Kankakee County

For more than 16 years after he survived being shot 11 times while shopping with his then-girlfriend in Chicago, Derek Grant walked this earth trying to find his purpose in life

A series of destructive wildfires have affected large portions of southern California this year and those affected by the fires have been in need of help

Lyn Stua-Rittmanic made sure the impact statement she read to convicted murderer Darius Sullivan was heard by the man who killed her wife

“Don’t back up. Don’t let up. Don’t shut up.”

Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe said that because the jury found that, at the time of the murder, Sullivan knew Bradley Police Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic to be a peace officer, his sentence will be mandatory life.

The man convicted of killing Bradley Police Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic and the attempted murder of now-retired Bradley Sgt. Tyler Bailey has been sentenced to life in prison

As Kankakee County began acquiring several pieces of equipment purchased to help maintain the Kankakee River, County Engineer Greg Heiden was running out of storage space

Gathing was honored for both his support of youth and his leadership in the community as he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation of Kankakee County

The Kankakee County Health Department reminds residents that there are warming centers located throughout the county to access when temperatures reach extreme levels

An appellate court upheld the pretrial detention of a former Joliet Outlaws motorcycle club member who for a second time is facing charges of killing a woman and hiding her body.

Since buying the former Kmart distribution center in Manteno in 2023, Gotion has continued to purchase land surrounding the plant at 333 S. Spruce St.

Kankakee County has seen an influx of capital improvements over the past five years, totaling $2.5 billion spread among several manufacturers and businesses

A Kankakee man faces federal charges for allegedly robbing a United States postal carrier at gunpoint in a Chicago suburb last week

A status hearing was held Tuesday at the Kankakee County Courthouse on the ongoing civil case of the Concerned Citizens of Manteno vs. Transform Manteno LLC, which is the Gotion lithium battery manufacturer

Gotion is transforming the 1.5-million-square-foot facility into a lithium battery manufacturing plant

The CDC has issued warnings about outbreaks of Norovirus this winter. What to watch for in Will County.

Kankakee County Circuit Judge Kathy Bradshaw-Elliott said she will rule next month on a motion to suppress evidence in the trial of Xandria Harris

On Jan. 3, President Biden honored Woodruff with the National Medal of Science at the White House in Washington, D.C.

The last two years have seen a dramatic drop in the number of overdose deaths in Kankakee County

A man was seriously injured Saturday in a possible drive-by shooting in Pembroke Township

Police have thus far questioned 15-20 people who were inside the house when the shooting occurred

Nicor Gas, the state’s largest natural gas utility covering much of northern Illinois, is asking Illinois officials to approve a $309 million rate increase that, if approved, would raise a typical customer’s bill about $7.50 a month.

Ice Valley Centre Ice Arena had a visitor all the way from Australia this weekend in the form of cartoon hit, Bluey

The Illinois Route 50 intersection expansion at Armour Road has entered the home stretch

It’s not every year you get to celebrate 100 years. Yet, that’s the case with the extended family of Noralee Sirois, who turned 100 on Jan. 1

With several contested school board races on the ballot, Kankakee County will almost certainly see some new faces making decisions on local educational matters following the April 1 consolidated election

The Kankakee County Museum has announced the winners of the 46th Annual Gallery of Trees “Home for the Holidays” contest

Curtis cannot get past the fact some 50 to 60 people were in the dwelling and yet no one is willing to step forward to aid the police investigation

The Kankakee County Branch of the NAACP extends its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the two young men who tragically lost their lives in the shooting incident at 1845 Pierson Parkway

From leadership in county government to the YMCA, we saw changes at the top along with the comings and goings in retail, media, music and public events

Two people are dead and five others injured following a mass shooting during a house party on the east side of Kankakee early New Year’s Day

Before 2024 officially comes to a close, we at the Daily Journal invite our faithful readers to reflect with us on the stories that made us feel good this year, as well as the ones that piqued our curiosity the most

View our best photos of 2024 in Kankakee County here

Robert Miller, president of Riverside from 1964 to 1993, and Ira Collins, director of Shapiro from four decades, who both significantly impacted Kankakee County and beyond, died this year

The BBCHS School Board approved a disciplinary improvement plan for District 307 earlier this month

A Kankakee County Sheriff’s Deputy was on routine patrol when he interrupted a burglary in-progress early Tuesday morning

What might that mean for Kankakee County where 13% of its population is of Hispanic or Latino origin, based on U.S. Census Bureau’s estimates in 2023 is yet unknown

Kankakee County Sheriff’s Police arrested Juan Carlos Valdez-Pizarro, of Pembroke Township

Helping someone in need is second nature to Kankakee County resident Jolynn Toma

The Netflix drama series “Monster” will be using the historic downtown Momence landscape as its backdrop for filming in early 2025

A charity shop in downtown Momence has transformed into a winter wonderland of gifts and decor for a good cause during the holiday season

Kankakee Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group recovered eight firearms during a search of a Manteno man’s residence Thursday

An alternative to fix a hazardous northern Kankakee County intersection between Grant Park and Beecher could result in the county’s first roundabout intersection.

With how deeply ingrained farming is in Willy VanWassenhove’s life, the metaphor he used to describe his state of mind while recovering from the accident that resulted in the loss of his right leg was no surprise

The Bradley Fire Department expanded its force by two officers as two veteran firefighters were sworn into duty

Why not use history when you are naming a state-of-the-art facility that becomes your village’s largest park?

Around the inner workings of restaurants since being a small boy, it would be fair to say Tommy Vasilakis has seen it all

The Illinois Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting regarding longstanding issues on nearby roads from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Grant Park Community Center

The Jingle Bell Run is the only local fundraiser for the Arthritis Foundation

Ice skating and hockey enthusiasts can take advantage of a fresh sheet of ice — weather permitting — at the village of Manteno’s outdoor rink at Legacy Park