksgiving turkey out of the freezer. Sue Smith, Butterball Turkey Talk Line Expert says they recommend putting the bird in the fridge at least a week before the big day.  That's just part of a more in-depth interview with Smith about getting ready for the Thanksgiving holiday. You can find the entire conversation on the WVLI News Update, wherever you get your podcasts. Manteno Trustees pass short term rental ordinanceAn ordinance to amend the short term rental business regulations in the Village of MHave 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.