Category Archives: Local News
Raccoon Lake Association sets action plan for 2026
The Raccoon Lake Association has set an action plan for the coming year. President Tom Hawkins told the membership at a Thursday night meeting that focus areas will include lake cleanup, advocate for ...
Jan 16, 2026 File photo: Balloons over Raccoon Lake.
Salem Elementary School Board receives FY25 audit
The Salem Elementary School Board of Education heard the district's audit report at its regular meeting on Thursday, which showed the district remains in review status with a financial Profile Score o...
Jan 16, 2026
Police Beat for Friday, January 16th, 2026
Marion County Sheriff's Deputies arrested 29-year-old Dillon Webster of Cross Road in Salem for violation of an order of protection. He was taken to the Marion County to await a first court appearance...
Jan 16, 2026
Vandalia Statehouse to host Lincoln birthday celebration
The Vandalia Statehouse State Historic Site will celebrate President Abraham Lincoln's birthday and America's 250th anniversary with a free public event from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7 in the House ...
Jan 16, 2026 Vandalia Statehouse. Photo by Art Davis.
Open house celebrates end of 30-year real estate career for Chris Tanner
A large crowd was on hand to wish Chris Tanner of Salem well as his 30-year real estate career at Somer Real Estate came to an end on Wednesday. Tanner, who earlier retired as a Salem Police Sergeant,...
Jan 15, 2026 Stacey Russel and Chris Tanner at Tanner's retirement celebration. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Fire calls in Salem Fire Protection District up by 60 calls, led by grass and brush fires
The Salem Fire Protection District responded to 384 fire and rescue alarms last year, up 60 from the prior year. The department responded to a total of 42 structure fires, either within the Salem Fire...
Jan 15, 2026
Illinois unveils plan to transform state into national leader for older adults
The Illinois Department on Aging has released a decade-long blueprint to ensure the growing population of older Illinoisans can live dignified, engaged, productive, and meaningful lives at every stage...
Jan 15, 2026
Marion County Coroner waiting for further results to determine cause of death of two-month-old
Marion County Coroner Claude Howell says initial results from the autopsy completed on Wednesday were not conclusive on the cause of death of a two-month-old Salem girl who was pronounced dead in the ...
Jan 15, 2026
U.S. Supreme Court allows Mike Bost to challenge how Illinois counts mail-in ballots
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois January 14, 2026 Article Summary The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, a Republican from Murphysboro, can file a lawsuit to challenge Illin...
Jan 15, 2026 U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, a Republican from Murphysboro, speaks to reporters following an event at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July 2024. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Peter Hancock)
Top Democrats say they would consider small changes to Illinois' SAFE-T Act
by Ben Szalinski and Jerry Nowicki, Capitol News Illinois January 14, 2026 Article Summary JB Pritzker and House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch signaled they're open to amending the SAFE-T Act after a ...
Jan 15, 2026 House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, speaks to reporters outside his office on Oct. 15, 2025. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Peter Hancock)
