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Local News

A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging two Chinese Nationals with offenses related to operating five illicit massage businesses, including Centralia, Mt. Vernon, and Vandalia. 57-year-old Jianhong Hu Allbright of Shoals, Indiana, and 25-year-old Yalong Cao of Schaumburg, Illinois, are each facing one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the U.S. and one count of money laundering conspiracy related to employees engaging in prostitution at the Oriental Home Spa &...
12h ago
The first of the replacement seats for the refurbishing of the Salem Community Theatre have arrived. They are being stored until other parts of the project can be completed. That includes removal of the current seats. Theatre Chair Drew Johnson says everyone is being asked to lend a helping hand in removing the old seats on Sunday. "This Sunday the 20th, starting at noon to an unknown time, were taking anybody who wants to volunteer. You don't have to be very tech savvy or anything. It's...
12h ago
Centralia Police will have a meeting with management of One Hope United on Friday to seek a solution to about a half dozen residents who have been arrested multiple times for alleged attacks on staff and crimes at Centralia businesses. Police Lieutenant Steve Whritenour says the situation cannot continue because it is taking too much police resources. He says after the juvenile girls are charged with crimes, many times they are released right back to the Centralia One Hope campus where they c...
13h ago
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois July 14, 2025 Article Summary Gov. JB Pritzker signed an executive order requiring state agencies to come up with plans to respond to tariffs. President Donald Trump is set to implement new tariffs after previously pausing them for three months. The order requires agencies to evaluate impacts on costs, the availability of supplies, and the ability to complete projects within a given timeline. This summary was written by the reporters and editors who wor...
Jul 15, 2025
by Hannah Meisel, Capitol News Illinois July 14, 2025 Article Summary Former Commonwealth Edison executive John Hooker has been sentenced to 18 months in prison in addition to a $500,000 fine - the first of the "ComEd Four" to face sentencing after their 2023 convictions. A jury found Hooker and his co-defendants guilty of bribing ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan with jobs and contracts for his political allies at the electric utility while the company was pushing for legis...
Jul 15, 2025
Salem Community High School Students can now complete online registration for the coming school year. It is available at salemhigh.com through the Skyward Family Access. Students have until Monday, August 4th to complete registration. Students new to the district, excluding pre-registered freshmen, should call the Student Services Office at 548-0727 starting Monday, August 5th , for an appointment. Students who have withdrawn from school and would like to re-enter should have their parents ca...
Jul 15, 2025
Two great grandsons of William Jennings Bryan visited his birthplace museum in Salem on Monday. Both William Forsyth and William Jennings Bryan Forsyth were impressed with what has been to improve the home, noting it looked much better than when they were last here 15 years ago. "Fabulous, what a great job. Like I said, this looks just impressive. I recall it being smaller and kind of musty, but it's a real museum", says Forsyth. The two are on their way to Dayton, Tennessee to watc...
Jul 15, 2025
Centralia Police have arrested four 16 and 17-year-old female juveniles from One Hope United following two separate incidents overnight. Three were arrested after entering Five Star Tobacco and Vape on North Elm, going behind the counter, grabbing different vapes, and shoving an employee out of the way. They were taken into custody for robbery and mob action about a block away when police arrived. A 17-year-old One Hope resident was arrested for criminal trespass to property after allegedly t...
Jul 15, 2025