Local News

Rain on the way for today & tonight
Rain is headed our way today and tonight. Our forecast for today calls for rain--mainly this afternoon--with a high of 52. Then rain tonight with a low of 42. The rain should move on after tonight and leave us decreasing clouds on Sunday with a high of 56.
8h ago
Pekin Woman In Prison For Solicitation of Murder Appealing Conviction
(Pekin, IL) -- A Pekin woman who is in prison for solicitation of murder is appealing her conviction. Allison Salina pleaded guilty last year to asking an ex-boyfriend to kill her husband. She was sentenced to 16-years in prison. Salinas filed a motion last month to vacate the judge's decision in her case, claiming she...
8h ago

Sunny & Mild Today--Rain on the way Saturday & Saturday night--Warmer Temps on the way for next week
We will be sunny and mild today. We are looking at sunny skies for today with a high of 55. Then, partly cloudy skies for tonight with a low of 36. Meanwhile, it looks like we will have a rainy Valentine's Day on Saturday and Saturday night. Rain is likely in the afternoon on Saturday with a high of 51, then rain on ...
Feb 13, 2026

Vandalia Mayor talks about County's formation of Ambulance Overnight Committee, says City will help if they can
The issue of locking in ambulance service in Fayette County has been an issue for quite some time, and the Fayette County Board is hopeful they took a step towards making that happen with their formation of the Ambulance Oversight Committee. And, Vandalia Mayor Doug Knebel says they look to help be part of the solutio...
Feb 13, 2026
Attorney cites positive impact of corruption trials 1 year after ex-IL House speaker's conviction
One year after a jury convicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan on ten counts, a defense attorney who worked on the case says public corruption trials are worth the time and taxpayer expense. After a trial lasting more than four months, Madigan was found guilty of bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud and use o...
Feb 13, 2026
Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Administration From Cutting Public Health Grant Funding
(Chicago, IL) -- A federal judge is temporarily blocking the Trump administration from cutting more than 600-million-dollars in Public Health grants for Illinois and several other Democratic-led states. The judge issued the temporary restraining order yesterday, a day after Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined ...
Feb 13, 2026

Mostly Cloudy & Mild Today--Rain Chances increasing for the weekend
We will see cloudy skies but mild conditions today. We are looking at mostly cloudy skies for today with a high of 50. Then, mostly cloudy skies with a low of 30 for tonight. Meanwhile our chances of rain are increasing for the weekend. we have a chance of rain in the afternoon on Saturday, then rain is likely on Sat...
Feb 12, 2026

Vandalia Mayor talks about next steps for the Civic Advancement Committee
The first meeting is now completed and now the serious work for the re-established Civic Advancement Committee will begin. Tuesday was the introductory public meeting with a lot of pomp and circumstance and talking about positives that have taken place in the community in the past few years. Speaking on our podcast &q...
Feb 12, 2026
Individual addresses Fayette Co Board over fire that killed 30 to 35 dogs in January
An individual came before the Fayette County Board at their meeting on Tuesday night to address a fire that reportedly killed 3o to 35 dogs in January. In the early morning hours on Wednesday, January 21st Vandalia Fire Chief Zac Stombaugh reported they were called to a structure fire in the 200 block of East 1800 Aven...
Feb 12, 2026
Illinois GOP state reps call on Dems to stop taxing s'mores
Illinois House Republicans are calling on Democrats to oppose new tax proposals. State Rep. Dave Severin said House Bill 4459 would impose fees on backyard campfires, and House Bill 5112 would impose taxes on retail carryout bags. Moore said the prioritization of noncitizen expenditures cost Illinois taxpayers nearly $...
Feb 12, 2026
Illinois AG Sues Over Trump Administration Cutting Over $600M In Federal Public Health Grants
(Chicago, IL) -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is suing the Trump administration for cutting more than 600-million-dollars in Public Health grants. Raoul filed the lawsuit along with attorneys general from California, Colorado and Minnesota. The group claims the critical grant funding allows states to track dis...
Feb 12, 2026

Sunny & Mild Today--Chance of rain this weekend
Although not as warm as Tuesday, we will be sunny and mild today. We are looking at sunny skies for today with a high of 48. Then, increasing clouds for tonight with a low of 28. We will remain much the same with our temperatures for the remainder of the work week with clouds on Thursday but then back to mostly sunny...
Feb 11, 2026

Arnold Rivera Found Fit to Stand Trial in Death of Vandalia Teenager
A 43-year old Vandalia man has been found fit to stand trial following a hearing on Tuesday. After appearing via Zoom from Fayette County Jail, Arnold Rivera was present in the courtroom with the public defender Lucas Mette and States Attorney Brenda Mathis and it was confirmed that after a delay, the state and defense...
Feb 11, 2026
Fayette County Board forms Ambulance Oversight Committee
The Fayette County Board will again work on trying to help secure ambulance service in Fayette County. The County Board at their monthly meeting on Tuesday night, agreed to form the Ambulance Oversight Committee, which was originally suggested by Fayette County Emergency Management Agency Director Ryan Scott. He talks...
Feb 11, 2026

First Meeting of Re-Formed Civic Advancement Committee held
The first meeting of the re-formed Civic Advancement Committee was held on Tuesday. A large crowd was on hand at the Family YMCA of Fayette County for the meeting---which talked a lot about recent goings on and accomplishments in the community but didn't contain a lot of substance on what the committee's overall purpos...
Feb 11, 2026


















