Skip to main content

Nearby Communities

State Edition

National Edition

Stay in the loop with what's happening in Kankakee

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.

🌱 What we know about Friday night’s shots fired on East Maple

Kankakee, Illinois Patch AM: a 4 min read

Good morning Kankakee! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • What we know about Friday night’s shots fired on East Maple
  • What the KB&S railroad sale could mean for Kankakee’s future
  • What rising Kankakee County home prices mean for buyers and sellers

Also on today's calendar: Nicor Gas to promote natural gas safety at Limestone Township Fire Protection District and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: Is there anybody completely useless? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Cloudy and cool, with a high of 65 and low of 54 degrees.
  • Thursday: Periods of clouds and sun, temps: high: 69, low: 51.
  • Friday: Mostly sunny and nice, with a high of 67 and low of 47 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Shots Fired in Kankakee Friday Night (wivr1017.com) — Residents on Kankakee’s east side avoided injuries Friday night when shots damaged a business on East Maple Street and a nearby SUV. Police recovered nine shell casings, identified a woman seen on surveillance drawing a gun, and are investigating a possible retaliation motive tied to an earlier incident.
   

2. Kankakee's KB&S rail line sold after 50 years of local ownership (shawlocal.com) — A half-century of local ownership has ended for the Kankakee, Beaverville & Southern Railroad, which has been sold to Jacksonville-based Pinsly Railroad and an investment partner. The line, founded to keep Kankakee-area grain and lumber connected to markets, is expected to maintain operations while gaining new capital for track investment across Illinois and Indiana.
   

3. Median home valuation prices in Kankakee County rose to $215,000 in August 2026 compared to August 2025 (kankakeetimes.com) — Homebuyers and owners in Kankakee County are facing higher prices, with August’s median sale hitting $215,000, up $7,500 from last year. Sales volume also rose slightly, and typical property taxes now equal about 2% of that median value, even as the national market tilts toward buyers.
   

4. ‘First domino' warehouse breaks ground at Bourbonnais Parkway (shawlocal.com) — A major $40 million warehouse complex is breaking ground at the Bourbonnais Parkway/I-57 interchange, led by Kankakee-based PSI Construction and backed by the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County. The four-building project, with the first warehouse expected by fall 2027, is billed as the first big step toward more jobs, manufacturing, hotels, and tax base growth for the area.
   

5. State Climatologists Report Illinois Breaks Many Severe-Weather Records Before September (stauntonstartimes.com) — Illinois has already shattered severe-weather records this year, including a March outbreak that dropped record-breaking 6.6-inch hail collected by a family in Kankakee. State climatologists say tornadoes and gargantuan hail between Pontiac and Kankakee highlight how storm environments are intensifying, prompting calls for better preparedness, communication, and building safety across vulnerable communities.
   

📸 Around Kankakee

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Kankakee

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Kankakee Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Midland States Bancorp, Inc. posted a job opening for Small Business Market Manager in Kankakee. Apply here.
  • Aqua America posted a job opening for Construction Coordinator II in Kankakee. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Kankakee here.

Ok Kankakee! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: No because they can always be used as a bad example! (Thank you Gary M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Stay in the loop with what's happening in Kankakee

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.

Stay in the loop with what's happening in Kankakee

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.