Category Archives: Local News
Prohibition on book bans, right to sue for 'deepfake porn' among new laws taking effect Jan. 1
By PETER HANCOCK, ANDREW ADAMS & JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com More than 300 new laws will take effect Jan. 1, ranging from a ban on book bans to the regulation ...
Dec 31, 2023 More than 300 laws are slated to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, including new regulations on driving, a ban on ideological book bans, an expansion of paid leave and another annual increase to the state’s minimum wage. (Capitol News Illinois illustration by Andrew Adams, photo by Jerry Nowicki)
Extreme drought spreads in South Central Illinois
The weekly Illinois Drought Monitor shows more of South Central Illinois has deteriorated into the extreme drought category even with some recent rains. The very small corner of South West Marion Coun...
Dec 30, 2023
Unemployment drops across South Central Illinois in November
The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports unemployment dipped across all of South Central Illinois in November. In Marion County, the rate dropped eight-tenths of a percent to 4.3 percent...
Dec 30, 2023 Eric Prouzet / Unsplash
Salem break up burglary in progress, man who tried to ride away on bike arrested
Salem Police arrested a 27-year-old Salem man on multiple charges after breaking up a burglary in progress Thursday morning. Dustin Taylor of Hotze Road was ordered held without bond on charges of bur...
Dec 30, 2023
Early Friday morning snow storm causes car to run off I-57 down embankment
The Marion County Sheriff's Department reports a 35-year-old Michigan man escaped with only minor injuries following a Friday morning crash blamed on the snowy conditions. Deputies report Jorge Quinta...
Dec 30, 2023
Salem Police report one tobacco retailer sells to minor during latest compliance check
Salem Police say one of the city's 14 tobacco retailers sold to a minor during a recent compliance check. Police say the Spirit Shoppe sold to an underage person used to test the businesses. Clerk Ste...
Dec 30, 2023 Lindsay Fox / CC
Police Beat for Saturday, December 30th, 2023
Salem Police arrested 33-year-old Chad Burgess of Salem Mobile Home Park for violation of an order of protection. He was taken to the Marion County Jail on Friday. Salem Police arrested 48-year-old Sa...
Dec 30, 2023
Illinois enacts law to legalizing fuzzy dice hanging from rearview mirrors
By DAVID A. LIEB and GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press Fuzzy dice finally will be free to dangle in Illinois. Starting Monday, police in Illinois no longer will be allowed to pull over motorists solely...
Dec 30, 2023 FILE - A selection of scented car air fresheners manufactured by the Car Freshener Company at it's headquarters and main plant located in Watertown, N.Y., are shown in this Feb. 23, 1996. Starting Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, police there no longer will be allowed to pull over motorists solely because they have something hanging from the rearview mirror on their windshield. That means air fresheners, parking placards and, yes, even those dice are fair game to hang according to a revised Illinois windshield rule. (AP Photo/Michael Okoniewski)
Centralia City Council approves increase in water and sewer rates
The Centralia City Council has approved an increase in water and sewer rates. The annual increase based on the consumer price index, which is 2.9 percent this year, was approved. In addition, the coun...
Dec 29, 2023 Centralia City Manager Kory Smith.
Centralia Pool Committee tells city council new outdoor pool not currently feasible
The Centralia Pool Committee made their final report to the city council Thursday night saying the city should not pursue a new outdoor pool at the present time. Committee member Amanda Marshall noted...
Dec 29, 2023 The old Fairview Park pool that has been torn out.