Category Archives: Local News
Supporters of Grace Fitzwater family fill Fairgrounds on Saturday
Hundreds of people turned out to help the family of eight-year-old Grace Fitzwater of Kinmundy pay final expenses on Saturday at the Marion County Fairgrounds. Grace died in May at a St. Louis Hospita...
Aug 25, 2025 Crowd at the Grace Fitzwater family fundraiser at the Marion County Fairgrounds. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
New Salem patrolman graduates from police academy
A new Salem patrolman has graduated from the Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center. Brett Niepoetter of Salem completed 16 weeks of training at the center and will now begin 14 weeks of field t...
Aug 25, 2025 Left to Right: Police Chief Todd Boles, Officer Brett Niepoetter, Deputy Chief Tyler Rose
Centralia looking to apply for recreation and sidewalk grants
The Centralia City Council is making plans to apply for two state grants. One would allow for additional improvements to Fairview Park. The other would extend sidewalks down Country Club Road as part ...
Aug 25, 2025
Mt. Vernon man arrested for alleged gunfire that followed Sunday crash
A 22-year-old Mt. Vernon man was arrested on multiple weapons charges following an investigation into a late Sunday morning traffic crash and gunshots fired in the area of South 34th Street and Peach ...
Aug 25, 2025
Centralia man ticketed for leaving scene of accident after running into house
A 27-year-old Centralia man was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident after hitting brick landscaping and a tree in the yard of a home in the 600 block of Davis Street early Sunday morning. Ce...
Aug 25, 2025
United Methodist Church buys billboard space that hosted Proud Boys sign
'Hate Divides, love Unites' will be message on southern Illinois sign By MOLLY PARKER Capitol News Illinois mparker@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary The regional Methodist Church conference in ...
Aug 24, 2025
Patoka School Board Hires Basketball Coaches and Student Council Sponsors
The Patoka School Board has hired Dylan Back as the head boys basketball coach and former head coach Joey Eddy to be the junior high school boys basketball coach. The action came at Thursday night's s...
Aug 24, 2025
'Stay out of our city': Chicago officials slam Trump's threat to target city in next crime crackdown
By CHRISTINE FERNANDO, JOHN O'CONNOR and MICHELLE L. PRICE Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) - President Donald Trump on Friday said Chicago will likely be the next target of his efforts to crack down on ...
Aug 24, 2025 President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Northwestern reaches settlement with football coach who was fired amid hazing scandal
By SOPHIA TAREEN Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) - Northwestern University has reached a settlement with former longtime football coach Pat Fitzgerald two years after he sued the prestigious school amid...
Aug 24, 2025 FILE - Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald stands on the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan, Oct. 23, 2021, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
Police Beat for Sunday, August 24th, 2025
Initial information indicates no one was injured when a vehicle ran off the 600 block of Davis and struck a house and tree early Sunday morning. The driver reportedly left the scene, but was later loc...
Aug 24, 2025
