Category Archives: Local News
BCMW Closes Centralia Head Start Center for Up to 30 Days
The Executive Director of the Social Service Agency BCMW has announced the Centralia Head Start Center will be closed for up to 30 days. The announcement comes after one of the Head Start teachers was...
Mar 10, 2026
Salem City Council Reviews Infrastructure Included in FY2027 Budget
The Salem City Council reviewed the sections of the budget Monday night that include infrastructure improvements during a second budget workshop. Roads as well as water and gas line improvements are a...
Mar 10, 2026 Budget work session at Salem City Hall. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Centralia City Council applies for grant for new fire engine
The Centralia City Council approved a resolution Monday night to seek a grant that would pay most of the cost of a new fire engine. The city is seeking a $1 million federal community project grant thr...
Mar 10, 2026
Mail in Ballots for Next Tuesday's Primary Should Go in Mail Tuesday (Today)
Marion County Clerk Steve Fox is joining other clerks around the state in recommending that you put your mail-in ballot in the mail no later than today to assure that it is postmarked by primary elect...
Mar 10, 2026 Marion County Clerk Steve Fox shows off voting equipment. (file photo)
South Central Illinois in Slight Risk Category for Severe Weather Wednesday Morning
Southern Illinois is in the slight risk category for severe weather when the latest storm system bringing in cooler air pushes into the region after four Wednesday morning. There is an elevated risk o...
Mar 10, 2026
'I didn't believe it': Illinois, Cook County wipe out $2B in medical debt for pennies on dollar
by Kaitlin Bender-Thomas and Medill Illinois News Bureau, Capitol News Illinois March 6, 2026 Article Summary Illinois and Cook County have erased more than $2 billion in medical debt combined for ove...
Mar 09, 2026 An example of the envelope mailed to eligible Illinois residents notifying them that their medical debt has been eliminated. (Medill Illinois News Bureau photo by Kaitlin Bender-Thomas)
Centralia BPW holds Equal Pay Day Rally in organization's 100th year
Centralia Business and Professional Women held an annual rally at the Centralia American Legion on Saturday for Equal Pay Day. Members turned out to express their support for closing the gender wage g...
Mar 09, 2026 Centralia BPW Equal Pay Day demonstrators at City Hall. Photo by Austin Williams.
Centralia City Council Monday Night to Vote on Seeking Grant for New Fire Truck
The Centralia City Council Monday night will be asked to approve a resolution to seek a federal community project grant through Congressman Mike Bost to purchase a new fire truck. City Manager Galen M...
Mar 09, 2026
Semi Fire on I-57 Closes Southbound Lanes North of Salem for Two Hours (updated 5 pm Monday)
The southbound lanes of I-57 between the Kinmundy and Salem exits were closed for about two hours Monday morning when a semi-trailer caught fire. The Salem Fire Protection District reports the driver ...
Mar 09, 2026 Salem and Odin Firemen fight a fire in a semi on I-57 a mile north of the U.S. 50 exit at Salem early Monday morning.
Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis Suspends Investigation into Carlyle Woman's Death
The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis has suspended its investigation into the death of a 41-year-old Carlyle woman found dead inside her home on Tuesday morning. The group says an autopsy and the...
Mar 09, 2026
