Category Archives: Local News
State budget talks enter final week amid fears of congressional cuts
Leaders warn lawmakers have little room to expand state programs By BEN SZALINSKI & PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois bszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - Illinois lawmakers have one...
May 26, 2025 HARMON (cover) - Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, sits for an interview with Illinois Lawmakers’ host Jak Tichenor on Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
Memorial Day Services planned in Salem and Centralia
Memorial Day Services are planned in both Salem and Centralia. In Salem, the ceremony is set for eleven Monday morning in front of the Veterans Memorial in East Lawn Cemetery. The guest speaker is Mar...
May 25, 2025 File Photo
Government Offices Closed; Trash Collection Delay for Memorial Day
Most government offices are closed on Monday for the Memorial Day Holiday. That includes area courthouses and Salem and Centralia City Halls. Garbage collection will also be one day late, with no Mond...
May 25, 2025
Fairview Park's new playground equipment can now be used
The City of Centralia has announced that the new playground equipment in Fairview Park is now open for play. The city had asked everyone to stay off the playground during the final installation of lar...
May 25, 2025 Part of the new Fairview Park Playground Equipment. Photo: City of Centralia.
Police Beat for Sunday, May 25th, 2025
A 47-year-old Centralia man has been arrested by Wamac Police on an outstanding Marion County no-bond misdemeanor failure to appear warrant. Shawn Vaughn of South Locust was taken to the Marion County...
May 25, 2025
Centralia man sentenced to nine years in prison for business burglary
A 41-year-old Centralia man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for a burglary at the Barking Lot in downtown Centralia last October. Charles Anderson of North Poplar had a second burglary char...
May 24, 2025 Charles Anderson
Kinmundy girl critically injured when falling out of tree
An eight-year-old Kinmundy girl was critically injured and last reported in a coma after falling seven feet out of a tree at her home Friday morning. Kinmundy-Alma Ambulance and United Medical Respons...
May 24, 2025 Air Evac Medical Helicopter.
Police Beat for Saturday, May 24th, 2025
Wamac Police have arrested a 30-year-old Centralia man for residential burglary, forgery, and theft. Zachary Higgins of South Cherry Street was taken to the Marion County Jail to await a decision on f...
May 24, 2025
Illinois lawmakers pass bill to raise age of senior driving tests
If signed by governor, seniors won't have to take an annual driving test until the age of 87 By JADE AUBREY Capitol News Illinois jaubrey@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - A bill unanimously passe...
May 24, 2025 The secretary of state’s downtown driver services facility is pictured in Chicago. (Capitol News Illinois file photo)
Survivors of clergy sexual abuse turn up calls for reforms from new pope's American hometown
By SOPHIA TAREEN Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) - Survivors of clergy sexual abuse amplified calls this week for a global zero-tolerance policy from the new pope's American hometown and raised question...
May 24, 2025 FILE - Pope Leo XIV appears at the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica for his first Sunday blessing after his election, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, May 11, 2025.(AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)
