Local News

A newly formed non-profit is working to pair mentors with students in Kankakee County. The pilot program will begin at Kankakee High School in the fall of 2015. The idea is to help students get excited about their futures whether they're planning to go to college, start a technical training program or even enter the work force. Local businesses are supporting the effort with funding and even curriculum. Both DOW and BASF have pledged $5,000 toward the A-Team challenge issued by the Coalition for Hope and Excellence in Education, or CHEE. CHEE issued the A-Team challenge this fall with a goal of raising a million dollars to support and help to expand the program across Kankakee County. Heather Claborn spoke with CHEE Executive Director, Dr. Susan Emmerich, and BASF Site Reliability Engineer, Dean Dawson.

This year the state of Illinois awarded $25 million in safety grants to schools state wide. Every act of violence or threat of violence renews calls for increased security, but administrators say everyday disputes and growing cyber-bullying take up more of their time. Superintendents from BBCHS and Kankakee School District 111 joined Heather Claborn in the studio to discuss safety on their campuses.

A small church in Bradley is having a big impact on hunger in Kankakee County - and providing healthy options for those who can’t stretch their grocery budget to include fresh fruits and vegetables. According to census numbers from 2011, more than 16 percent of Kankakee County residents are living at or below the US poverty level. Poverty affects nearly a quarter of the county’s children. The Center of Hope serves about one thousand families each week. These days those families are able to get fresh, healthy items from the food pantry. Heather Claborn takes a look at this blossoming community garden and organizer’s plans for future growth.

You may have heard him sing at the Kankakee Farmer's Market...or maybe you heard his audition this week on NBC’s televised series The Voice. Tune in Thursday to hear Lupe Carroll talk about making it through the blind auditions and joining a team on The Voice.

An Asian beetle is destroying Ash trees both on public lands and on private property. Municipalities are struggling to respond to dead and dying trees. And so are homeowners in Northeastern Illinois. Listen to one man's battle against the Emerald Ash Borer in Kankakee County, Illinois.

America's native Ash trees are no match for the Emerald Ash Borer. The pest has already destroyed tens of millions of trees and continues to spread. It's a costly problem for municipalities...but one that can't be avoided forever. Find out how local cities and villages are responding.

A commuter line would make it easier for people in the Bradley-Bourbonnais-Kankakee region to find work north of the area. And it would make the area more attractive for Chicagoans thinking about moving out of the city. A new rail line would run up a cost into the hundreds of millions...but there's a cheaper and faster way to link the region to Metra. Heather Claborn reported on this Thursday, May 2, 2013

The Kankakee County courthouse, which celebrated its 100th birthday a few years ago, needs a huge amount of upgrades to plumbing, lighting, heating, cooling. Additionally, the courthouse dose not provide proper access for people with disabilities and does not meet federal courtroom standards. Heather Claborn talks with Kankakee County Board chair Mike Bossert and learns that the county board has put together a panel to examine the long list of problems and come up with solutions.

East Central Illinois has become a popular location for wind farms, with several facilities up and running, and more being proposed. On the next WKCC local report, we’ll take an in-depth look at wind farms in Ford and Iroquois Counties. Illinois Public Radio’s Jeff Bossert reports.

The Illiana Expressway Study Group is working toward a goal of giving motorists a passageway around the heavy East-West traffic in the Chicago area. They've been taking public comment and are on track to finish the first phase of their work by the end of this year. And one local economic expert says that's good news for Kankakee and Will Counties. Heather Claborn reports on how the Illiana Expressway may benefit the region.

Kankakee leaders picked a new source of power this summer and negotiated a much lower rate for the cities residents. Some residents opted out of the city's plan and are going green...even though they're not sure how green the power they're buying actually is. Heather Claborn takes a closer look at the 100 percent renewable option.

The school year starts this week with schools and teachers trying to educate full classrooms of kids with fewer dollars than ever. The state is more than a million dollars behind in payments to the Kankakee school district...from last year's bills. School districts know they're going to receive less money this year....and Springfield is debating shifting the costs of teacher pensions to the local districts. Heather Claborn has a look at the practical effects of the fiscal crunch.

Representative Jesse Jackson Junior currently represents Illinois' 2nd Congressional district. Kankakee and Will Counties will join that district as of the 20-12 election. WKCC's Heather Claborn talked with Jackson about the new district lines and his challenge by former 11th district Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson.

The Center of Hope, Kankakee County's largest food pantry, is celebrating its 10th anniversary on Saturday. That day is also the end of a challenge from the Feinstein Foundation to food pantries nationwide, who will share in a million dollars based on the amount of money they've received in the months of March and April. Heather Claborn reports on how they are continuing to meet the growing needs in our area.

Local historians Charles Balesi and Vic Johnson are working with the Kankakee County Historical Society to open a new French-Canadian Museum in Kankakee. Heather Claborn reports.

Shoppers are finding ways to save money on their holiday purchases and support local merchants. Heather Claborn reports.

Olivet Nazarene University will officially open it’s new 58-thousand square foot chapel with a dedication service this morning. Heather Claborn reports it will be the largest performance space between Chicago and Champaign.