Category Archives: Local News
Salem man pleads guilty in federal court to bank robbery
A 61-year-old Salem man has entered a guilty plea in US District Court at Benton to a bank robbery charge. Earl Morlan is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13th. Morlan was charged in connection with...
Dec 07, 2023
State health plan declares racism a public health crisis
Advocacy groups say 'Healthy Illinois 2028' is missing key areas of focus By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois draju@capitolnewsillinois.com A new state health report pinpoints racism as a public he...
Dec 07, 2023
Police Beat for Thursday, December 7th, 2023
Centralia Police have arrested 34-year-old Blake Finney of South Perrine Street in Centralia for alleged aggravated domestic battery. He was taken to the Marion County Jail. Centralia Police have arre...
Dec 07, 2023
Centralia church minister arrested on child pornography charges
A 39-year-old Centralia minister has been charged in Marion County Court with four counts of child pornography. Ian Maphet of Edgewood Lane was taken into custody by Centralia Police at the Calumet St...
Dec 07, 2023
Marion County Board votes for no increase in tax levy following taxpayer complaints about rising assessments
The Marion County Board has voted 11-3 to not raise its tax levy for next year's property tax bills. The vote came after about two dozen taxpayers filled the board room to complain about what some cal...
Dec 07, 2023 A packed Marion County Board room Tuesday night to protest any increase in the county's property tax levy. The board eventually voted against any increase. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
115-mile police chase up I-57 results in $250,000 drug bust
A Los Angeles, California man was found in possession of a large amount of drugs following a 115-mile-long police chase on I-57 from near Marion to Effingham through the local area. The Williamson Cou...
Dec 06, 2023 Williamson County Sheriff's Deputies with seized drugs following 115 mile chase up I-57 from Marion to Effingham.
Crackdown planned on heavy trucks using Skillet Fork Bridge on Route 161 Extension
Both the Marion County Sheriff's Department and State Police plan a crackdown on trucks crossing the structurally compromised Skillet Fork Bridge on the Route 161 Extension. Marion County Highway Engi...
Dec 06, 2023 Marion County Highway Engineer Mike McCormick
Pritzker says goal is to send free books to all children, ages 0-5
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - Illinois families with infants and toddlers now have access to free children's books that can be sent directly to ...
Dec 06, 2023 Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at an event in Bloomington on Tuesday to officially announce the statewide launch of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which provides monthly books to children under five regardless of their income. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Campbell)
Vandalia Statehouse to host candlelight tours and open house on Dec. 9
VANDALIA - The Vandalia Statehouse State Historic Site, the oldest surviving capitol building in Illinois, will host public candlelight tours the evening of Saturday, December 9th as part of the site'...
Dec 06, 2023 Vandalia Statehouse. Photo by Art Davis.
Centralia man draws two year prison term on probation violation
A 57-year-old Centralia man has been sentenced to two years in prison after his probation was revoked on a conviction for felony criminal trespass to a residence. Robbie Dabney of Howard Street will s...
Dec 06, 2023
