Today’s Kankakee Briefing

Warm water used to ease Kankakee River ice jam

Warm water from a nearby nuclear plant’s cooling lake is being released into the Kankakee River to help melt historic ice levels that have been backing water into yards along the river. Local officials say all three siphons are now open, a step they hope will gradually break up the ice jam while a flood warning remains in effect from near Kankakee to near Sun River Terrace.

Residents along low-lying stretches of the river are being urged to stay alert for rapidly changing conditions. While an earlier flash flood watch for parts of Will and Grundy counties has been canceled, authorities warn that fast thawing can still shift ice and water quickly, and they encourage people to keep an eye on river levels and heed any local alerts.

County boards focus on property assessments and planning

The Kankakee County Board of Review recently wrapped up its 2025 work and opened the 2026 session, reviewing final equalization reports and state exemption applications before adjourning the old board and convening the new one. The board’s work influences how property values are assessed across the county, which in turn affects tax bills for homeowners and businesses.

Another county panel, the Planning, Zoning and Agriculture Committee, met in late January to hear building department reports, discuss the stormwater and MS4 program, and review transportation safety planning efforts. Members also received updates on a natural gas conversion grant in Hopkins Park and a land bank effort tied to the Strong Communities Program, both aimed at supporting long-term development and reinvestment in neighborhoods.

New arrivals and weekend community events

At Riverside Medical Center and other area facilities, families from Kankakee, Bradley, Bourbonnais and nearby towns welcomed a new round of babies in the final week of January, according to the latest birth announcements released this morning. The listing includes first-time parents and growing families alike, a reminder of how many new neighbors are arriving in the community every week.

A busy slate of events is also on tap today, from a Girls in Sports Day at the KVPD Rec Center to a Black History Month music trivia hour and teen programs at the Kankakee Public Library. Evening plans include a major local fundraiser at the Knights of Columbus hall and live entertainment downtown, while younger families can look ahead to themed skating sessions on Sunday at the Ice Valley Centre Ice Arena.

Sources

• https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/warm-water-nuclear-plant-ice-kankakee-river/
• https://kankakeetimes.com/stories/677472355-kankakee-county-board-of-review-met-dec-19
• https://kankakeetimes.com/stories/679188124-kankakee-county-planning-zoning-and-agriculture-committee-met-jan-20
• https://www.shawlocal.com/daily-journal/2026/02/07/birth-announcements-kankakee-county-feb-72026/
• https://citykankakee-il.gov/