Susan Wynn Bence of Wateska will join a select group of experts focused on health and social-service policy for the state, according to a press release.

As Illinois prepares its efforts to attract Amazon's second headquarters, Rep. Lindsay Parkhurst (R-Kankakee) and Kankakee County Board Chairman Andy Wheeler are pushing on a local level for Kankakee to feature in the state’s proposal, according to a press release.

Running on a platform of prioritizing local issues and fiscal responsibility, Colton Ekhoff is challenging Kankakee County Board Member Jim Vickery for the District 2 seat in the upcoming Republican primaries.

Kankakee County residents who want to run for a county office can collect their nominating petition packets from the county clerk’s office or download them from the clerk’s website, according County Clerk Bruce Clark.

The historic education funding reform enacted in Illinois last week is a compromise that will help students from all income levels, Rep. Keith Wheeler (R-Oswego) said as the House debated Senate Bill 1947 on Aug. 28.

Women and girls over age 12 are being invited to learn about self-defense, including techniques like avoidance, taking offensive actions and defensive escapes, in a free workshop hosted by Rep. Lindsay Parkhurst (R-Kankakee) and One Light Self Defense on Sept. 29, according to a press release.

Nurses and other health providers can learning about dealing with stroke victims as well as managing stress at two daylong seminars at Kankakee Community College (KCC), according to a press release.

Members of an advisory council may no longer receive grant money thanks to a bill sponsored by Rep. Lindsay Parkhurst (R-Kankakee) and turned into law on Aug. 22, according to a press release.

Union Hill taxpayers will pay an additional $27,783 in income taxes this year, according to an analysis by Local Government Information Services (LGIS).

Saint Anne taxpayers will pay an additional $1,271,641.48 in income taxes this year, according to an analysis by Local Government Information Services (LGIS).

Reddick taxpayers will pay an additional $205,536.39 in income taxes this year, according to an analysis by Local Government Information Services (LGIS).

Momence taxpayers will pay an additional $1,190,722.62 in income taxes this year, according to an analysis by Local Government Information Services (LGIS).

Manteno taxpayers will pay an additional $3,071,826.22 in income taxes this year, according to an analysis by Local Government Information Services (LGIS).

Kankakee taxpayers will pay an additional $6,220,809 in income taxes this year, according to an analysis by Local Government Information Services (LGIS).

Wednesday was bittersweet for Rep. Keith Wheeler (R-Oswego): He was in the House fighting for state school funding while his daughter began first grade.

Hopkins Park taxpayers will pay an additional $21,091.42 in income taxes this year, according to an analysis by Local Government Information Services (LGIS).

Herscher taxpayers will pay an additional $602,205.10 in income taxes this year, according to an analysis by Local Government Information Services (LGIS).

Grant Park taxpayers will pay an additional $918,012.84 in income taxes this year, according to an analysis by Local Government Information Services (LGIS).

Essex taxpayers will pay an additional $346,026.41 in income taxes this year, according to an analysis by Local Government Information Services (LGIS).

Buckingham taxpayers will pay an additional $159,971.70 in income taxes this year, according to an analysis by Local Government Information Services (LGIS).