Category Archives: Local News
Centralia man gets 30-year prison term for child pornography
A 39-year-old Centralia man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after entering a negotiated plea in Marion County Court to two counts of child pornography. Thomas Jones of Dean Street was sentenc...
Jan 30, 2026
Centralia Man charged with five counts of child sexual abuse material
A 58-year-old man who has lived in the Salem and Effingham area most recently has been charged in Marion County Court with five Class X charges of child sexual abuse material. Michael Greer is accused...
Jan 30, 2026
Truck fire closes north bound I-57 at Ina exit for three hours
A tire blowout is believed to have started a fire that destroyed a semi trailer and part of the attached cab on I-57 at the Ina exit Thursday night. Jefferson Fire Officials say the trailer was loaded...
Jan 30, 2026
Kinmundy man sentenced to three years in prison for domestic battery
A 28-year-old Kinmundy man has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty in Marion County Court to felony domestic battery. Tyler Davidson of West Moultrie Street has already plead...
Jan 30, 2026 Blogtrepreneur / CC
Mt. Vernon man gets 15-year sentence for aggravated arson
A 34-year-old Mt. Vernon man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for aggravated arson. Zackery Roberts was found guilty of the charge during a jury trial last November. Roberts was charged in con...
Jan 30, 2026 Blogtrepreneur / CC
Police Beat for Friday, January 30th, 2026
Two people were arrested Thursday on no bond felony failure to appear warrants. 57-year-old Stacy Kniser was arrested by Centralia Police. She indicated she was homeless and lived in Centralia. 28-yea...
Jan 30, 2026
New SNAP work requirements go into effect Feb. 1, threatening recipient eligibility
by Jenna Schweikert and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois January 28, 2026 Article Summary H.R. 1, or the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law last July, changes the wor...
Jan 29, 2026 Fruits and vegetables are pictured at a County Market grocery store in Springfield. The items are eligible for purchase under the federal SNAP program. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Campbell)
Illinois vs. Trump: one lawsuit a week
by Brenden Moore, Capitol News Illinois January 28, 2026 Article Summary Illinois has filed or joined 51 lawsuits against the Trump administration between January 2025 and January 2026, challenging a ...
Jan 29, 2026 Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul discusses a lawsuit against the federal government at a news conference in January 2025. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams)
Group challenges Illinois' restrictions on using 'Democrat,' 'Republican' in org names
by Jenna Schweikert and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois January 29, 2026 Article Summary The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression filed a lawsuit on Tuesday to ove...
Jan 29, 2026 Alexi Giannoulias, now the Illinois secretary of state, speaks at a Democratic Party event in 2021. He’s being sued over a 40-year-old law governing which companies can use the word “Democrat” or “Republican” in their name. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
Salem Township Hospital Board learns $17-million project is 'on budget and on time'
Salem Township Hospital CEO Jim Timpe reported to the hospital board Wednesday afternoon that the $17-million renovation and expansion project is 'on budget and on time'. The timeline is for the expan...
Jan 29, 2026 Salem Township Hospital President/CEO James Timpe. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
