Category Archives: Local News
Former Centralia Minister Sentenced to 14 years in prison after probation revoked on child pornography charges
A 41-year-old former Worship Minister at the Calumet Street Christian Church in Centralia has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after his four-year probation on five counts of child pornography was...
Jun 25, 2026
Combine header and 10 acres of wheat burn in Omega fire
Kinmundy-Alma Fire Chief Kevin Day says the header on a combine caught fire while harvesting wheat on a farm in Omega Wednesday afternoon. The fire on the Brian See farm near the corner of Brubaker an...
Jun 25, 2026
Centralia woman draws two year prison term for possession of methamphetamine
A 50-year-old Centralia woman has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty in Marion County Court to possession of under five grams of methamphetamine. Rebecca Osborne of South Broo...
Jun 24, 2026 Blogtrepreneur / CC
Juvenile driver airlifted from scene of one car crash in rural Dix
The Kell Fire Department had to extricate a juvenile driver from a one vehicle crash late Tuesday afternoon in rural Dix. Kell Assistant Fire Chief Jason Franke says the vehicle apparent lost control ...
Jun 24, 2026
Police Beat for Wednesday, June 24th, 2026
Salem Police have arrested a 27-year-old Salem man for violation of an order of protection. Shade Woodward of Cottonwood Drive was taken to the Marion County Jail. Centralia Police have arrested 52-ye...
Jun 24, 2026
Marion County Board approves drone purchase
The Marion County Board has agreed to allow the newly reorganized county emergency management agency to purchase both an indoor and outdoor drone for a cost of $23,562. There were some questions about...
Jun 24, 2026 Marion County EMA Director Andrew Strong speaks to the Marion County Board. Photo by Austin Williams.
New Marion County Board Member Seated
A newly appointed Marion County Board member attended his first meeting Tuesday night. Shawn Richards of Salem says he has an interest in county government and issues over property taxes. "I was aware...
Jun 24, 2026 Newly seated Marion County Board member Shawn Richards. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Sandoval lays off 3 police officers as finances tighten due to audit problems
The Sandoval Village Board has laid off assistant police chief Travis Nix and two part-time officers as the board deals with financial issues caused by an audit still incomplete from 2022 that is keep...
Jun 24, 2026
Illinois' abortion landscape continues to evolve amid persistent growth in demand
by Nikoel Hytrek and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois June 23, 2026 Article Summary In the four years since Roe v. Wade was overturned and Illinois became a destination for ab...
Jun 24, 2026 Megan Jeyifo, executive director of the Chicago Abortion Fund, speaks to members of the Illinois delegation on Day 2 of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 2024. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Peter Hancock)
Central City to plant trees and improve lighting in Lions Park
The Central City council approved the purchase of new lighting for two pavilions in Lions Park at the Board meeting on Tuesday. Public Works Manager Shane Swartzlander said that the existing lights ar...
Jun 24, 2026
