CHICAGO (CBS) — Nancy Rish has been released from prison after her sentence was reduced in the high-profile murder of a businessman nearly 35 years ago in Kankakee. CBS 2 Political Investigator Dana Kozlov confirmed that Rish was released from prison around 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Her release had been set for September, but she was given 90 days and 120 days of credit for getting her GED and Associates degree, respectively. Rish had been sentenced to in prison, but her sentence was reduced. A law allowing domestic violence to apply for reduced sentences is the reason. The law allowed Rish’s lawye ..read more

CHICAGO (CBS) — Nancy Rish has maintained her innocence in the high-profile murder of a businessman nearly 35 years ago in Kankakee, and now she is about to get out of prison. As CBS 2 Political Investigator Dana Kozlov reported Tuesday, a law allowing domestic violence to apply for reduced sentences is the reason. The law allowed Rish’s lawyers to ask a judge to take another look at her life sentence – with new information about how her years of abuse may have contributed to her actions. “I hold so much grief and sorrow for his family and his loved ones to this very day, and will always,” Ris ..read more

CHCIAGO (CBS) — A manhunt is underway in Kankakee County, after one police officer was killed and another was critically wounded in a shooting Wednesday night at a hotel in the village of Bradley. Around 9:40 p.m. Wednesday, Bradley Police responded to the Comfort Inn hotel at 1500 N. Illinois Highway 50, after a call reporting dogs barking in an unattended vehicle in the parking lot. Police said the officers located the vehicle and the possible owner inside a hotel room. Both officers were shot after trying to talk with the people inside the room, Bradley police confirmed. Bradley Police ..read more

CHICAGO (CBS) — We haven’t heard about COVID outbreaks in awhile. But last month the state deemed six state run facilities for the developmentally disabled in “outbreak” status. Some families said it’s left loved ones without needed care. CBS 2’s Chris Tye reports on a story you’ll see only on 2. They were some of the facilities first ravaged by COVID. Cases so overwhelming, the National Guard was called in. The word “outbreak” is back in the vocabulary at these facilities, even though there’s no sign of an uptick in cases. So, what’s going on? In March of last year Paul Bogue, with autism, as ..read more

CHICAGO (CBS)– A Christian school in Kankakee is facing a steep penalty for declining to enforce the state’s school mask mandate. Kankakee Trinity Academy, a pre-k to 12th grade school, will not be able to participate in events with other elementary and high schools in the state. The school will also lose access to some types of state aid. The weekly update shows there are now 81 COVID-19 school outbreaks across Illinois. Most of the outbreaks involve less than five cases. The list will be updated on Friday ..read more

KANKAKEE, Ill. (AP) — A Christian school in northeastern Illinois that declined to enforce a mask mandate has lost state recognition but will seek accreditation in other ways. Kankakee Trinity Academy is a pre-K-to-12 school in Kankakee. It won’t be able to participate in events affiliated with the Illinois Elementary School Association or Illinois High School Association. It also will lose access to state aid for certain programs. The school has 350 students. Kankakee Trinity will seek accreditation from the Association of Christian Schools International. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press ..read more

KANKAKEE, Ill. (CBS) — Police in Kankakee believe an internal gang conflict sparked a shootout that left two men dead and a third wounded outside the county courthouse Thursday morning. Kankakee police Chief Robin Passwater said the shootout involved a “running gun battle” that happened right outside the courthouse in broad daylight. Around 9:45 a.m., Kankakee police came to were called for a report of an active shooter outside the rear of the courthouse on East Merchant Street, Passwater said. In south parking lot of the courthouse, police from Momence had already taken Miguel Andrade, 23, in ..read more

KANKAKEE, Ill. (CBS) — A new law has been inspired by a story you saw first on CBS 2. It is not every day that a teenager changes Illinois law. Two years ago, we shared the story of Hayli Martenez, who was forced to stop running her lemonade stand in Kankakee. As CBS 2’s Jim Williams reported Wednesday, state legislators heard about it and went to work. Hayli is all of 13 years old, and a new state law bears her name. Williams: “Could you have imagined two years ago when we first did your story that a law would be passed with your name on it?” Hayli Martenez: “No, never in a million years!” It ..read more

KANKAKEE, Ill. (AP) — A nonprofit has built hundreds of beds for needy children in northeastern Illinois. Sleep in Heavenly Peace chapter president Tim Zydek tells the Daily Journal that volunteers have made 590 beds over the past few years. Most recently, it built 30 beds with the help of Project Headspace and Timing, a nonprofit with veterans who collaborate with organizations in their communities. Those who need beds register online on Sleep in Heavenly Peace’s website. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or red ..read more

CHICAGO (CBS) — A South Holland firefighter died during a training accident Wednesday night at a quarry in Kankakee. Village leaders announced the firefighter’s death Thursday morning, but did not provide much detail about what happened. South Holland Firefighter Dylan Cunningham, of Thornton, was diving during a training exercise at Haigh Quarry in Kankakee around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. It’s not clear what happened, but paramedics from the Bourbonnais Fire Protection District were called in to help a diver in distress. South Holland Firefighter Dylan Cunningham (Source: Village of South Hollan ..read more