by Brenden Moore, Capitol News Illinois December 9, 2025 Article Summary State lawmakers worked behind the scenes for weeks to craft a package to respond to the federal immigration campaign known as "Operation Midway Blitz." People attending court would be "privileged from civil arrest inside state courthouses and within a 1,000-foot buffer zone outside of the buildings. The law, among other provisions, would also allow Illinois residents to sue immigration agents who violate t...

A 52-year-old Sandoval man has been sentenced to a total of six years in prison after pleading guilty in Marion County on Tuesday to two separate possession of methamphetamine charges and driving on a revoked license. Michael Flanagan of Isle Street had additional charges of burglary and criminal trespass to a building on Jeff Road in rural Centralia that were filed along with one of the possession of methamphetamine charges dropped. In addition to the prison time, Flanagan will have to compl...

Central City Police arrested 31-year-old Zachary Roper of North Morrison in Central City for alleged domestic battery. He was taken to the Marion County Jail. Three others are being held on no bond felony Marion County failure to appear warrants. 31-year-old Lucas Hunter of East Liberty Road in Opdyke was arrested by Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputies and later transferred to Marion County. 47-year-old Amanda Hoffman of East 14th in Centralia was arrested by Wamac Police. 28-year-old Brita...

The Centralia City Schools Board of Education approved a resolution to support a twelve-year extension of Centralia's Tax Increment Financing District Three. Economic Development Director Rob Jackson and South Central Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commission Executive Director Luke Eastin spoke to the board about the benefits of the TIF promoting business development and revitalizing downtown Centralia. The city has been seeking support from each of the local taxing bodies for th...

Clinton County Coroner Phillip Moss says the decomposed body found in rural Centralia on October 10th has been identified as 57-year-old John Hunt of Centralia. Moss believes Hunt had been dead about a month before his body was found in an area off the Jolliff Bridge Road northwest of Centralia. Hunt was most likely homeless at the time, having been evicted from his residence with no income. He is believed to have died from environmental factors. Hunt had not been reported as missing. Moss ...

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has issued an updated standing order which adds Illinois public libraries to the list of locations that are permitted to keep a supply of opioid overdose reversal agents on hand, and to allow trained staff to administer them in the event of a suspected overdose on their premises. The revised standing order will make it easier for libraries to comply with new provisions of the Illinois Local Library Act which will take effect on January 1, 2026. ...

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is reminding customers that the state's winter weather rule is in effect from December 1 - March 31. The winter weather rule limits utilities from disconnecting eligible customers who use electric or gas as their primary source of home heating. "Illinois winters are known for frigid temperatures and frequent snowfall. The winter weather rule protects customers who might otherwise struggle to stay warm during the coldest months of the year," sai...

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Carlyle Lake will be performing boundary maintenance work from December 15, 2025, through January 9, 2026, on multiple sections of the boundary line at Carlyle Lake, specifically the area from Coles Creek Recreation Area to Boulder Recreation Area. The boundary line maintenance work will consist of uniformed Park Rangers walking the boundary lines, replacing signposts, identifying encroachments on government property, inspecting mowing permits, and clearing...