Category Archives: Local News
New SNAP work requirements go into effect Feb. 1, threatening recipient eligibility
by Jenna Schweikert and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois January 28, 2026 Article Summary H.R. 1, or the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law last July, changes the wor...
Jan 29, 2026 Fruits and vegetables are pictured at a County Market grocery store in Springfield. The items are eligible for purchase under the federal SNAP program. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Campbell)
Illinois vs. Trump: one lawsuit a week
by Brenden Moore, Capitol News Illinois January 28, 2026 Article Summary Illinois has filed or joined 51 lawsuits against the Trump administration between January 2025 and January 2026, challenging a ...
Jan 29, 2026 Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul discusses a lawsuit against the federal government at a news conference in January 2025. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams)
Group challenges Illinois' restrictions on using 'Democrat,' 'Republican' in org names
by Jenna Schweikert and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois January 29, 2026 Article Summary The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression filed a lawsuit on Tuesday to ove...
Jan 29, 2026 Alexi Giannoulias, now the Illinois secretary of state, speaks at a Democratic Party event in 2021. He’s being sued over a 40-year-old law governing which companies can use the word “Democrat” or “Republican” in their name. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
Salem Township Hospital Board learns $17-million project is 'on budget and on time'
Salem Township Hospital CEO Jim Timpe reported to the hospital board Wednesday afternoon that the $17-million renovation and expansion project is 'on budget and on time'. The timeline is for the expan...
Jan 29, 2026 Salem Township Hospital President/CEO James Timpe. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
A former Illinois deputy is sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing Sonya Massey
By JOHN O'CONNOR Associated Press SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - A former Illinois sheriff's deputy was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison for fatally shooting Sonya Massey, who had dialed 911 to repo...
Jan 29, 2026 FILE - This booking photo provided by the Macon County, Ill., Jail in January 2025, shows Sean Grayson, a former Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy who is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Sonya Massey on July 6, 2024, in Springfield, Ill. (Macon County Jail via AP, File)
Marion County 911 Coordinator steps down
Marion County 911 Coordinator Stacy Bradford is stepping down from the position after 11 years. Bradford will be joining Allerium, which does customer service work for Next Gen, the system that locate...
Jan 29, 2026 File photo: Marion County Courthouse.
Centralia Police discourage leaving vehicles running during business stops
Centralia Police are investigating two vehicle thefts from different gas stations on Friday night. One person was arrested following a crash and pursuit of the driver of one of the vehicles. Lieutenan...
Jan 29, 2026
One person injured; three others run from scene of Centralia crash
Centralia Police say one driver was injured and the three occupants of a second car fled on foot following a two vehicle crash at McCord and East Broadway on Wednesday night. Police report a vehicle d...
Jan 29, 2026
Centralia woman receives minor burns in stove fire
A 22-year-old Centralia woman received minor first degree burns to her hand in a kitchen fire at her home early Wednesday night. Centralia Fire Chief Jeff Day identifies the woman as the owner of the ...
Jan 29, 2026 Centralia City Fire Truck. File Photo.
COVID and flu cases soar at Salem Township Hospital, inpatient cases remain moderate at St. Mary's Centralia and Good Samaritan Mt. Vernon
Salem Township Hospital is reporting a busy January for respiratory diseases. Chief Nursing Officer Lisa Ambuehl says through Tuesday of this week, there had already been 31 COVID cases and 81 'A' flu...
Jan 29, 2026
