Catch up on the week’s top Kankakee County news in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you, for the week of Jan. 11-17

A Will County lawsuit claims a priest who died in 2014 had sexually abused a minor who attended a Catholic elementary school in Villa Park in the early 1990s.

Coen Demack went for 30 points to lead Bishop McNamara to victory, Kankakee's Lincoln Williams had 27 points in a Kays win and more in Saturday's Daily Journal roundup.

From Capitol News Illinois: The four candidates preached unity after years of intraparty conflict, called for an end to the state’s robust protections for immigrants and took aim at Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker

Meat and dairy groups praised the new guidelines, while the American Soybean Association released a statement noting its concern the report calls into question the process of soybean oil extraction.

In this week's column, Dennis Marek write that despite the appearance of doom and gloom wherever one turns, all it not lost.

A list of recent births at Riverside Medical Center.

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.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson and Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay share some similarities ahead of Sunday's NFC divisional matchup. Can they share similar success?

Playing all 32 minutes, Brennen Stillwell scored 22 of the Bulldogs’ 30 second-half points for a 55-49 Illinois Central Eight Conference victory. The Bulldogs held off a second-half charge from the Tigers and put an end to a seven-game losing streak.

Powered by 24 points from Braden Campbell and some clutch second-half 3-pointers from Dylan Polito, Manteno went to Wilmington and knocked off the Illinois Central Eight co-leaders on Friday.

Momence led by as many as 35 points in the third quarter of an eventual 50-31 road win over Grant Park in River Valley Conference play Friday night, its third win in the last four games.

Momence earned a 50-31 road win over Grant Park in River Valley Conference play on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026.

Charges have been filed against two more people involved in the Christmas Eve incident at Mac and Frankie’s in Bradley.

The scene from inside Mac and Frankie’s in Bradley last month shows a calm evening turn into chaos as people appear to forcibly push a Black woman from the bar.

As Indiana officials ramp up efforts to lure the Bears, officials in Arlington Heights Friday doubled down on trying to keep the team on this side of the state line.

The Chicago Bears will try to keep their magical season alive Sunday night when they host the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field in their NFC divisional matchup. Here are the top five storylines to watch.

The Chicago Bears will be relatively healthy when they host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at Soldier Field in their NFC divisional matchup. The team ruled Rome Odunze questionable and Nick McCloud out.

UCP-Center for Disability Services founder – Mel Larsen of Joliet (deceased) – had no connection to anyone with a disability or cerebral palsy.

From Capitol News Illinois: Convictions for more serious offenses like sexual violence against minors, DUIs, reckless driving, cruelty to animals, and serious violent crimes, including any that qualify for sex offender registration, remain ineligible for sealing

Manteno tallied a 51-30 victory over Herscher with the Panthers' Maddie Gesky earning Manteno's career scoring record on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026.

The Chicago Bears will host the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field on Sunday night in their NFC divisional matchup. Shaw Local's Michal Dwojak and Joe Aguilar share the latest news from Halas Hall and break down Sunday's playoff game

KCC's Fast Path program is accepting applications for Fall 2026

A single-family home in Manhattan that sold for $324,000 tops the list of the best real estate deals in Kankakee County in the past week.

Temo Guerrero, a 2025 graduate of the registered nursing program at Kankakee Community College, has been awarded The DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nursing Students.

A former suburban politician turned policy adviser, and a consultant’s analysis of the Bears’ stalled stadium search suggests economics and politics are to blame, and argues that politicians here should take the team’s threat to move to Northwest Indiana seriously

From Capitol News Illinois: Ahead of the March primary election, county clerks are telling voters not to rely on past processes and to mail their ballots as early as possible, no later than one week before Election Day

Watseka/Milford, Cissna Park and Iroquois West, three of the top four girls basketball teams in the Vermilion Valley Conference, continued their hot stretches of play and more in Thursday's Daily Journal roundup.

A Kankakee man now faces several felonies, including a hate crime charge, in a Christmas Eve incident at Mac & Frankie’s in Bradley.

Chicago Bears coordinators met with reporters at Halas Hall on Thursday as the team continued preparing for Sunday’s NFC divisional matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Here are three of the most interesting things the Bears said Thursday.

Where do the candidates for Illinois governor stand on the team moving to Arlington Heights or Northwest Indiana?

Chicago Bears cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson returned to practice Thursday as the team got back on the field ahead of Sunday’s NFC divisional game against the Los Angeles Rams. Wide receivers Rome Odunze and DJ Moore remained limited.

From Capitol News Illinois: Wage inequities persist in Illinois’ workforce, although data suggests the state, on average, is doing better than others, according to a new report from the University of Illinois.

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly introduced articles of impeachment against the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, regarding self-dealing for personal benefit and obstruction of Congress. Kelly said Noem used her position to guide a federal contract to a firm operated by a friend

In this weekend’s “A Taylor-Made Life,” Taylor Leddin-McMaster check out a list of local events to keep you busy while awaiting warmer weather and sunshine.

The Illinois Secretary of State’s office will expand services this month for travelers seeking to obtain REAL IDs before fees kick in for domestic flights on Feb. 1.

Wright in Kankakee hosts its very first Decades Trivia Night from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, February 13.

For prospective homebuyers eyeing the real estate market in the area of Kankakee County, here's what sold for $700,000 or under during the past week

From Capitol News Illinois: Raoul has won other similar suits against the Trump administration, including over a Trump order which directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency to withhold federal emergency funding from Illinois over the state’s immigration laws

For years, we asked for coaches and players who truly understood the Bears/Packers rivalry and, more importantly, winning football games, Marc Silverman writes. Ben Johnson is that guy.

Grundy County had many employees and officials reach milestones at the start of 2026, including Grundy County Coroner John Callahan and board members Ann Gill, Eric Rasmussen, and Josh Harris.

Manteno got a pair of double-double efforts to take down Seneca, Cissna Park's Addison Lucht exploded for 25 points against Chrisman, the Iroquois West boys earned their first win and more in Wednesday's Daily Journal roundup.

Bradley-Bourbonnais boys wrestling defeated Marquette 41-22 during a wrestling meet on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 in Bader Gymnasium at Marquette High School.

The Grundy Area Vocational Center had two students, Minooka Junior Alaina Austin and Coal City senior Wyatt Koehn, place in the 597 Welding Competition.

Chicago Bears cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson would’ve returned to practice Wednesday according to an estimated report the team released. Rome Odunze and DJ Moore were both listed as limited.

From Capitol News Illinois: The Illinois State Board of Education voted Wednesday to approve a budget request for the upcoming fiscal year that calls for only a minimal increase in K-12 education spending

The Chicago Bears' thrilling comeback against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday was a game many players won't forget. But they'll need to move on quickly to avoid a lull against the Los Angeles Rams in their NFC divisional matchup.

From Capitol News Illinois: U.S. Rep. Mike Bost’s lawsuit challenging Illinois’ election laws can proceed because he is a candidate for office, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday

On paper, the task facing the Bears seems a bit overwhelming. Their hobbled defensive secondary will be facing the NFL leaders in passing yards and receptions when the Rams visit Soldier Field this Sunday. How to re-create last week's second half defense may start with pressure.

From Capitol News Illinois: Some of Illinois’ top Democrats say they’re open to considering targeted changes to Illinois’ controversial SAFE-T Act this spring if a forthcoming judicial report says they’re needed