Category Archives: Local News
Committee advances bill to ban vehicle searches based on smell of cannabis
Legislation comes after state Supreme Court ruled burnt, raw cannabis odors are governed by different laws By BEN SZALINSKI Capitol News Illinois bszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com An Illinois Senate ...
Feb 22, 2025 A Senate committee advanced a bill that would end the state’s law requiring cannabis to be transported in an odor-proof container. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Campbell)
School insurance trust drops $7 million in the red
An insurance trust utilized by 80 school districts in the state, mostly in Southern Illinois, has fallen $7 million in the red due to higher-than-expected medical claims and drug costs. The Salem Grad...
Feb 21, 2025 Marco Verch Professional Photographer / CC
More renovation work planned this summer at Franklin Park Middle School
More renovation work is planned this summer at Franklin Park Middle School in Salem. Salem Grade School Superintendent Dr. Leslie Foppe says 30,000 square feet of carpeting in the 6th, 7th, 8th grade,...
Feb 21, 2025 Members of Fraklin Park Girls State Basketball Championship team visit the Salem Grade School Board Meeting Thursday night. Left to right: Coach Ashley Bolton, Kennedi Simmons, Lilli Meyers, Serenity Lund, Madi Spencer, Brynn Kessler, Braelan Knaak, Kenna Benjamin, Maci Susmena
Condemned mobile home destroyed by fire in Centralia
A condemned vacant mobile home was destroyed by fire Friday morning in Centralia. Centralia City Firemen say flames were coming through the roof of the home at 1403 South Elm upon their arrival just b...
Feb 21, 2025 Remains of a mobile home destroyed by fire in the 1400 block of South Elm. Photo by Tim Ferguson.
Marion County Jail Prisoner Has Aggravated Battery to Police Officer Charge Added
A 26-year-old prisoner at the Marion County Jail has been booked on an additional charge of aggravated battery to a police officer. Sheriff Kevin Cripps says Clifton Wallace is accused of kicking a co...
Feb 21, 2025 Clifton Wallace
Centralia Police release report on Tuesday crash that sent one to the hospital
Centralia Police say one person was taken to the hospital for treatment involving a crash involving two SUVs on Tuesday afternoon. Police report a vehicle driven by 64-year-old Kelley Stokes of Cedar ...
Feb 21, 2025
Odin Village Board Approves Queen of Hearts and Games of Chance
The Odin Village Board has approved an ordinance setting rules for Queen of Hearts and other games of chance. The ordinance will initially cover only two non-profit groups, the Odin Fire Protection Di...
Feb 21, 2025 Odin Village Hall (credit: Odin Village Hall Facebook page)
South Central School Board sets graduation dates
The South Central School Board has set high school and eighth grade graduation. High School Graduation will be Sunday, May 18th, at two pm. Middle School Graduation will be on May 15th at seven pm. Su...
Feb 21, 2025
Local High Schools Celebrate FFA Week
By Cole Wimberly FFA week is being celebrated by school districts this week all around Illinois and nationally. Local High School district's FFA programs have had a lot of fun events, and have announc...
Feb 21, 2025 Salem FFA members (left to right) Bailey Patten, Sydney Sherwin, Hannah Duncan, Ella Douglas, Cheney Clark, and AJ Wilkins.
Pritzker calls $55.2B budget 'responsible and balanced' - but warns Trump policies could upend it
Proposal shaves $1.2B from November spending estimate, doesn't include new income or sales tax By BEN SZALINSKI, PETER HANCOCK & JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SP...
Feb 20, 2025 Governor JB Pritzker delivers his State of the State and budget address before the General Assembly at the Illinois State Capitol, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/pool)
