Category Archives: Local News

Police Beat for Saturday, April 23rd, 2022
State Police arrested a 76-year-old Salem man for alleged driving under the influence Friday evening. John Hayes of US 50 was taken to the Marion County Jail where he was later released. A 21-year-old...
Bruce Kropp Apr 23, 2022

Jury deliberates in Illinois guards' trial in fatal beating
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Federal prosecutors and defense attorneys offered starkly different explanations Friday for the fatal beating of an Illinois prison inmate four years ago in closing arguments ...
Bruce Kropp Apr 23, 2022 gt8073a / CC

Kentucky man sentenced to natural life in prison without parole for murder of Wayne County Deputy
A 40-year-old Kentucky man has been sentenced to natural life in prison without parole for the January shooting death of Wayne County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Riley. Ray Tate pleaded guilty last month to...
Bruce Kropp Apr 22, 2022 Ray Tate (Clinton County Sheriff's Department)

Centralia has four new patrolmen graduate from the Southwestern Illinois Police Academy at Belleville
The Centralia Police Department will get four more officers on the street Monday. The four, Christopher Jansen of Clinton County, Michael Dodson of Salem, and Nolen Beggs and Bret Winegarner of Centra...
Bruce Kropp Apr 22, 2022 Graduation Day for four new Centralia Police Officers. Left to right Bret Winegarner, Christopher Jansen, Chief Greg Dodson, Michael Dodson, and Nolen Beggs.

State's Attorney files misdemeanor battery charge against former City Council candidate
Marion County State's Attorney Tim Hudspeth has elected to file a misdemeanor battery charge against a former Salem City Council candidate involved in an incident outside Project Bread Meal Site in Sa...
Bruce Kropp Apr 22, 2022

Judge vacates more convictions linked to former Chicago cop
CHICAGO (AP) - A judge has thrown out 44 more convictions tied to a notorious former Chicago police sergeant who regularly framed people for drug crimes they didn't commit. Victim advocates say the ex...
Bruce Kropp Apr 22, 2022 Blogtrepreneur / CC

Crash kills 2 Southern Illinois students, Missouri woman
REYNOLDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) - Two Southern Illinois University-Carbondale students and a Missouri woman have died after their vehicles collided on a highway. Illinois State Police say the crash occurred ...
Bruce Kropp Apr 22, 2022

Centralia Police releasing details of Thursday night shooting and stabbing
Centralia Police are investigating a Thursday night shooting and stabbing that occurred on the opposite ends of town. Centralia Police Chief Greg Dodson says 30-year-old LaQuisha Lockett of Centralia ...
Bruce Kropp Apr 22, 2022 Centralia Police have identified 30-year-old Nathan Johnson of Centralia as a suspect in the Thursday night shooting of LaQuisha Lockett.

Salem Grade School Board approves SRO for three more years; will start fulltime transitional kindergarten
The Salem Grade School Board Thursday night approved a new contract to keep the School Resource Officer in place another three years and agreed to make transitional kindergarten fulltime starting next...
WJBD Staff Apr 22, 2022

Former St. Peter man arrested following two high speed motorcycle chases
A 30-year-old former St. Peter man faces multiple charges after two high-speed police chases while he was riding his motorcycle. Brandon Wells, who now resides in Robinson, first fled from Farina Poli...
Bruce Kropp Apr 21, 2022