Category Archives: Local News
Judge closes Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center after 'facility in crisis' fails to meet new state standards
Staffing shortages contributed to decision to close facility on Dec. 31 By MOLLY PARKER Capitol News Illinois mparker@capitolnewsillinois.com This article was produced for ProPublica's Local Reporting...
Jan 04, 2024 The sun sets on the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center Monday, October 23, 2023 in Benton, Illinois. The facility and others like it across the state are under scrutiny for unsafe conditions and mistreatment of youth.
Salem man arrested on drug delivery charges
The Southeastern Illinois Drug Task Force has made another drug delivery arrest. 30-year-old Steven T. Bishop of South College Street Road was arrested at his home on Wednesday without incident on a w...
Jan 04, 2024
Marion County Sheriff sees increase in fraud and falling jail population in 2023
Marion County Sheriff Kevin Cripps says the population at the county jail is at its lowest number since the new jail opened and there was another jump in fraud cases in 2023. Overall, Cripps says othe...
Jan 04, 2024 Marion County Sheriff Kevin Cripps. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Attorney General says AI technology now being used to mimic voice of loved one in scams
Attorney General Kwame Raoul is urging Illinois residents to be aware of phone scammers potentially using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to mimic the voice of a loved one. Scammers have long used the pl...
Jan 04, 2024 Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.
Kaskaskia College to host Spring 2024 Enrollment Day on Saturday
As a new year begins, Kaskaskia College is offering a chance to help potential students easily register for classes. Kaskaskia College will hold a Special Saturday Enrollment Day at its main campus an...
Jan 04, 2024
Central City man makes first appearance in court on child pornography charges
A 30-year-old Central City man made his first appearance in Marion County Court Wednesday on ten counts of child pornography. The charges against Jason Howard of South Harrison Street accused him of h...
Jan 04, 2024
Alma man makes first appearance in Marion County Court on drug delivery charges
A 21-year-old Alma man appeared in Marion County Court for the first time Wednesday on four counts of unlawful delivery of drugs. Two of the counts against Hayden Harper of Public Highway accuse him o...
Jan 04, 2024
Centralia man gets 7-year prison term, but can stop it with successful completion of drug court
A 32-year-old Centralia man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for possession of a stolen motorcycle but has a chance to wipe out the sentence through successful completion of drug court. Mar...
Jan 03, 2024
Salem man gets three-year prison term for meth possession
A 44-year-old Salem man has received a three-year prison term after pleading guilty in Marion County Court to unlawful possession of five to 15 grams of methamphetamine. Ronald Potter of Watson Lane w...
Jan 03, 2024 Marion County Courthouse
Governor names new DCFS director
Former director Marc Smith will stay on until Feb. 1 By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The troubled state agency charged with the protection of abused and ...
Jan 03, 2024 Heidi Mueller, who previously served as the state’s director of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, was named director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services on Wednesday. (Capitol News Illinois file photo; Mueller image from the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice)