Category Archives: Local News
Two arrested after allegedly fighting with police following traffic stop in Wamac
Two Centralia residents were arrested on multiple felony counts after allegedly fighting with police following a Friday night traffic stop in Wamac. Three Centralia Police officers aided the Wamac off...
Jan 19, 2026
Monday Is Dr. Martin Luther King Day Holiday
Monday is the Dr. Martin Luther King Day Holiday. Most local, state, and federal governments are closed, there will be no home mail delivery, and financial institutions will be closed. While Centralia...
Jan 18, 2026
Illinois 'Clean Slate' law allows automatic sealing of nonviolent criminal records
Advocates say measure could affect 1.7M Illinoisians, allow people to reenter work force By MAGGIE DOUGHERTY Capitol News Illinois mdougherty@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary Illinois will begi...
Jan 18, 2026 State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, speaks about the Clean Slate legislation she championed at a Jan. 16, 2026, bill signing ceremony. (Screenshot from Illinois.gov)
Few fireworks as Illinois GOP governor hopefuls share stage for first time
The four Republican candidates trained their fire on Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois' immigration policies By BRENDEN MOORE Capitol News Illinois bmoore@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary The candi...
Jan 18, 2026 Ted Dabrowski pitches his candidacy for governor as his primary opponents – video gambling mogul Rick Heidner, former state Sen. Darren Bailey and DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick – listen during a forum sponsored by the Tazewell County Republican Party on Jan. 15, 2026. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Brenden Moore)
States say paperwork tied to $10B funding freeze is an intentionally 'impossible task'
Letters sent to the state cite unspecific claims of fraud and demand large amounts of documents to justify receiving benefits By NIKOEL HYTREK - Capitol News Illinois nhytrek@captiolnewsillinois.com S...
Jan 18, 2026 An excerpt of the lawsuit filed by five states against the federal government for its plan to freeze $10 billion in funding that helps to ensure access to child care. (Illustration by Capitol News Illinois, highlight added)
Recent postal service changes could disrupt mail-in voting, county clerks warn
Thousands of votes could be invalidated if not received in time By JENNA SCHWEIKERT & NIKOEL HYTREK Capitol News Illinois jschweikert@capitolnewsillinois.com nhytrek@capitolnewsillinois.com Articl...
Jan 18, 2026 Anthony Vega, Lake County Clerk, speaks to reporters at a news conference in Peoria. Vega, among other Illinois clerks, warned of disruptions to vote-by-mail processes due to new USPS changes. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jenna Schweikert)
Centralia High School announces May Fete Court
This year's Centralia High School May Fete King and Queen are Devin Meier and Hadley Marcum. The two were the top vote getters in student voting. The Senior Attendants are Rylee Dearing and Marques My...
Jan 18, 2026 Centralia High School May Fete Court.
Patoka Park Pavilion Now has Name as it Nears Completion
The new large pavilion in the Patoka Village Park now has a name. It will be named FNB Community Bank Pavilion following a $35,000 donation towards the cost of the $119,000 project. Mayor Stacy Hood s...
Jan 18, 2026 FNB Community Bank presents $35,000 check for Patoka Park Pavilion. Left to right?FNB Community representatives Jami Landreth, Tressa Alexander, and Randy Edwards, Bank President Steve Henna, Patoka Mayor Stacy Hood, and Patoka Village officials Brandi Meyer, Dylan Willis and Clinton Wood.
Commonwealth development continues with unveiling of five new apartments
The Centralia Commonwealth Development on East Broadway downtown continues with the unveiling of five new upstairs apartments. An open house of the apartments and a ribbon cutting by the Greater Centr...
Jan 16, 2026 Ribbon cutting in front of the Commonwealth. Photo by Pat Hodges.
Centralia City Manager says no hunting on Raccoon Lake or the city
Some who live along the portion of Raccoon Lake near Raccoon Creek are concerned about guns being shot near their homes by hunters. Raccoon Lake Association President Tom Hawkins told the association ...
Jan 16, 2026 File: Centralia city manager Galen Mahle. Photo by Austin Williams.
