Category Archives: Local News
Vacant Home in Centralia Damaged by Fire
Fire damaged the living room of a vacant, condemned home in Centralia Saturday night. Centralia City Firefighters say a neighbor first spotted the fire in the living room at the front of the home. The...
Nov 23, 2025 Centralia City Fire Truck. File Photo.
The Lights at Cedarhurst in Mt. Vernon Opens for Fourth Year Offering Exciting New Experiences for Visitors of All Ages
The Cedarhurst Center for the Arts in Mt. Vernon has opened The Lights: an Exhibition of Holiday Magic for the fourth year on weekends up to Christmas. This year's experience features 19 professional ...
Nov 23, 2025 The Lights display at Cedarhurst in Mt. Vernon is now open on weekends until Christmas. (Provided photo)
IDPH Director responds to CDC website's unfounded claims on vaccines and autism
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has released the following statement from Director Dr. Sameer Vohra in response to changes made on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ...
Nov 23, 2025 Dr. Sameer Vohra speaks at an event in Springfield in May 2023. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
Aftermath of Chicago's intense immigration crackdown leaves lawsuits, investigations and anxiety
By SOPHIA TAREEN and CHRISTINE FERNANDO Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) - Chicago has entered what many consider a new uneasy phase of a Trump administration immigration crackdown that has already led t...
Nov 23, 2025 A poster is displayed at Cafe Jumping Bean, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Police Beat for Sunday, November 23rd, 2025
Central City Police arrested a 37-year-old Opdyke woman on an outstanding no-bond Marion County major traffic warrant. Lena Burk of East Liberty Road was taken to the Marion County jail to await a cou...
Nov 23, 2025
No Serious Injuries Reported in Main and Shelby Crash in Salem
Salem Police report no serious injuries in a two-car crash at East Main and Shelby Streets during the noon hour on Friday. Police say 22-year-old Cheyenne Hopkins of South Washington in Salem was trav...
Nov 22, 2025
Former southern Illinois pastor sentenced to prison for fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief money in church's name
A district judge in Benton has sentenced a former church pastor in Hamilton County to 21 months' imprisonment for obtaining COVID-19 funds from the SBA by fraudulently representing to the SBA that the...
Nov 22, 2025
9 months after federal bribery conviction, former Speaker Madigan disbarred
by Hannah Meisel, Capitol News Illinois November 21, 2025 Article Summary Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is no longer a lawyer after the Illinois Supreme Court officially disbarred him ...
Nov 21, 2025 Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan leaves Chicago’s Dirksen Federal Courthouse on Feb. 12 after a jury convicted him on 10 corruption counts, including bribery. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams)
Marion County Board learns problems causing incorrect property assessments
A report on Marion County's property tax assessments showed several issues for the wide disparity between tax assessments and the value of property. Gary Twist of Property Evaluation and Tax Advisors ...
Nov 21, 2025 Gary Twist delivers report to Marion County Board on issues causing large difference in assessed valuations and actual value of property. (photo by Bruce Kropp)
Redemption Church Food Pantry in Salem gets $4,500 Gratitude Grant
The Salem Elks have presented a gratitude grant to the Redemption Church on North Hotze Road in Salem. The Elk's Mike Hooe says the grant will go to their food pantry. "The gratitude grant has a base ...
Nov 21, 2025 Mike Hooe of the Salem Elks (left) and Exhalted Ruler Steve Lindsey (right) deliver $4,500 check to Redemption Church Assistant Pastor Dustin Harmon.
