Category Archives: Local News
Police Beat for Friday, February 27th, 2026
Centralia Police have arrested 43-year-old Alica Hodge of East Commercial in Sandoval for aggravated domestic battery. Salem Police arrested 57-year-old Rodney Hodge of East Mitchell in Salem for driv...
Feb 27, 2026
Centralia High School praised for teacher retention in study
A study conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago has identified Centralia High School as a positive outlier for teacher retention in rural schools. In the princip...
Feb 27, 2026
Illinois soybean farmers welcome federal aid, but fear long-term trade damage
by Rebecka Pieder and Medill Illinois News Bureau, Capitol News Illinois February 26, 2026 Article Summary At the end of February, Illinois soybean farmers are set to receive special federal payments ...
Feb 27, 2026 A view of Illinois soybeans being harvested from the cab of a combine. (Medill Illinois News Bureau/ courtesy Albers Farms, Blue Mound, Illinois)
Lawmakers take step to incentivize Bears to stay in Illinois
by Ben Szalinski and Brenden Moore, Capitol News Illinois February 26, 2026 Article Summary The House revenue committee voted to advance a bill that could help the Chicago Bears build a stadium in Arl...
Feb 27, 2026 Steven Mahr, interim CFO for the City of Chicago, testifies at a committee meeting Feb. 26. Mahr cited Chicago’s history with the Bears as reason for the city’s opposition to a megaprojects bill requested by the team, asking legislators to work to keep the team within the city. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jenna Schweikert)
East St. Louis Homicides at Lowest Number in 45 Years
Illinois State Police reports crime reduction efforts in the Metro East continue to make communities safer with the lowest number of homicides in East St. Louis in at least 45 years. In 2020, to comba...
Feb 26, 2026
More Than 125 Attend Storm Spotting Class in Salem
More than 125 attended a storm spotting class presented by the National Weather Service at the Salem Community Activity Center. National Weather Service Meteorologist Melissa Delia says the role of st...
Feb 26, 2026 National Weather Service Meteorologist Melissa Delia speaks to those attending the storm spotting seminar at the Salem Community Activity Center. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Salem Township Hospital's Emergency Room About to Move Temporarily
The Salem Township Hospital expansion and renovation of the emergency and operating rooms remains on schedule and on budget entering a new phase of the project. Hospital CEO Jim Timpe says patients wi...
Feb 26, 2026 Salem Township Hospital President/CEO James Timpe. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Illinois legislators introduce bills to regulate pricing based on personal data
by Jenna Schweikert and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois February 24, 2026 Article Summary Two bills introduced in the house would require companies to tell consumers when the...
Feb 26, 2026 The state capitol building is seen in Springfield. (CNI file photo)
Kell Man Formally Charged with Burglary to Odin Business
A 29-year-old Kell man has been formally charged in Marion County Court with burglary, theft, and criminal damage to property at the Toad Alley Smoke Shop at 110 West Poplar in Odin early Wednesday mo...
Feb 26, 2026
Fire Destroys Rural Kinmundy Home
A rural Kinmundy home has been destroyed by a fire blamed on a trash fire being left unattended. Kinmundy-Alma Fire Chief Kevin Day says the fire was in a rental home at 7823 King Road that is owned b...
Feb 26, 2026 liz west / CC
