WVLI News Update

Stay informed with "WVLI News Update", the podcast that reports on local news stories with expert analysis and engaging commentary. Join Rob West, as he explores the political, economic, and social factors shaping the Kankakee area. Listen everyday, at your convenience, for all your local news. Subscribe to WVLI News Update podcast, or listen at wvli927.com and click On-Air. New episodes drop every morning! It’s all part of the new WVLI Podcast Network.

WVLI News Update is a news podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 326 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts WVLI News Update, a news show with 326 episodes published.

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  WVLI News Update

  Wednesday, September 30th, 2026 - Fatal Iroquois County Collision, Braidwood House Fire, and Gotion Battery Plant Update

  Sep 30, 202610 min

  This episode of the WVLI News Update with Rob West covers key developments and headlines across Illinois and Indiana. Key stories in this broadcast include: Braidwood House Fire: Firefighters respond to a heavy garage fire on North Washington Street; all residents escaped safely, and the cause remains under investigation. Olivet Nazarene University Recognition: U.S. News & World Report ranks ONU among the top regional universities and private schools in the Midwest. Illinois Tourism Funding: Governor J.B. Pritzker announces $4.6 million in grant awards to promote state tourism, including projects along Route 66. Fatal Iroquois County Collision: Illinois State Police and local authorities investigate a two-car crash on Route 49 that claimed the life of a Kankakee resident. Beecher Fire District Community Workshop: Chief Joe Falaschetti hosts a public discussion addressing local healthcare facility transitions, response times, aging equipment, and staffing challenges. Gotion Battery Plant Progress: An update on the Manteno facility as it prepares for Phase 2 cell manufacturing and local workforce expansion. Dick Van Dyke Childhood Home Demolition: The city of Danville confirms the planned removal of the condemned structure due to safety hazards. Additional Headlines: Investigations into a Kankakee County church burglary, Indiana legislative discussions on utility storm responses and harvest fuel regulations, national lottery jackpots, pet Halloween spending trends, and current regional sports scores. 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.

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  WVLI News Update

  Tuesday, September 29th, 2026 - 300 New Jobs Coming to Momence, I-57 Crash Investigation, and ONU Grads Receive National Music Award

  Sep 29, 20268 min

  In this edition of the WVLI News Update, anchor Rob West delivers comprehensive coverage of top stories across Kankakee County and surrounding areas. Key topics covered in this episode: I-57 Traffic Collision: Illinois State Police investigate a four-vehicle crash on northbound Interstate 57 between Bourbonnais Parkway and the Manteno exit that sent two individuals to the hospital. Economic Development in Momence: Angela Morrey, President and CEO of the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County, discusses the relocation of Mighty Cake Company to the former Johnsonville facility in Momence. The wholesale bakery plans to create approximately 300 jobs and begin croissant production by winter. National Farm Safety Week: Illinois State Police Trooper Ryan Wagand provides essential road safety guidelines for agricultural equipment operators during harvest season to reduce traffic incidents. Bradley Police Department Reports: Details on an ongoing investigation into a customer assault at a local restaurant on Bradley Boulevard and a residential burglary on North Grand Avenue. Bradley Village Board Updates: Mayor Mike Watson outlines a $360,000 sanitary sewer infrastructure repair project replacing clay tiles with PVC lining, alongside details and registration information for the upcoming 3rd Annual Wag-O-Ween community event. Local Cultural Achievements: Olivet Nazarene University graduates Teron Fairchild and Andrew McBurnie win Best Musical Film of the Year at the 12th Annual Josie Music Awards at the Grand Ole Opry for their musical "The Muse." Regional Sports Coverage: Highlights on the Chicago Bears victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, MLB playoff Wild Card matchups for the White Sox and Cubs, and the NHL season opener for the Chicago Blackhawks. Listen to the full audio episode for complete reporting, official statements, and full details on each of these stories. 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.

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  WVLI News Update

  Monday, September 28th, 2026 - Federal Jury Conviction in Detention Attack, $832K FEMA Grant for Manteno, and Pritzker on Data Centers

  Sep 28, 20267 min

  This episode of the WVLI News Update with Rob West delivers complete coverage of critical local headlines, law enforcement developments, and community news across Kankakee County and surrounding areas. Coverage opens with a federal jury conviction of a Chicago man following an assault on two correctional officers with a wooden broom handle at the Jerome Combs Detention Center. In Champaign County, an arrest has been made on preliminary attempted murder charges following a shooting on Cunningham Avenue in Urbana. In local government news, the Manteno Community Fire Protection District has been awarded an $832,000 FEMA SAFER grant—one of only four departments in Illinois to receive the funding—to hire three full-time firefighters. Governor JB Pritzker outlines his position on regulating data centers without imposing a state moratorium. Additional reporting highlights Illinois utility bill assistance through the LIHEAP program, national consumer spending trends on recreation, and an aggravated assault arrest in Iroquois County. The broadcast also features a Night Sky News segment with Madeleine Sheply from the Strickler Planetarium at Olivet Nazarene University, detailing telescope viewing for two active comets and a moon-Pleiades pairing, followed by a comprehensive sports recap covering MLB wild-card playoff setups for both the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs, college football results, and Monday Night Football. Listen to the full episode for all the details and complete reporting on these stories. 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.

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  WVLI News Update

  Friday, September 25th, 2026 - Bradley Police Sued Over SAFE-T Act, $51M Monee Expansion, and Kankakee County Weekend Events

  Sep 25, 202611 min

  This episode of the WVLI News Update with Rob West covers critical local news, legal developments, and community events across Kankakee and Will counties. A Village of Bradley Police Sergeant has filed a whistleblower lawsuit in Kankakee County Circuit Court against the village and Police Chief Don Barber, alleging a 15-day suspension for refusing to violate Illinois' SAFE-T Act. The update also covers an ongoing police investigation into early-morning business burglaries in Bradley and Will County, as well as United Way of Kankakee and Iroquois Counties' annual meeting highlighting over $655,000 raised for tornado relief. Additional coverage includes National Farm Safety and Health Week reminders from the Illinois State Police, details on the rescheduled 44th Annual Kankakee and Iroquois River Cleanup, a first-degree murder charge in Frankfort, and Limestone Township Fire Protection District's 75th Anniversary open house. Listeners will also get updates on a $51M steel machinery expansion in Monee celebrated by Governor JB Pritzker, disaster loan assistance extensions, local fall festivities including Manteno Oktoberfest, and a recap of regional sports scores. Listen to the full episode for all the details and complete reporting on these stories. 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.

  ListenShow Notes
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  WVLI News Update

  Thursday, September 24th, 2026 - Shots Fired in Kankakee, Environmental Concerns on the Kankakee River, and Manteno Oktoberfest Starts Today

  Sep 24, 202610 min

  In this edition of the WVLI News Update with Rob West, Kankakee City Police investigate multiple local incidents, including a shots-fired call on South 4th Avenue and recent arrests involving assault and battery charges. The broadcast highlights discussions from the Kankakee City Council regarding environmental and water usage concerns surrounding a planned Amazon data center near the Kankakee River watershed in Jasper County, Indiana. Additional updates cover local community services and events, including the kickoff of Manteno Oktoberfest, a mobile food pantry pop-up in Bourbonnais, details on National Suicide Prevention Month resources through Thresholds, and the announcement of the Bourbonnais Township Park District Scarecrow Contest winners. The update also covers broader regional and national developments, such as Illinois Farm Safety Week, expert testimony on the impacts of permanent Daylight Saving Time, a nationwide USDA meat recall, a displaced family following a local residential fire, and a roundup of regional sports scores. Listen to the full episode for complete coverage and all the details. 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.

  ListenShow Notes

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