Category Archives: Local News
Marion County Sheriff's Department releases further information on injury accident on Walnut Hill Road
The Marion County Sheriff's Department has released further details on a single car wreck in the 1900 block of Walnut Hill Road southeast of Centralia early Saturday morning. Deputies say Hailey Mulle...
Jan 19, 2026
Patoka School Board has new school board member
The Patoka School Board has a new school board member. Mitch Cain was selected to replace Bill Griffin who resigned at the meeting last week. The board then elected Chris Murray as the new vice presid...
Jan 19, 2026
Kinmundy man receives 13 years in prison on three sex charges involving girl under 18
A 33-year-old Kinmundy man has been sentenced to a total of 13 years in prison after earlier pleading guilty to indecent solicitation of a child, aggravated criminal sexual abuse and grooming. Daniel ...
Jan 19, 2026
Salem City Council to consider West Whitaker Street improvements and extension of garbage collection contract
The Salem City Council Tuesday night will consider several resolutions and engineering service agreements for the resurfacing of a portion of West Whitaker Street and other improvements to the roadway...
Jan 19, 2026
Two arrested after allegedly fighting with police following traffic stop in Wamac
Two Centralia residents were arrested on multiple felony counts after allegedly fighting with police following a Friday night traffic stop in Wamac. Three Centralia Police officers aided the Wamac off...
Jan 19, 2026
Monday Is Dr. Martin Luther King Day Holiday
Monday is the Dr. Martin Luther King Day Holiday. Most local, state, and federal governments are closed, there will be no home mail delivery, and financial institutions will be closed. While Centralia...
Jan 18, 2026
Illinois 'Clean Slate' law allows automatic sealing of nonviolent criminal records
Advocates say measure could affect 1.7M Illinoisians, allow people to reenter work force By MAGGIE DOUGHERTY Capitol News Illinois mdougherty@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary Illinois will begi...
Jan 18, 2026 State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, speaks about the Clean Slate legislation she championed at a Jan. 16, 2026, bill signing ceremony. (Screenshot from Illinois.gov)
Few fireworks as Illinois GOP governor hopefuls share stage for first time
The four Republican candidates trained their fire on Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois' immigration policies By BRENDEN MOORE Capitol News Illinois bmoore@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary The candi...
Jan 18, 2026 Ted Dabrowski pitches his candidacy for governor as his primary opponents – video gambling mogul Rick Heidner, former state Sen. Darren Bailey and DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick – listen during a forum sponsored by the Tazewell County Republican Party on Jan. 15, 2026. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Brenden Moore)
States say paperwork tied to $10B funding freeze is an intentionally 'impossible task'
Letters sent to the state cite unspecific claims of fraud and demand large amounts of documents to justify receiving benefits By NIKOEL HYTREK - Capitol News Illinois nhytrek@captiolnewsillinois.com S...
Jan 18, 2026 An excerpt of the lawsuit filed by five states against the federal government for its plan to freeze $10 billion in funding that helps to ensure access to child care. (Illustration by Capitol News Illinois, highlight added)
Recent postal service changes could disrupt mail-in voting, county clerks warn
Thousands of votes could be invalidated if not received in time By JENNA SCHWEIKERT & NIKOEL HYTREK Capitol News Illinois jschweikert@capitolnewsillinois.com nhytrek@capitolnewsillinois.com Articl...
Jan 18, 2026 Anthony Vega, Lake County Clerk, speaks to reporters at a news conference in Peoria. Vega, among other Illinois clerks, warned of disruptions to vote-by-mail processes due to new USPS changes. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jenna Schweikert)
