Category Archives: Local News
Salem Tourism hands out grants to help two local events
The Salem Tourism Commission has handed out grants to assist the Little Egypt Festival and the Salem Chamber of Commerce Applefest. The Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce will receive $10,000 for marke...
Aug 13, 2026 File: First responders at the front of last year's Little Egypt Parade. Photo by Rylan Lawson.
Centralia dumpster fire shoots flames high into the air; but doesn't spread
Centralia City Firemen say flames from a fire in a construction dumpster behind the 300 block of East Broadway were shooting high into the air when they were called to the scene. The business building...
Aug 13, 2026 Centralia City Fire Truck. File Photo.
Salem Firemen save shed from trash fire
The Salem Fire Protection District was called to an out of control trash fire that was threatening to burn down a small shed late Wednesday afternoon. Firemen upon arrival in the 2600 block of South W...
Aug 13, 2026
New bank coming to Salem
A new bank is coming to Salem, but it's a familiar name. Farmer's State Bank based in Hoffman with full-service facilities in Central City and Hoyleton has announced it will be opening a loan producti...
Aug 13, 2026 Farmer's State Bank Location in Salem. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Police Beat for Thursday, August 13th, 2026
A 19-year-old Salem man was arrested at the Marion County Courthouse on Wednesday and taken to the Marion County Jail to serve a 30 day sanction. Michael Shanafelt received the sanction for violation ...
Aug 13, 2026
Judge orders DCFS director to answer for repeated failures to release public documents in child death
by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois August 11, 2026 Article Summary The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services failed to comply with court orders to produce records related to the 202...
Aug 13, 2026 The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has been held in contempt of court for failing to produce documents related to the 2024 death of an 18-year-old girl who was in foster care. (Capitol News Illinois illustration)
Illinois will not change child vaccine guidelines after Trump executive order
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois August 12, 2026 Article Summary Illinois will not follow new vaccine guidelines that were part of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump. The state...
Aug 13, 2026 Remains / Depositphotos.com
2026 butter cow: 'Miles of Smiles' is State Fair's theme in celebration of Route 66
by Jerry Nowicki, Capitol News Illinois August 12, 2026 Article Summary The Illinois State Fair will run from Aug. 13 until Aug. 23, from 7 a.m. until midnight each day. JB Pritzker unveiled the state...
Aug 13, 2026 Illinois State Fair Queen Krista Phillips and Gov. JB Pritzker pose with the 2026 Illinois State Fair butter cow. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
34th Annual Cruz-In the Dam Car Show returns to Carlyle Lake
The public is invited to the 34th Annual Cruz-In the Dam Car Show Nationals on Friday, August 14, 2026, at Mariner's Village Resort in the Dam West Recreation Area in Carlyle, Illinois. More than 400 ...
Aug 13, 2026 Some of the 96 entries in last year's Little Egypt Festival Car Show.
Marion County Building Committee concerned about future use of Moose records storage building
The Marion County Board's Building Committee is concerned about the Moose building that holds records for county offices. The committee met in the building Tuesday night and were shown a number of pro...
Aug 12, 2026
