OLNEY - After an investigation at the request of the Olney Police Department (OPD) and Richland County Sheriff's Office (RCSO), the Illinois State Police arrested 25-year-old Dylan M. Jones of OLNEY, IL in connection with a double homicide. On July 7, 2026, at approximately 3:11 p.m., OPD and RCSO officers responded to...

We are looking at showers and thunderstorms for today and tonight and severe storms are possible over the area. Today's forecast calls for showers and storms likely late this afternoon with otherwise mostly sunny skies today with a high of 90. Then, a chance of showers and storms tonight--with the possibility of heavy...

The 95th annual Fayette County Fair kicks off 6 days and nights of activities today. The carnival will be open from 5 pm to 10 pm today. Other activities will include the Fair Parade at 7 pm, the band Morning After performing live at 8 pm with bingo also at 8 pm. Among the other events for today include the Youth Pai...

The City of Vandalia has announced their winners in the America's 250 Decorating Contest--- For Homes-- 1st place-Joe & Brenda Sprague 2nd place-Jeremy White 3rd place-Deanna Clark For Businesses-- 1st place-Pisces Pools & Spas 2nd place-Beauty Mark 3rd place-Hecht Chevrolet

A good crowd turned out at the Vandalia Statehouse on Wednesday night for the reading of the Declaration of Independence on the 250th anniversary of the event, with such events being held around the country on Wednesday night. The night concluded with the singing of "Happy Birthday" to the nation, church bell...

An Illinois state representative faces multiple counts of wire fraud and providing a false statement, according to a federal indictment released Tuesday night. State Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, was charged with eight counts of wire fraud surrounding an alleged kickback scheme involving campaign contributions. She was ...

Recently released data from the U.S. Census Bureau revealed Illinois has seen outsized shifts in its population by age demographic when compared to the national average. The population of young residents in the state is decreasing at a rate multiple times the national average. According to Bryce Hill, senior director o...

(Princeton, IL) -- The Illinois State Police is releasing video of a hostage situation in May that resulted in an officer involved shooting in Bureau County. The footage shows officers on May 10th responding to a home in Princeton, where Anthony Rodriguez was armed with a knife and holding several people hostage. Offic...

As part of America's 250th Birthday Celebration, there will be a special reading of the Declaration of Independence this evening at the Vandalia Statehouse. The event will start at 4:30 pm with music performed by Lady Liberty with the program to begin at 5 pm. Then, there will be a community reading of the Declaration...

We have a chance of a shower or storm today. We do have a chance of showers or storms today, but we'll otherwise see mostly sunny skies with a high of 86. Then, a chance of showers and storms for tonight with a low of 69. Meanwhile, bigger chances of showers and thunderstorms come back into the forecast on Thursday an...

The Fayette County Sheriff's Office is warning the public of a scam involving an individual identifying themselves as a Deputy. In a social media post, the Fayette County Sheriff's Office says they have been made aware of a scam involving an individual identifying themselves as a Fayette County Deputy. The individual c...

You continue to see posts about it all over the place--whether it's national, regional or local. And, there are rumors in the community that just about every construction project in the area is one. But, Vandalia Mayor Doug Knebel once again clears it up---there is no talk at this time about a data center locating in...

Voters in seven Illinois counties have a chance to join 33 others that approved referendums to consider forming a new state apart from Cook County. Ballot measures will be considered this November in Coles, Gallatin, Hamilton, Henderson, Macoupin, Monroe and Saline counties. State Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, sai...

Illinois income tax and sales tax receipts are up for the fiscal year that ended on June 30. Major components of the Illinois Flash Economic Index for June 2026 showed year-over-year increases. Fred Giertz, emeritus professor of economics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, said individual income tax revenu...

The Illinois State Police is investigating a double homicide in Olney. In a news release from the Illinois State Police, it states the Olney Police Department and Richland County Sheriff's Office requested the Illinois State Police investigate two homicides in Olney. On Tuesday at about 3:11 pm, officers responded to t...