Category Archives: Local News
Centralia High School appoints new board president
In its first meeting since the April 1 consolidated election, the Centralia High School board of education was reorganized Thursday night. Board members elected Mike Neudecker as the new board preside...
Apr 25, 2025 The Centralia High School Board's Vice President Keith Kessler (left) and President Mike Neudecker (middle), along with CHS superintendent Chuck Lane (right).
Unemployment drops in March across South Central Illinois
Unemployment dropped across South Central Illinois in March. In Marion County, the rate fell one-tenth of a percent to 4.4 percent and is down six-tenths of a percent from last March. The numbers tran...
Apr 25, 2025
Two teenage boys praised for helping senior citizens out of burning apartment building in Nashville, IL
Nashville Police are crediting two teenage boys for assisting residents out of the Village 1 Apartment complex on North Hoffman Street in Nashville after a large fire started in an upstairs apartment....
Apr 25, 2025
Salem man dies from medical issues while driving in Effingham County
A 73-year-old Salem man was pronounced dead after becoming unresponsive while driving Wednesday on Interstate 57 in Effingham. Arriving officers found Gerald Crist in the driver's seat on the side of ...
Apr 25, 2025
Police Beat for Friday, April 25th, 2025
A 46-year-old Centralia man, Shawn Stokes of Cedar Street, was taken to the Marion County Jail by Centralia Police after he was arrested on a no bond outstanding felony failure to appear warrant. Cent...
Apr 25, 2025
Jury deadlocks, mistrial declared in federal bribery case of Sen. Emil Jones III
Deliberations continued for nearly 23 hours before jury arrived at stalemate By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com A federal judge on Thursday declared a mistrial in t...
Apr 24, 2025 The jury considering state Sen. Emil Jones III’s federal corruption trial may be deadlocked on two of the three counts against the senator, according to a note jurors sent the judge late Wednesday, April 23, after 18 hours of deliberations. The judge indicated she will instruct the jury on Thursday to keep trying. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams)
Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton announces U.S. Senate campaign
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois April 24, 2025 SPRINGFIELD - Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is the first Democrat to step into what is expected to be a crowded race to fill Sen. Dick Durbin's Senat...
Apr 24, 2025 Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton speaks at the Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association brunch in Springfield in August 2024. She became the first high-ranking Democrat to formally announce her candidacy for U.S. Senate on Thursday, April 24, one day after Illinois’ senior U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin announced he would not run again after his term ends in 2026. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
State reports first measles case in southern Illinois
by Beth Hundsdorfer, Capitol News Illinois April 23, 2025 Editor's Note: This story and subtitle have been updated to reflect that more than 800 cases have been confirmed in 25 jurisdictions, not stat...
Apr 24, 2025 The first case of measles in Illinois has been confirmed since an outbreak of more than 800 cases first was reported in New Mexico and Texas earlier this year. (CDC via Unsplash.com)
South Central school district and area churches to begin LifeWise program
The South Central School District has agreed to work with churches within the school district to begin offering the LifeWise program. The stated goal is to provide positivity through a Bible-based cha...
Apr 24, 2025 South Central school board. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Rural Odin man gets six year prison term for unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon
A 40-year-old rural Odin man has been sentenced to six years in prison for unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. Blake Hills of Norton Road admitted having a 12-gauge shotgun in his possession a...
Apr 24, 2025 Blake Hills
