Category Archives: Local News
Centralia approves new collective bargaining agreements with police unions
The Centralia City Council approved new agreements on Monday night with unions representing Centralia's patrolmen and dispatchers, awarding significant starting pay increases with the hopes of improvi...
Feb 10, 2026
Taxpayers could be on the hook for millions in cleanup costs from old oil and gas wells
by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois February 9, 2026 Article Summary A new report suggests Illinois could be on the hook for plugging and cleaning up thousands of inactive and abandoned oil and ga...
Feb 10, 2026 An oil well pumpjack is pictured. (Photo by arcturusangel at Morguefile.com)
22 Year Sponsorship for Red Cross Blood Drive Comes to an End for Franklin Park Teacher on Wednesday
What started as a one-time idea 22 years ago will conclude on Wednesday for a Franklin Park Middle School Science Teacher in Salem who retired this year. Joni Dorff says the blood drive has become par...
Feb 09, 2026 File photo: Visitors showed up to give blood at the 2024 7th grade blood drive at Franklin Park School.
Caritas Family Solutions Opens First Community Youth Shelter in Southern Illinois
Caritas Family Solutions has announced the opening of its Community Youth Shelter, providing short-term stabilization and support for youth in Southern Illinois. The shelter is funded by the Illinois ...
Feb 09, 2026
Two new police contracts before Centralia City Council would give big starting pay increases
Centralia City Manager Galen Mahle says new three-year contracts before the Centralia City Council Monday night would give big starting pay increases to police patrolmen and telecommunicators. Mahle s...
Feb 09, 2026
Shed Destroyed by Fire in Royal Lakes Neighborhood South of Odin
A 12 by 12 foot shed was destroyed by fire in the Royal Lake neighborhood south of Odin early Monday morning. Odin Fire Chief Greg Smith says the building was engulfed in flames upon the arrival of fi...
Feb 09, 2026
Truck driver injured when rig leaves I-57 near Kinmundy exit
State Police say a truck driver was injured when her rig left southbound I-57 near the Kinmundy exit Sunday afternoon. A preliminary investigation indicates the trucker reportedly veered off the roadw...
Feb 09, 2026 ISP FILE PHOTO: An Illinois State Police squad car is pictured in a file photo.(Capitol News Illinois file photo by Jerry Nowicki)
One person injured in crash at 2nd and Poplar in Centralia (this story has been corrected and updated)
Centralia Police say one person was injured and one of the drivers was arrested for alleged driving under the influence when two cars collided at 2nd and Poplar in downtown Centralia Friday night. Pol...
Feb 09, 2026
Police Beat for Monday, February 9th, 2026
Centralia Police arrested 39-year-old Eric Jordan of South Maple Street in Centralia on an outstanding no bond Marion County misdemeanor warrant. Jordan was taken to the Marion County Jail to await a ...
Feb 09, 2026
Vacant Wamac Home Heavily Damaged by Fire
A vacant Wamac home was heavily damaged in an early Sunday morning fire. The home at 1212 Dover Street in Wamac was heavily involved with flames through the roof when firefighters arrived on the scene...
Feb 08, 2026
