Members of the community are invited to join in Saturday as work begins of the Harlem Globetrotter building wrap-around in Laura Leake Park. Artist and Designer Jamie Allen says the project has been in the works for a couple of years. "The entire building at Laura Leake Park will be wrapped completely in paint," Allen said. "We will have the Globetrotter colors, which is the red, white, blue, and some gold. We're going to have the five Globetrotters that are from Centralia on o...

The City of Salem hosts Family Fun Day in the Park in Bryan Memorial Park on Saturday. Recreation Director Jed Casburn says activity starts with the fishing derby for those 18 and under. Those wanting to participate should meet at 7:30 along the Salem Reservoir near Salem Township Hospital. Activity then moves to the area around the Aquatic Center Parking lot from ten to two. "We have around fifteen businesses and organizations helping us this year, which is phenomenal," Casburn s...

A 24-year-old Centralia man has been ordered held without bond after being charged in Marion County Court on Thursday with an incident where he chased a 14-year-old boy with a kitchen knife. Brandon Watkins of South Pine was charged with domestic battery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon following the Wednesday incident at his home. Centralia Police say Watkins became upset with the boy when he tried to break up a verbal argument between Watkins and his mother. Watkins allegedly g...

The cost of postage will jump on July 12th. The US Postal Service has announced the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp will rise from 78 to 82 cents. Metered one-ounce letters will increase from 74 cents to 78-cents. The July 12th rate charge includes an average 4.8-percent increase across mailing services.

Two people were injured in a two-vehicle crash at Broadway and Pine in Centralia Thursday morning. Centralia Police say 30-year-old Candis Pressley of State Route 161 in Kell failed to stop while southbound on Pine and collided with a car traveling westbound on Broadway driven by Cameos Balbino of Cedar Street in Salem. Pressley and a passenger in the Balbino car, 49-year-old Mendez Erasto also of Cedar Street in Salem, were injured and transported to SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital in Central...

Four people were arrested on domestic battery related charges on Thursday. Salem Police arrested 26-year-old Jackson Derixson of North Jackson in Salem for alleged aggravated domestic battery. Centralia Police arrested 29-year-old Trenton Kirgan of North Cherry in Centralia for alleged aggravated domestic battery. 22-year-old Emma Carpenter of Ridge Road in Centralia was arrested by Wamac Police for domestic battery and unlawful restraint. 44-year-old Kristi Beckman of "A" Street in...

by Jerry Nowicki, Capitol News Illinois June 4, 2026 Article Summary State Treasurer Mike Frerichs visited the Vatican this week with a gift for the pope: $8.65 of his own money. Frerichs administers the state's unclaimed property system, and the sum was in a PayPal account that the Chicago native has since closed. Any Illinoisan can check to see whether they have unclaimed property on the treasurer's website, illinoistreasurer.gov/. This summary was written by the reporters and editors who w...

by Jenna Schweikert, Nikoel Hytrek and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois June 4, 2026 Article Summary As lawmakers put their final touches on the budget, they passed dozens of other bills in a late-night session that are now heading to the governor. Among those bills are protections for kids in foster case, limitations on new detention centers and higher restitution for exonerees. Also included is a bill aimed at giving high schoolers the chance to register to vote in ...