by Jackson Brandhorst and Saluki Local Reporting Lab, Capitol News Illinois May 13, 2026 Article Summary The Carterville School Board has indicated it intends to fire the assistant football coach and teacher charged with nine counts of criminal sexual abuse. John "Jake" Wakey is accused of sexually abusing students at Carterville High School over a period of years during the 2013-15 school years. Wakey can request a dismissal hearing and in the meantime has been suspended without pa...

by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois May 13, 2026 Article Summary Illinois' new budget offices lowered revenue projections for the upcoming fiscal year on Wednesday, citing growing economic uncertainty. The news comes as lawmakers are looking to finalize the fiscal year 2027 budget with less than three weeks left in the legislative session. Deputy Gov. Andy Manar warned the revisions show the state has little room for new spending beyond what Gov. JB Pritzker proposed in February. Rising u...

A 33-year-old Centralia man is being held in the Marion County Jail on drug, weapons and traffic charges following incidents the past two days involving Sandoval and Odin Police. Nathan Hale of South Hickory was arrested for two counts of fleeing and eluding police, possession and possession with intent to deliver between 15 and 100 grams of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, reckless driving, driving on a suspended or revoked license, along with other traffic...

The Marion County Sheriff's Department has a new deputy. 23-year-old Shawn Bailey who resides in rural southeastern was sworn in Wednesday and will begin the police academy at SWIC on Monday. Bailey is a graduate of Salem Community High School and went directly into the Army after graduation. Bailey replaces Isaak Hayes who recently joined the Salem Police Department.

A 24-year-old Salem man has been arrested for aggravated identity theft. Mason Becker of Julia Drive is accused of using a family member's identity between December and March to access accounts and allegedly steal over $1,000. Becker was arrested by Marion County Sheriff's Deputies Thursday night. He was held in the Marion County Jail pending a first court appearance

A 33-year-old Odin man has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to an escape charge. Kyle Obermeier of North Everett was charged in January 2025 when failing to report to the Marion County Jail to being serving time on a conviction for felony criminal damage to property. Obermeier was earlier sentenced to prison on two other cases. The time will run concurrently.

Judge Douglas Gruenke found probable cause to hold 21-year-old Shavonte Samuels of Centralia on nine charges, including first degree murder, following a preliminary hearing on Wednesday. Samuels was arrested in connection with the death of 19-year-old Steven McCary of Centralia in an April shooting in the 900 block of East Kell in Centralia. Other charges include attempted murder for gunshots that hit Lorenzo Williams of Centralia in the abdomen and Aaryanna Jackson of Centralia in the hair....

The Greater Centralia Chamber of Commerce has announced two special shaped balloons that will be making an appearance at Balloon Fest in Fairview Park in August. "Como Se Llama" a pink llama-shaped balloon will be sponsored by Kaskaskia College. "Boo!" a ghost-shaped balloon still awaits a sponsor. The Freedom Flight POW MIA balloon will also be returning sponsored by the VFW and American Legion. Attendees can expect the same number of hot air balloons with 34 pilots...

Sandoval Elementary School recognized the Students of the Month for May. The students were chosen because of their outstanding display of COURAGE, such as doing the right thing in the face of difficulty and being a leader not a follower. The assembly this month was sponsored by Pisces Pools and Spas. Those selected were Karter Avants, Remy Walta, Serenity Koch, Kyren Moore, Emersyn Matthews, Jaxon Back, Jaxon Stewart, Knox Purcell, Tawnee Felty, Jacobi Bockhol, Emery Engelhardt, Levi Murry...

Visitors will be able to enjoy updated lakefront cottages and the camp store at Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area in Clinton County starting May 21 in time for the traditional Memorial Day opening of the summer boating and camping season. Concessionaire Carlyle Cottages has taken over operation of the popular cottages and camp store. Work is underway on the pool at the site. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources updated the interiors of the cottages during the past six months with new...

Drew Sligar, a third-year student at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, was recently honored with a scholarship. Sligar is the son of Ms. Kathy Reynolds of Central City, Illinois. Sligar received the Dr. J. E. Salsbury Scholarship, awarded on the basis of financial need to a student with superior academics, initiative, perseverance, and potential for leadership. At the College of Veterinary Medicine, Sligar served as a student representative for Royal Canin, Elanco, an...

Four Marion County Fire Chiefs came before the County Board's Law Enforcement Committee Tuesday night to address rumors and concerns over the future direction of the county's Emergency Management Agency. Board Chair Steve Whritenour quickly jumped in to try to alleviate fears and explain EMA's plans under the new director, Andrew Strong, going forward. The concerns were over the county Emergency Management Agency's response when not being called, and rumors of the agency planning to duplica...