Bourbonnais Police Chief Dave Morefield swore in the department’s 28th officer during Monday’s village board meeting.

Applause and encouragement filled the gymnasium at Bishop McNamara as River Valley Special Rec hosted Lincolnway Special Recreation Association for their final basketball games of the season on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026.

When Kathy Colclasure graduated from Bradley-Bourbonnais in 1983, she never would have imagined returning to her alma mater. But since returning to coach in 1990, Colclasure, still the girls golf coach, has coached a combined 66 seasons of badminton, tennis and golf.

The Amazon driver who crashed his delivery vehicle near BBCHS has died, the Kankakee County Coroner office reported.

Whether it was leading a Scout troop, helping with the annual Chocolate Tour or persuading state and federal officials to add an interchange on Interstate 57, Paul Schore did it for the community.

The Kankakee County Homeless Task Force is pushing for emergency options for warming those without shelter as brutal cold hits Kankakee County.

A dedicated group of volunteers have kept Langham Island alive and vibrant for more than a decade. It's resulted in the resurgence of rare plants to the unique island on the Kankakee River.

For the second time this month, Will County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man and woman from Bourbonnais in regards to the closed Balmoral Park horseracing facility.

Bourbonnais resident Trenton Harrison has been mistaken for Bears star quarterback Caleb Williams.

Raef, president and longtime member of the Bourbonnais Elementary School Board, died Tuesday, Jan. 13, at Riverside Medical Center. She was 69.

Donors who give blood through Sunday, Jan. 25, will be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LX in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Racism, the keynote speaker for the annual King Day program stated on Monday, was part of the very structure which helped fuel the U.S. economic might.

After calling the fields at Slater Park home for more than 50 years, Bradley-Bourbonnais Little League will now play its games at Bradley's 315 Sports Park.

A single-family home in Kankakee that sold for $455,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Kankakee County in the past week.

Weekend events by the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Foundation are set to observe, reflect and celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

A new Bourbonnais resident is seeking to have a law placed on the village books restricting where federal agents - such as ICE officers - can make arrests.

Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School has been named to the 2025 Advanced Placement Program School Honor Roll and has improved its status this year from Bronze to Silver.

Patrick Kerrwood was welcomed as St. Mary’s Hospital New Chief Executive

Nearly 100 Kankakee County residents gathered on a cold Sunday early afternoon at a rally aimed at reigning in what many believe is an overreach by federal law enforcement regarding immigration.

About 100 people gathered for a protest and vigil held in Bourbonnais as part of the nationwide ICE Out for Good Weekend of Action events on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in the wake of the shooting death of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, Minn.

As the first full week of 2026 begins, take a look back at Kankakee County’s top news and feature pictures from 2025, selected by Daily Journal photo editor Tiffany Blanchette.

Bourbonnais patrolman Travaughn Bosby was sworn in as the newest officer for the Bourbonnais Police Department during Monday’s board meeting.

From the passing of former Illinois Gov. George Ryan to county historian Jack Klasey, the Kankakee County community experienced the loss of beloved people.

The only constant in life is change and in 2025, like most years, there were plenty of changes which took place in Kankakee County.

The year of 2025 proved as the years before it to have big stories that carried the news.

“Some of our ordinances are old. We haven’t even reviewed them in a long time. I would say it’s over 20 years." said Bourbonnais Mayor Jeff Keast.

The parents of Caleb Outerbridge, who never fully regained consciousness after a rare autoimmune disorder took hold just over a year ago, are holding onto moments of hope as they prepare to celebrate another Christmas with their son’s future uncertain.

Bourbonnais residents and longtime basketball officiating partners Tom Hahs and Joe Ewers are among the latest members of this year's Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame class.

Bourbonnais trustees approved the village’s tax rate during the board’s Monday meeting.

Torrie Nelson of Sterling was named to the fall 2025 dean’s list at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais.

Once again, the village of Bourbonnais tax rate for 2025 decreased.

Local school districts have begun delving into the student achievement data reported on the 2024-25 Illinois School Report Card, including Bourbonnais, Bradley and Kankakee schools.

The River Valley Wind and Choral Ensembles to perform a Holiday Concert on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University on Dec. 14.

Concerns regarding the forecasted cold temperatures on Thursday's evening, the tree lighting event at The Grove in Bourbonnais has been canceled.

Those attending the village’s sixth annual Rockin’ Around the Tree Lighting on Thursday, can skate free by donating to the Shop with a Cop program benefiting local children.

After being officially formed about a year ago, the not-for-profit provider of free clothing for Kankakee and Iroquois County foster children, Georgie's Closet, has found its home.

Those seeking some snowy fun bundled up and took to the hill for some sledding at Bradley's Helgeson Park on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2025.

The ponds at Willowhaven and Diamond Point Parks in Bourbonnais Township will be getting some much needed dredging.

Check out this festive calendar of local events sure provide opportunities for holiday cheer in Kankakee County.

The Kankakee County Relay for Life event far exceeded its 2025 goal earlier this year as contributions have come in at $255,215.

Bourbonnais trustees passed four ordinances dealing with the abatement of tax levy on four bonds during Monday’s meeting.

Bourbonnais trustees heard the first reading of four ordinances dealing with the abatement of tax levy on four bonds.

The campaign gives the local Salvation Army the opportunity to raise funds that will be used locally to aid those in need, Lt. LaToya Surratt said.

Cost estimates still exceed the district’s planned budget by about $600,000, with a $70,673,796 current price tag.

State Rep. Jackie Haas announced Monday in a letter to friends and constituents of the 79th District she represents, she is being treated for cancer.

The Kankakee County Homeless Task Force hosted its third homelessness summit at Kankakee Community College, and said the number of people entering homeless each month has reached an average of zero.

Since its inception in March 2018, the Kankakee chapter has now built more than 1,600 bed frames. The final build of 2025 will be held this Saturday, Nov. 15 in Momence, with deliveries to follow ahead of Christmas.

Years after his two tours of service concluded, Bourbonnais resident Ty "Doc" Watson found his place in the world.

With thousands of military veterans in Kankakee County, the area's Veterans Assistance Commission has been ready to serve here since 1987.

During his junior year at Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School, Nick Mayo enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves.