SSM Health St. Mary's and Good Samaritan Hospitals have been awarded Kaskaskia College's Business and Industry Partnership Award. In the introduction, the college noted at Thursday night's annual awards program that for more than 50 years, the two hospitals have served as primary clinical training sites, playing an essential role in preparing generations of heath care professionals for the community. Centralia native, Kaskaskia College Graduate, and now President of the two hospitals, Damon H...

Kaskaskia College honored several of its faculty and employees at its annual awards program on Thursday night at the main campus. Breese Central High School Welding teacher Steven Ellis received the high school dual credit faculty award. Michelle Hill of the KC Dental Assisting Program received the Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Member Award. Professor of Cosmetology Kelli Malone received the Outstanding Full Time Faculty member. The Gary Davis Ethical Leadership Award was presented to Profes...

A new Class X felony charge of unlawful possession of 15 to 100 grams of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and the possession of the same amount of meth has been filed against a Centralia man in Marion County Court. 52-year-old Bryan Meskil of South Brookside in Centralia was arrested on April 1st. Meskil will face from six to 30 years in prison if he is found guilty of possession of meth with intent to deliver. He is expected to make his first court appearance on Friday afternoon.

A high-speed chase in Centralia Wednesday night went down one of the Centralia Municipal Airport runways. 47-year-old Christopher Beal of South Goodwin in Kinmundy eventually stopped on his own and was taken into custody on multiple traffic and drug charges. He was given a notice to appear for possession of 15 to 100 grams of methamphetamine, criminal damage and criminal trespass to airport property, aggravated fleeing police, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, speeding 35 mi...

A 44-year-old Louisville woman has been sentenced to four years in prison in Marion County Court after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of under five grams of methamphetamine. Melissa Schnepper of Blaire Township Lane will serve the time concurrently with prison terms handed down earlier in Fayette and Clay Counties.

The South Central School Board has increased the number of credit hours needed to graduate from 23 to 24. Principal Mike Koenke says the move will require students to take another course of their choice instead of having so much free time in their senior year. The board also learned of efforts to broaden the number of courses available at the high school. Koenke says four additional dual credit classes are being added next school year. "Our teachers have done a good job of increasing ...

The Salem Fire Protection District has a new engine designed to fight fires in hard-to-reach areas. Salem Township provided $10,000 of the total $25,000 cost. Township Supervisor David Coryell says the money came from interest earned by the township on its funds, with no tax money involved. "With us, it was the fact that the fire department had a need and serves in our district," Coryell said. "Not only will it affect the people of Salem Township but also surrounding areas that...

by Jerry Nowicki, Capitol News Illinois April 15, 2026 "Credit cards may not work for sales tax or tips starting July 1." By now, you've heard that claim, but whether it's true depends on who you ask. The ads - funded by the Electronic Payments Coalition of banks, credit unions and card companies - argue that Illinois lawmakers must repeal the state's first-in-the-nation Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, slated to take effect July 1. That law prohibits financial institutions from cha...