The City of Salem is scheduled to swear in its new city manager during Monday night's city council meeting. A reception to introduce Lisa Peck will begin at 5:30 Monday night prior to the six o'clock council meeting. With a very short agenda, the reception and meet and greet is expected to continue after the meeting. Peck is coming to Salem from Hannibal, Missouri where she has been city manager since 2019. In announcing her selection following a nationwide search, Salem officials cited he...

The City of Salem has announced several road closures for next week for pavement patching. The road closures will be for a minimum of 24 hours. Local traffic/residents will still have access. Monday, June 2nd: Road closures on Boone St. from College Ave. to Broadway Ave./IL 37, and both Bryan Memorial Park entrances off Boone St. Road. North College Avenue from Schwartz Street to Rogers Street will also be closed. Tuesday, June 3rd: Road closure on College Avenue from Warmoth Street to Po...

Spending plan raises over $1B in revenue; income, sales taxes not affected By BEN SZALINSKI & JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - Giving almost no time for public review, Illinois Democrats pushed through a $55.2 billion budget for next fiscal year late Saturday, bolstering coffers with new taxes on sports bets, nicotine products and businesses. The $55.2 billion spending plan is supported by $55.3 billion of revenue, including just over $1 billi...

Republicans object to coverage for asylum seekers, other noncitizens on special visas By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - Nearly every year, Illinois lawmakers pass a package of measures dealing with the state's Medicaid program, the joint federal and state health care program that covers low-income individuals. Known as the Medicaid omnibus bill, it sometimes includes bold components, like a 2021 initiative that made millions of dollars avail...

Marion County Sheriff's Deputies arrested 50-year-old Christopher Walker of East 13th in Junction City after he allegedly struck a vehicle at the residence with a sledgehammer. Walker was later released from the Marion County Jail on criminal damage to property and assault charges. Two others remained in the Marion County Jail on Sunday after being arrested in separate incidents for violating an order of protection. 25-year-old Matthew Boyce of Johnson Street in Centralia was arrested by Ce...

Senator says no new taxes on sales or income but full revenue plan is not yet public By BEN SZALINSKI & JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Democrats introduced what a leading budgeteer described as a $55 billion budget Friday evening ahead of a Saturday deadline to pass the fiscal year 2026 spending plan. The 3,363-page spending proposal was unveiled after 6 p.m. At the time the Senate's lead budget negotiator, Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chica...

A 29-year-old Centralia man has been sentenced to three years in prison after his drug court participation was earlier revoked. Anthony Hernandez of North Hickory received three sentences all to be served concurrently for domestic battery with a prior conviction, possession of methamphetamine, and a petition to revoke his probation on an earlier domestic battery conviction. As part of the agreement, three new charges filed against Hernandez in January for residential burglary, criminal tres...

A 49-year-old Salem man has been arrested by Marion County Sheriff's Deputies for domestic battery. John Treese remains in the Marion County Jail until a final decision on formal charges and a first appearance in court. Wamac Police arrested 59-year-old Allen Wilson of Dover Street in Centralia on a no-bond Marion County felony failure to appear warrant. 24-year-old Charie Brewer of East Broadway in Centralia was arrested by Centralia Police on a no-bond Marion County felony warrant. The Sal...