17 Tornadoes Confirmed, Major Drug Arrest, and Career Tools for Graduates - Monday, June 15th, 2026

In this edition of the WVLI News Update, host Rob West delivers comprehensive coverage of recent events impacting northeastern Illinois and northwest Indiana. The National Weather Service has provided final data on last week's severe storm and tornado outbreak, confirming a significant number of touchdowns and varying intensity levels across several local counties, including Iroquois, Newton, and Livingston.

In regional news, a collaborative effort in Kankakee County introduces a new free resource for recent graduates exploring career paths, while area law enforcement officials report a major drug and weapons arrest following the execution of multi-property search warrants. The episode also covers a national health alert from the CDC concerning an infant formula recall, a local hit-and-run arrest, and details on an upcoming community celebration at the Kankakee Public Library.

Why Listen? This episode contains vital safety updates, local economic resources, and community milestones you won't want to miss.

Listen to the full episode for extensive details on these stories, regional sports updates—including weekend championship results—and a stargazing forecast from the Strickler Planetarium.

Listen to more great shows on the WVLI Podcast Network:

This One Time in Kankakee  (Narrative Storytelling)

Kankakee Valley Community Happenings  (Businesses & Non-Profits)

The voices you trust, beyond the dial. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:00

National Weather Service has confirmed several tornadoes touched down in northeastern Illinois and northwest Indiana last Thursday. Iroquois County Emergency Management Agency says the Weather Service has confirmed three tornadoes in that county, including an EF one tornado between Paxton and Loda, and at least two EF Zero tornadoes that traveled a corridor between Watseeka and west of Rensselaer. The Weather Service says they also tracked seven separate areas in Iroquois County where radar indicated rotation in the clouds across the area. Newton County officials say an EF0 tornado was confirmed in the area of Aid, Indiana. An EF3 tornado with winds up to 165 miles an hour confirmed in Couts, also in Streeter with an EF3. An EF one tornado did damage in Livingston County, including the city of Dwight. Weather Service says a total of 17 tornadoes were spawned by last Thursday's storms in hour area, bringing the total tornadoes in Illinois this year to 146. Kankakee Community College and the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County have teamed up to create a free tool for those who are just graduating and trying to figure out a career path.

SPEAKER_04 1:14

It's a free survey. Questions like these you go through, no pressure. When you're done with it, it'll give you kind of an assessment of what careers might be good for you and what line up with your interests.

SPEAKER_03 1:48

You can find a link to the survey on the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County's website. Kankakee Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group agents, along with the Illinois State Police, arrested a 38-year-old Kankakee man late last week on drug charges. In a press release, ISP and KMEG say 38-year-old Rogelio Alvarado Alcan was taken into custody Thursday on several drug and weapons charges. KMEG agents, with the help of State Police SWAT team and other local law enforcement agencies, executed search warrants at three different properties Thursday, allegedly came away with some 200 grams of cocaine, about 75 grams of methamphetamine, 6,000 grams of cannabis, four firearms, ammunition, and cash. Alvarado Alakon was taken to the Jerome Combs detention center on preliminary charges of possession of meth, cocaine, and cannabis with intent to deliver, and possession of a stolen firearm, among other charges. Kankakee Public Library will hold a special Juneteenth celebration Wednesday. Jake Lamore has the details.

SPEAKER_00 2:45

According to a press release, the Juneteenth celebration will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the library and feature local artists, makers, and food vendors. Families can also enjoy storytelling with Oba William King and Just S Arts on the second floor along with Arts and Crafts. Then from 7 to 10 P.M. there will be a library after hours event for adults only, featuring cocktails from the venue mobile bar, delicious barbecue from Max Barbecue, and beverages from Essential Smoothies and H2O Lemonata. Both events are free to attend and open to the public. You can find out more on the Kankiki Public Library Facebook page or its website. I'm Chake Clamore.

SPEAKER_03 3:30

CDC has issued a food safety alert regarding a multi-state outbreak of infant botulism tied to a recall of powdered formula. Tammy Trajillo has that.

SPEAKER_05 3:39

A total of three infants with infant botulism so far have been reported in the outbreak from three states: California, Pennsylvania, and Washington. The infants rage and age from two to five months old, and all three consumed NARA Organics whole milk organic infant formula, which was recalled Saturday by NARA Organics. All three infants were hospitalized and treated with baby big. The FDA approved treatment for infant botulism. No deaths have been reported. Testing of cans of NARA Organics brand formula is underway, and results are expected in the next few weeks. I'm Tammy Trujillo.

SPEAKER_03 4:11

The infant formula sold nationwide by Target. Iroquois County Sheriff's Police reporting the arrest of a Louisville, Kentucky man over the weekend. According to reports, Iroquois County deputies called to a crash Saturday. Deputies say a car driven by 41-year-old Gallardo G. Garcia of Louisville had hit another car injuring the driver. Garcia reportedly took off on foot before deputies got there, but was soon found in a nearby cornfield. Garcia arrested by Iroquois County deputies for leaving the scene of an accident and not having a valid driver's license. Relay for Life was held at the Grove in Bourbon A Saturday. Relay honorary chair Matt McBurney says the event was a success. Incredibly well attended.

SPEAKER_02 4:51

In fact, they said probably more attendance than they've had in five years. The Grove is the perfect location for it. And I'll tell you, you walk around the space and it is a whole lot of love. It's a community that's taking care of the people who are survivors, thrivers. It's encouragement for those that are undergoing cancer treatment right now. It's a reminder to the physicians, to the nurses, to the staff that the work they do makes a difference in people's lives.

SPEAKER_03 5:18

McBurney said Kankakee County event raises more money for the American Cancer Society than any other across Illinois. Let's find out now what's going on overhead this week with our Notable Night Sky News. Here's Madeline Shepley, astronomy professor and director of the Strickler Planetarium at Olivet.

SPEAKER_01 5:35

Welcome to your Notable Night Sky News, where we update you on things of note in space in the night sky. Tomorrow night, about 40 minutes after sunset, you can catch the thin waxing crescent moon meetup with Mercury. You may need binoculars to see this due to the twilight gray, but be extremely careful should you do so because of the close proximity to the sun. Wednesday afternoon features the daytime occultation of Venus by the moon. This event requires binoculars due to the low contrast of Venus with the daytime sky, but it also requires extreme caution due to the sun being up and the potential for permanent eye damage if using binoculars. This week is also a good time to start hunting for noctilucent clouds, which are extremely high clouds that glow electric blue against the northern horizon after sunset. From Alvet Nazarene University, this is Madeline Shepley.

SPEAKER_03 6:25

In sports, White Sox won Sunday, Cubs and Cards both lost. Sox beat the Dodgers 6'4 Sunday to take that weekend series. Cubs failed to sweep the Giants losing 5'1. Cardinals lost to the Twins 5'4. Cubs host the Rockies starting tonight. The Cards host the Pirates. Sox have the day off. They'll start a series in New York with the Yankees tomorrow night. Both the NBA and Stanley Cup champions were crowned over the weekend. The Knicks, NBA champions this year after beating the Spurs Saturday night. Carolina Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday to win the Stanley Cup. Denny Hamlin won Sunday's NASCAR race at Pocono Speedway. That is a check of news and sports here on this Monday. Have a good rest of your day. Be safe, everybody. I'm Rob West.