Kankakee

KANKAKEE — A proposal in Springfield would prevent cities, such as Kankakee, from losing their home rule status anytime soon.

Such a status gives municipalities greater powers to tax and incur debt, among other things.

KANKAKEE, Ill. (AP) — The Democratic chairman of an Illinois county is facing criticism for posting an image on social media comparing Make America Great Again hats worn by supporters of President Donald Trump to Ku Klux Klan hoods...

Kankakee police are attempting to locate 7-year-old Jahriese Jones, who has not been seen since May 11 when he was talking to his mother outside his grandmother’s house.

On Monday, investigators were called by Jahriese’s grandmother, who said she has custody of Jahriese and his three siblings...

KANKAKEE — The gavel was passed to a new leader of the Kankakee Valley Park District board Monday.

Nominated by member Dave Skelly, member Bill Spriggs was unanimously voted in as the new board president.

Tyjuana Eason, a 2015 Kankakee graduate, made history for Southern Illinois University's Women's Track and Field team over the weekend at the Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

WILMINGTON — The Will County Emergency Agency announced via Facebook this afternoon that residents were allowed back in two subdivisions affected by a rapid rise in the Kankakee River northwest of Wilmington.

The Chicago Bears’ success should help Kankakee County this year.

Local officials anticipate this summer’s Bears training camp will soar in attendance after the Monsters of the Midway won the NFC North Division with a 12-4 record and made their first playoff appearance in eight years last Sunday.

Sharlene Parr, a commissioner for the Kankakee River Valley Forest Preserve District, took some photos in Kankakee this past week.

One is a shot of a doe on River Road near Ice Valley Ice Center ice rink...

KANKAKEE — Facing a steep shortfall just a few months ago, Kankakee has since found enough money to pay for an economic development director position, among other things.

On Monday, the city council voted 10-4 to increase spending in light of unexpected, onetime infusions of money into the city’s main account...

As mayor of Kankakee, Chasity Wells-Armstrong works with and for 26,600 residents.

Think recently talked with the mayor about the job she now has held for a year and a half. Wells-Armstrong provided answers to questions asked by Phil Angelo.

KANKAKEE — Kankakee police arrested a juvenile for obstructing police as an officer was waiting to have an all-terrain vehicle towed after an incident on Friday.

According to a report, the officer saw a male juvenile cross East Court Street on an ATV traveling southbound into the west alley of the 100 block of South Greenwood Avenue.

The old adage once said, “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” However, students at Kankakee School District 111 now can say there is such a thing as a free breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The district started its free afterschool dinner program on Monday, serving cold cuts to 45 student-athletes at Kankakee Junior High School.

KANKAKEE — Five people were displaced following an early morning fire today in the 800 block of South East Avenue in Kankakee.

According to Kankakee Fire Chief Damon Schuldt, the fire started in the basement of the two-story home.

As the year 1893 opened in the new town of North Kankakee, life was good. Houses were sprouting up everywhere on streets that were once cornfields, stores were scattered up and down West Broadway Street, and workers by the hundreds were carrying their lunchboxes into the village's humming furniture factories.

KANKAKEE — After shoveling several piles of dirt outside of Kankakee High School as a symbolic gesture of construction, Genevra Walters kept her maroon hardhat on while discussing the future.

"We have a diverse group of students, and that is our strength," the Kankakee school superintendent said.

KANKAKEE — In an effort to attract more substitute teachers, Kankakee School District 111 on Monday raised its daily sub pay from $95 to $105.

The $10 bump in pay comes at a time when all Kankakee County schools are struggling to find subs...

In coach John Maniatis' first season as the Kankakee girls basketball coach, the Kays have made great strides. Their 15 wins are more than the Kays had during the past three seasons combined.

But Maniatis and the Kays (15-7) learned how much more work there is to be done when they were handed a 65-36 loss at Bishop McNamara (17-11) in All-City action Tuesday night.

CHICAGO (AP) — A Cook County judge on Wednesday halted a medical marijuana-growing operation, granting a temporary restraining order that heightened concerns about legal challenges over how Illinois issued cannabis licenses.

KANKAKEE, Ill. (AP) — Kankakee County animal control investigators have rescued three dogs from an abandoned rural house.

The (Kankakee) Daily Journal reports (http://bit.ly/1warfJa ) officials discovered last week that Butters, a 3-year-old yellow lab and her two puppies had been kept in the home without heat, much food or human contact for several months.