Latest news with #Kankakee
CBS News
2 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Flash Flood warning in effect for parts of Illinois
Rain showers and storms are still passing through early Sunday morning. Otherwise, a mainly cloudy sky. The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood warning for northern Iroquois, northeastern Grundy, Kankakee, southern Kendall, and southwestern Will counties that will remain in effect until 7:15 a.m. High temperatures today with reach the lower to middle 80s, but it'll feel closer to 90 degrees at times this afternoon. Most of the storms will diminish by the late morning, but we still can't rule out having an isolated storm pop up during the afternoon. Tonight, temperatures drop into the lower 70s, but it'll still feel very sticky with high humidity values. We'll still be tracking scattered showers and storms through Tuesday, along with hot temperatures. After a final push of wet weather, breezy conditions return on Wednesday, but cooler conditions with highs in the 70s and 80s, depending on your location. Towards the end of the week, more sunshine and drier air, but the highlight will be lower humidity and slightly cooler temperatures.
CBS News
09-08-2025
- CBS News
Boy, woman shot following dispute over parking spot in Kankakee, Illinois, police say
Police are searching for the suspect who they said shot a boy and a woman following a dispute over a parking space in Kankakee, Illinois, earlier this week. Police said on Thursday, shortly after 11:30 p.m., officers responded to a call of shots fired at Crestalne apartments, in the 200 block of Crestlane Drive. Arriving officers were met with a crowd outside the complex after the victims were shot. Both victims were taken to the hospital before police arrived. The boy was later airlifted to a hospital in Chicago for further treatment. The ages of the victims were not released. Preliminary investigation indicated a dispute over a parking spot led to the shooting between residents of the complex. The argument turned into a fight, resulting in the shooting. Two people were detained for questioning, and a weapon was recovered from a nearby apartment. The occupants in the unit did not have FOID cards. Police said they've identified a suspect and are working to place them in custody. However investigation into the shooting remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kankakee Police Department at 815-933-0426. Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous can contact CrimeStoppers at 815-932-7463.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
300 workers blindsided by Illinois plant's abrupt closure — after it served as a local linchpin for 60 years
Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. 274 people found themselves jobless after the Momence Packing Company in Illinois abruptly shut its doors on June 2. Originally built in 1962 and run by Johnsonville Foods as a sausage manufacturer since 1995, it was a gut punch to a tight-knit community that has worked at the facility for over six decades. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) You don't have to be a millionaire to gain access to this $1B private real estate fund. In fact, you can get started with as little as $10 — here's how What went wrong? Employees were called to a meeting in a nearby town, Kankakee, where Johnsonville's CEO delivered the shocking news: The Momence facility was closing, effective immediately. Among those affected was Lupe Hernandez, who worked there for 25 years and told ABC7 News, 'It's like they didn't even care about us, you know? [The] same day?" Momence mayor Charles Steele said he only got a 15-minute heads-up from the company. Other local leaders were blindsided too. "When I was out there a couple weeks ago, the plant manager talked about over $1 million worth of equipment that had recently been installed," Tim Nugent, president and CEO of the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County, said. "If they're investing in infrastructure, it means that they made plans to stay around for a while." In a statement to ABC7 news, Johnsonville wrote that, "We made the difficult decision after evaluating how best to optimize our operations network to address current and future growth. This decision was based on optimizing our operations across our other newer facilities." The newer facilities include two in Wisconsin and one in Kansas. Johnsonville expects to create about 100 new jobs by the end of its third quarter between the two Wisconsin locations. It plans to demolish the Momence facility by the end of the year and transfer its assets to other facilities. The company pledged to continue providing pay and benefits to impacted workers for 60 days, adding it would work through additional terms of a separation package over the following weeks. That's some help, but Hernandez had planned to work three more years to pay off her house. Unemployment in America — and getting through tough times As of June, the U.S. unemployment rate stood at 4.1%, similar to what the country's seen over the past year. Jobs continue to be added — 147,000 positions in June — and weekly unemployment benefits have shown a slight improvement. Jobless claims for the week ending July 12 came in at 221,000, down 7,000 from the previous week's revised level of 228,000. This means slightly fewer people made claims than was expected. Nevertheless, those numbers are still significant. And for every American impacted by a surprising layoff or shutdown, the risk of falling into consumer debt traps significantly increases. Without a consistent paycheck, people often rely on credit cards or loans to meet basic expenses. U.S. credit card debt topped $1.18 trillion in Q1 2025. And for those nearing retirement age, losing a long-held job can spark financial crises involving mortgage payments, dwindling savings and health care expenses. Hernandez is an example of one such Johnsonville worker, as she was banking on several more years of work to finish paying her mortgage. Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — What affected workers can do Tighten your budget One action worth taking right off the bat is to assess all of your monthly costs and how these fit in with your new monthly budget. Try to identify any regular payments that drive down your monthly spending power, or areas where you can cut costs. If you're paying into insurance, a little bit of shopping around could give your budget a boost. For instance, helps you switch to a more affordable auto insurance option within minutes. Simply provide some information about yourself and your vehicle, then compare quotes from trusted brands like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. Some offers are even as low as $29 per month depending on factors like the make and model of your car and your driving history. Many providers allow you to switch policies even when they aren't up for renewal, just make sure to check that there aren't any hidden fees. For home owners, can help you find great rates to protect your home. All it takes is two minutes for them to comb through over 200 insurers — for free — to find the best deal in your area. The process can be done entirely online too. Reassess retirement and debt strategy If you've been laid off, and are close to retirement, you may have to delay it until your financial situation has stabilized. This can take a lot of time, effort and attention. If you've already been investing for retirement, taking some of the mental load off of managing your retirement investments may be a good idea. That's where automatic investment tools like Acorns come into play. Purchases made on your linked credit or debit card are automatically rounded up to the nearest dollar and put into a smart investment portfolio of ETFs. That way, every dollar you spend goes automatically towards your investments, which could also help you get a handle on your debt. Even better, Acorns gives new members a $20 bonus investment on sign-up when you set up a recurring payment. Rebuild financial resilience This type of emergency situation raises awareness for just how important a rainy day fund is. You can start small — such as with $25 a week — and eventually build a better buffer. To do so, it can help to have a crystal-clear view of your finances so you know exactly how much you can put away. This is where budgeting platforms like Monarch Money come in. The app gives you a top-down perspective on all of your income, debt and investments when you link your accounts. In a post-employment situation, this can help you keep track of essential line items like severance or other unemployment benefits. The best part? Monarch Money is offering a 7-day free trial so you can see if it helps with planning for that better buffer. If you decided that the platform is right for you, they are also offering 50% off with code MONARCHVIP if you sign up for a yearly subscription. Don't be afraid to reach out for help While you're getting your accounts in order, it's just as important to remember to reach out for help in the short term. Hernandez was given 60 days of pay and benefits following her termination, but not everyone gets even that much. Make sure to apply for unemployment benefits immediately and file claims to reduce income gaps as much as possible. It's also a good idea to tap into any state-specific resources that might be able to paper over the difference. Finally, make sure to look into career centers and community colleges for resume development workshops. If, like Hernandez, you've spent a chunk of your life with one employer, it's important to get up-to-date advice on the job market. What to read next How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you'll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement 5 simple ways to grow rich with US real estate — without the headaches of being a landlord. Start now with as little as $10 This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk Financial aid only funds about 27% of US college expenses — but savvy parents are using this 3-minute move to cover 100% of those costs Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
CBS News
13-06-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Aqua Illinois unsafe drinking water alert lifted for south suburbs
Aqua Illinois says its water is safe to drink in the south suburbs again. The utility company initially issued the unsafe drinking water alert on June 7 for Will and Kankakee counties, then expanded it to University Park. Aqua Illinois said elevated levels of nitrates in the Kankakee River, which may be harmful to infants under 6 months old, prompted the alert, which also warned not to boil the water, as boiling water can actually worsen the elevated nitrate levels. Friday the utility said customers can now resume normal use of their drinking water as river nitrate levels at the Illinois EPA monitoring location is below the required level and internal data shows all other monitoring locations are also under the nitrate limit. No more bottle water will be distributed, Aqua Illinois said.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Drinking water alert issued for infants in 3 Chicago suburbs
The Brief Aqua Illinois has issued a drinking water alert for families with infants under six months old in Kankakee, Peotone, and University Park due to elevated nitrate levels. The utility says recent rains and spring fertilization likely caused the spike, which can be harmful to infants and should not be addressed by boiling the water. Bottled water will be distributed to affected families, and the company is actively monitoring the situation. KANKAKEE, Ill. - Aqua Illinois has issued a drinking water alert for families with infants under six months old in Kankakee, Peotone and University Park due to elevated nitrate levels in the Kankakee River. What we know Water samples from the Kankakee Water Treatment Plant revealed unusually high concentrations of nitrates, which can pose serious health risks to infants, including shortness of breath and a bluish skin tone. The utility advises that infants should not consume the water and that bottled water should be used to prepare formula. Boiling the water is not recommended, as it can increase nitrate concentration. The company believes the spike is linked to recent heavy rains and spring fertilization runoff. While adults and older children can continue to drink the water, pregnant individuals and those with health concerns are encouraged to consult their doctors. What you can do Aqua Illinois will distribute bottled water to families with infants starting Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. at the following locations: 1000 S. Schuyler Ave., Kankakee 1737 E. Amberstone Rd., Manteno 24650 S. Western Ave., University Park This marks the first nitrate exceedance at the Kankakee plant, according to Aqua Illinois. The company is actively monitoring the situation and will notify customers when water use can return to normal. For further information, customers can call Aqua Illinois at 877-987-2782. The Source The information in this report came from Aqua Illinois.
