From Racetrack Fires to Cell Phone Bans: Monday, May 18th, 2026

In this edition of the WVLI News Update, host Rob West covers critical local and regional headlines affecting Illinois and Indiana residents. As the summer travel season kicks off, drivers and flyers face a significant financial pinch with skyrocketing gas prices and surging airfares. Local law enforcement officials also reveal the fundraising results from the annual Cop on a Rooftop event benefiting the Special Olympics, while a major new cell phone ban is officially signed into law for Indiana students.

The update also covers local breaking news, including a destructive weekend fire at a historic regional landmark and updates on a fatal highway accident. Additionally, hear inspiring words from the 57th annual Kankakee Community College commencement ceremony and find out how local libraries are celebrating National Get Caught Reading Month. Finally, get a comprehensive wrap-up of the weekend's sports action, featuring intense matchups for the White Sox, Cubs, Chicago Fire FC, and the latest shifts in the NBA and NHL playoff brackets.

Listen to the full episode for the exact county-by-county gas price breakdowns, specific details on a major regional dairy recall, and the complete local news report.

Listen to more great shows on the WVLI Podcast Network:

This One Time in Kankakee  (Narrative Storytelling)

Kankakee Valley Community Happenings  (Businesses & Non-Profits)

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Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Whether they travel by air or ground, Memorial Day traveler is going to be shelling out a lot more money this year. Tom Castello has more.

SPEAKER_05 0:07

Domestic Airfares now averaged $459 round trip, up $60 from last year. International tickets now averaged $12.70, up $100 from 2025. Going.com reports a 21% drop in people searching for flights.

SPEAKER_02 0:29

Average cost for a gallon of gas in Illinois, more than $5 a gallon as we head into the first major travel season of the summer. Triple A says a gallon of gas running $5.5 on average across the land of Lincoln. That's $1.67 more expensive than at this time last year. Triple A says gas down a penny in the Kankakee area, running $4.91 on average. Gas in Iroquois County, running $4.93 on average, $4.94 on average in Ford County, $4.98 in Grundy County, $5.15 a gallon on average in Will County. Highest average across the state, Cook County, where a gallon of gas set you back $5.30 on average. Cross the state line, gallon of gas running $4.13 on average in Newton County, $4.37 on average in Benton County, $4.20 a gallon on average in Jasper County. Triple A says cost for a gallon of gas running $4.12 on average across the Hoosier State. Nationwide average $4.51 a gallon. Both Illinois and Indiana, among 17 states affected by a recall from the Strauss family creamery. Strauss recalling a number of ice cream products over concerns of a presence of metal fragments. The FDA says there have been no injuries reported because of the issue. Customers are advised to return the recalled ice cream products to the store or throw them away. Fire destroyed part of Balmoral Racetrack in Creed Township over the weekend. WGN says the fire broke out about 6 30 yesterday morning. Flames could be seen in parts of the building and thick black smoke rising up into the sky. Fire crews on the scene for several hours trying to put out the flames. There were no reported injuries caused by the fires under investigation. Kankakee Community College held its 57th annual commencement ceremony over the weekend. Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for Riverside, KCC alum Ellen Bellino was the keynote speaker for the event.

SPEAKER_00 2:17

You've learned more lessons than just your academics. You've learned how to plan a life around school. You've learned how to set a goal and achieve it. You've learned time management. And you've learned how to work with your fellow students and teachers and how to figure out to get here today. Use the momentum of this success to plan your next step. It doesn't have to be a bachelor's degree or a master's degree. It doesn't have to be an executive role. It could be starting a family or a business or a hobby to keep your momentum.

SPEAKER_02 2:47

Some 250 students receive degrees and certifications during Saturday's ceremony. May is National Get Caught Reading Month. Amanda Belcher, marketing and outreach coordinator for the Bourbon A Public Library, talks about how your local library can help you celebrate this month.

SPEAKER_03 3:02

We're physical faces, but once you come in and you get a card, you can check out our materials and take them anywhere. You can get caught reading anywhere in the community. I think something that's really great is we have Kindles as well as the physical book. So people can come and get preloaded Kindles based on whatever genre they're looking for.

SPEAKER_02 3:22

Belcher says your Bourbon A public library card can also be used at other local libraries. There was another fatal crash on I-65 in northwest Indiana over the weekend. Indiana State Police say it was about 1115 Saturday night. They were called to a crash just south of Crown Point. When they got there, they found an SUV in a minivan. Reports say the minivan was having mechanical issues traveling at about 15 miles an hour on the interstate, was hit by the SUV. Troopers say only the front two people in the minivan were restrained. Everybody else had multiple injuries. One of those passengers, identified by the Lake County Coroner's office, is 25-year-old Navia Gadusu of Chicago, later died of her injuries. Twenty-third annual cop on a rooftop event took place Friday in various Duncan locations throughout our listening area to raise money for the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. Bourbon Aputy Police Chief Jason Stuba has the results for how much they raised at the two locations in Bourbon A.

SPEAKER_04 4:18

It looks like we are gonna break the $8,000 mark again this year. I'm pretty sure we did it last year. It includes like $5,300 in actual cash and then a couple thousand dollars in online donations and uh about $1,000 in checks.

SPEAKER_02 4:36

Law enforcement officers from across the area took part in Friday's event. Indiana students will soon have to power down their cell phones for the whole school day. Indiana News Now's Joe Ullery reports.

SPEAKER_01 4:47

Governor Mike Braun signed into all Indiana's all-day school cell phone ban. It takes effect July 1st in time for the 2026 to 2027 school year. The law expands Indiana's current ban, which only restricts phone usage during instructional time. Some critics worry students may lose a lifeline during emergencies. Supporters say the ban gives teachers back control of the classroom. I'm Joe Ullery, Indiana News Service.

SPEAKER_02 5:15

In Sports took extra innings, but the White Sox beat the Cubs 9-8 Sunday, taking two out of three in that weekend series. St. Louis Cardinals lost 2-0 to the Royals Sunday. Socks in Seattle to take on the Mariners tonight. The Cubs host Milwaukee. The Cards have the day off. They start a series with the Pirates in St. Louis tomorrow night. Chicago Fire FC beat Montreal 2-0 Saturday. They host Toronto this Saturday. Chicago Sky beat the Minnesota Lynx 86-79. They host the Dallas Wings Wednesday night. NBA playoffs continued Sunday. The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 125-94 in Game 7 of their series. The wind puts the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals where they'll take on the Knicks tomorrow night. Tonight, the Thunder host the Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. In the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, the Sabres host the Canadians tonight to decide who will advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Winner takes on the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. And Denny Hamlin won NASCAR's All-Star race on Sunday at Dover Motor Speedway. NASCAR returns to action Sunday in the Coca-Cola 600 at the Charlotte Motor 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.