Category Archives: Local News
Police Beat for Friday, May 15th, 2026
A 32-year-old Centralia man, Nathan Felton of South Hickory, was arrested by Centralia Police for violation of an order of protection. He was taken to the Marion County Jail. 35-year-old Blake Lane of...
May 15, 2026
Marion County Jury Trial Ends with Questioning of 1st Potential Juror
A Marion County jury trial for a Vernon woman charged with arson ended quickly on Thursday when a mistrial was declared while the first juror was being questioned to be put on the panel. Instead of gi...
May 15, 2026 File photo: Marion County Courthouse.
School board moves to fire Carterville coach charged with criminal sexual abuse
by Jackson Brandhorst and Saluki Local Reporting Lab, Capitol News Illinois May 13, 2026 Article Summary The Carterville School Board has indicated it intends to fire the assistant football coach and ...
May 14, 2026 The sun sets on the press box at the Lions Field football stadium at Carterville High School. (Photo by Lylee Gibbs/Saluki Local Reporting Lab)
Illinois' budget picture tightens in final stretch amid economic uncertainty
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois May 13, 2026 Article Summary Illinois' new budget offices lowered revenue projections for the upcoming fiscal year on Wednesday, citing growing economic uncerta...
May 14, 2026 Senate Revenue Committee Chair Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, listens to a budget update from Department of Revenue Director David Harris on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
Centralia Chamber of Commerce Announces Two Special Shaped Balloons and Updates Other Plans for Balloon Fest
The Greater Centralia Chamber of Commerce has announced two special shaped balloons that will be making an appearance at Balloon Fest in Fairview Park in August. "Como Se Llama" a pink llama-shaped ba...
May 14, 2026
Centralia Man Arrested on Multiple, drug, weapons and traffic charges
A 33-year-old Centralia man is being held in the Marion County Jail on drug, weapons and traffic charges following incidents the past two days involving Sandoval and Odin Police. Nathan Hale of South ...
May 14, 2026
Marion County Sheriff's Department Gets New Deputy
The Marion County Sheriff's Department has a new deputy. 23-year-old Shawn Bailey who resides in rural southeastern was sworn in Wednesday and will begin the police academy at SWIC on Monday. Bailey i...
May 14, 2026
Salem Man Charged with Aggravated Identity Theft
A 24-year-old Salem man has been arrested for aggravated identity theft. Mason Becker of Julia Drive is accused of using a family member's identity between December and March to access accounts and al...
May 14, 2026
Odin Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison
A 33-year-old Odin man has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to an escape charge. Kyle Obermeier of North Everett was charged in January 2025 when failing to report to the Ma...
May 14, 2026
Probable Cause to Hold Centralia Man on Murder and Multiple Other Charges
Judge Douglas Gruenke found probable cause to hold 21-year-old Shavonte Samuels of Centralia on nine charges, including first degree murder, following a preliminary hearing on Wednesday. Samuels was a...
May 14, 2026 Shavonte Samuels
