by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois October 14, 2026 Article Summary JB Pritzker and Darren Bailey met for the only scheduled forum of the election cycle on WTTW. The event was dominated by interruptions and accusations by the candidates about each other's records. Federal issues received a lot of attention, leading Bailey to say he was focused on issues in Illinois while Pritzker mounts a presidential campaign. This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this stor...

A 45-year-old Kinmundy man has been found not guilty by a Marion County jury for aggravated criminal sexual abuse and domestic battery to a girl under 18 years of age between March 1st and June 17th, 2024. The victim claimed William Magnusson, who was a person in a position of trust or supervision, knowingly touched her breast. She testified to the incident, but Magnusson's wife said the victim had later recanted her story to her. Magnusson did not take the stand. The jury deliberated about ...

62-year-old Centralia woman has been arrested by Wamac Police for attempting to disarm a peace officer, resisting/obstructing a police officer resulting in injury and aggravated battery to a police officer. Police were initially called to the Blue Goose Liquor store where Terri Walton of Hester Street had allegedly refused to leave. Walton then allegedly refused to give police identification and began coming towards the officer. Later, Walton is accused of trying to grab the officer's gun. ...

A 49-year-old Centralia man has been charged with alleged grooming and indecent solicitation of a child after allegedly asking what he believed to be a 14-year-old boy to commit a sex act with him. But Kent Gabriel of East Second was actually talking to a member of Predator Poachers on an app used to meet people. After Gabriel allegedly had explicit conversation with the person he believed to be the 14-year-old, he allegedly invited the person to meet at his home. When Predator Poachers arri...

One person was injured and another refused treatment when a car ran off northbound I-57 five miles south of Salem early Thursday morning. Initial information indicates the car traveled through the median where it had some contact with tree, crossed both southbound lanes and came to rest on the right southbound shoulder. Salem Firemen completed minor extrication. State Police are handling the crash that was reported at 5:30 Thursday morning.

Both drivers were injured in a head-on crash on Wednesday afternoon on the Selmaville Road at the curve near the Red Stripe Road intersection southwest of Salem. Initial information from the Marion County Sheriff's Department indicates a southbound car driven by 38-year-old Ruvina Becerra of Rantoul lost control when hitting an oil patch on the road and crossed into the northbound lane where she collided head on with 52-year-old Kevin Gramlick of South Oak in Patoka. Gramlick was transported ...

Centralia Police have arrested a 27-year-old Centralia woman on outstanding no bond Marion and Clinton County warrants. Lauren Biegeleisen was taken to the Marion County Jail to await a court appearance. 49-year-old Michael Ramey of South Poplar in Centralia was arrested at the probation office on an outstanding Clinton County no bond felony warrant. 54-year-old David Rivera of East Rexford in Centralia was arrested by Centralia Police on a Marion County no bond misdemeanor warrant. 55-year-...

The City of Salem Public Works Department has announced that the City Wide Clean Up will be held the week of Monday, October 19, 2026. The City's residential trash hauler, Sunrise Sanitation, will collect items on your REGULARLY scheduled TRASH DAY ONLY. Acceptable items include furniture/large items: no more than (3) three items; chair/recliner; sofa; couch (each section of a sectional is a separate item); desk; table; bookshelf; dresser; mattress/boxspring (wrapped in plastic); patio furnit...