Category Archives: Local News
Democratic congressional candidate looks to challenge Mike Bost on meeting the needs of southern Illinois
One of the candidates featured at the Southern Illinois Democratic Candidate Reception on Thursday was Julie Fortier, who is seeking to challenge incumbent Mike Bost to represent Illinois' 12th congre...
Dec 05, 2025 Julie Fortier, Democratic candidate for Illinois' 12th congressional district, speaks at the Southern Illinois Democrat Candidate Reception on Thursday. Photo by Austin Williams.
US Senate candidate stops in Centralia on his way to visit every county in Illinois
Kevin Ryan is a public school teacher, Marine Corps veteran, and one of several candidates in a crowded Democratic primary race for the US Senate seat that will be vacated by retiring senator Dick Dur...
Dec 05, 2025 Democratic US Senate candidate Kevin Ryan speaks at the Southern Illinois Democratic Candidate Reception at Castle Ridge on Thursday. Photo by Austin Williams.
Police Beat for Thursday, December 5th, 2025
Marion County Sheriff's Deputies arrested 55-year-old Marjorie Woodward of Hoots Chapel Road in Salem on an outstanding Marion County felony failure to appear warrant. Centralia Police arrested 34-yea...
Dec 05, 2025
Bond County man sentenced to 26 years in prison on child pornography and weapons charge
A 44-year-old Pocahontas man has been sentenced to 26 years in prison in Bond County Court at Greenville on child pornography and weapons charges. The case against Kyle Bradbury is part of Attorney Ge...
Dec 05, 2025 Blogtrepreneur / CC
Centralia Man Formally Charged in Child Porn Case; Order Held Without Bond
A 39-year-old Centralia man has been ordered held without bond after being charged in Marion County Court on Friday with four Class X counts of dissemination of child pornography. Thomas Jones of the ...
Dec 05, 2025
Salem Community Band and Choir plan Friday and Saturday shows
The Salem Community Band and Choir will present their Christmas Concert this Friday and Saturday nights at the Salem Theatre. Debbie Woodward, who heads the program, says the story this year is the gr...
Dec 04, 2025
Salem Recreation Department plans Christmas activities both Friday and Saturday
The Salem Recreation Department will host a Christmas Carnival and Christmas on Broadway this Friday and Saturday. Recreation Director Jed Casburn says the Christmas Carnival will be held at the Salem...
Dec 04, 2025 File photo: Santa arrives by fire truck on Sweney Corner to greet kids waiting to talk to him. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Centralia Man Arrested on Child Pornography and Distribution of Explicit Digital Materials
A 39-year-old Centralia man has been arrested for alleged child pornography and non-consensual dissemination of explicit digital materials. Thomas Jones of Dean Street was arrested at his place of emp...
Dec 04, 2025
Upcoming book explores 50-year-old Centralia cold case
In May 1975, the body of Centralia resident John Shakespeare was found in his basement, killed by a single gunshot to the head. More than fifty years later a new book, The Murder of John Shakespeare: ...
Dec 04, 2025 Image Source: Arcadia Publishing
Illinois unveils plans to celebrate 250 years of American independence
by Maggie Dougherty, Capitol News Illinois December 3, 2025 Article Summary The Illinois America 250 Commission is gearing up to organize programming across the state to celebrate the anniversary of t...
Dec 04, 2025 Gabrielle Lyon, chair of the Illinois America 250 Commission and executive director of Illinois Humanities speaks about the commemoration plans at Navy Pier on Dec. 3. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Maggie Dougherty)
