Kankakee Shooting Victim Identified, New Downtown Housing, and Small Business Week - Thursday, May 7th, 2026

This edition of the WVLI News Update with Rob West for Thursday, May 7, 2026, covers critical local developments and regional headlines impacting the Kankakee and Bourbonnais communities.

The episode begins with an update from the Kankakee County Coroner and City Police regarding a fatal shooting that occurred on Tuesday afternoon. Officials have released the identity of the victim and confirmed that a suspect is in custody facing multiple charges. The broadcast also features a story on a Bourbonnais native performing in Chicago who experienced a theft, followed by a surprising resolution involving a local school.

In healthcare news, Rob West discusses the latest Leapfrog Group Spring 2026 Hospital Safety Report. Both Riverside and St. Mary’s hospitals received notable marks for patient safety, alongside several other facilities throughout Illinois.

Additional segments include:

• Downtown Development: Details on a newly approved housing renovation project in Kankakee involving a former funeral home.
• Regional Policy: An update on the extension of the Indiana gas tax suspension and current fuel price averages across the state line.
• Economic Trends: Projections for record-breaking Mother’s Day spending and the importance of supporting local commerce during National Small Business Week.
• Community Honors: Recognition of three local law enforcement officers for their service and dedication to the Kankakee County area.
• Local Events: Information regarding a mobile food pantry pop-up scheduled for Bourbonnais.

The update concludes with a comprehensive look at the latest scores and upcoming schedules for the Cubs, White Sox, and Cardinals, as well as updates from the NBA and NHL playoffs.

Listen to the full episode for in-depth reporting and complete details on these stories.

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_02 0:00

We have the name of the man who was killed in a shooting in Kankakee Tuesday afternoon. Kankakee County Coroner Bob Gessner says thirty-eight-year-old Aaron Moore of Chicago apparently died Tuesday afternoon from multiple gunshot wounds. In a press release, Kankakee City Police say officers were sent to a home in the 500 block of South Fifth Avenue just before two o'clock Tuesday afternoon for a reported robbery with a gunshot victim. When they got there, officers say they found the suspect and two other people both suffering from gunshot wounds. The suspect was taken into custody, the victims taken to the hospital. City police say 27-year-old Malik A. Jones was arrested on homicide and aggravated battery with a firearm charges. No word on the condition of the other victim. City police ask anyone with information about the shooting to call their office. A downtown Chicago street performer, Andrew David, originally from Bourbonet, thankful for generosity of the public after someone snatched up his tip box. Perry Williams has the story.

SPEAKER_03 1:16

David said the school reimbursed him the money and then some. He also received additional donations from strangers. I'm Perry Williams.

SPEAKER_02 1:27

Both local hospitals recently received A's in the Leapfrog Group's spring 2026 hospital safety report. The biannual ranking gives letter grades to U.S. hospitals based on their ability to protect patients from medical errors, accidents, injuries, and infections. Both Riverside and St. Mary's received A-grades from the organization. In total, 31 Illinois hospitals got A-grades from Leapfrog. City of Kankakee will soon have some new housing available close to the downtown area. During its meeting Monday night, the Kankakee City Council approved a new tax financing agreement with Dustin Coy to remodel the old funeral home in the 400 block of South Dearborn Avenue. Mayor Chris Curtis says there are seven units in the building. Mother's Day is coming up on Sunday, and Americans expected to spend a record $38 billion. Tammy Trujillo has the details.

SPEAKER_06 4:31

Small businesses are really the cornerstone of our local economy. It's supporting our friends and neighbors, our family members, it strengthens our community roots, it's keeping economic growth close to home, if you will. There's more than 1.2 million small businesses in Illinois. And so when there's money spent at the small business level, it's most likely to stay local.

SPEAKER_02 5:08

And another of those secret food pantry mobile pop-up events scheduled for the Village of Bourbon A today. This one runs from eleven this morning till noon at the location on Briarwood Lane. Organizers of the event ask for a $5 donation. They ask you to show up no more than a half an hour before it starts, and you follow the route outlined by the Bourbon Apollo. In sports, Cubs won Wednesday, while the Sox and Cards both lost. Cubs beat the Reds 7-6 last night at Wrigley Field. They wrap up their series with the Reds this afternoon. Sox lost to the Angels 8-5 in Anaheim. Socks are off today. Cards lost 6-2 to the Brewers. They start a series in San Diego against the Padres tonight. In the NBA playoffs, the Knicks beat the 76ers 108-102 last night. Spurs down the Timberwolves 133 95. Tonight, the Cavaliers take on the Pistons while the Lakers visit the Thunder. On the ice, the Sabres beat the Canadians, the Ducks down the Golden Knights. Flyers take on the Hurricanes tonight. That is a look at News and Sports here on this Thursday. Have a good rest of your day. Be safe, everybody. I'm Rob West.