Local News

Partly Sunny Today--Chance of Rain coming early Sunday morning
We will see partly sunny skies and just a bit warmer today. We will see partly sunny skies for today with a high of 38. Then, cloudy skies for tonight with a low of 31. We have a chance of rain early on Sunday morning and continuing until about noon on Sunday with a high of 38. Originally, there was a chance of snow ...
20h ago

Sunny & Warmer Today, Chance of Snow early Sunday morning
It is not often we will refer to getting above freezing as a "warm up," but today is one of those days. We will see sunshine today and a high of 35. Then, mostly cloudy skies for tonight with a low of 26. Saturday will be much the same as today around the area. We do have a chance of snow. The forecast says...
Dec 05, 2025

Vandalia Mayor says they will look more into the social media "lists" and also work on promoting their events better
We've all seen the lists that pop up on social media and other places---"10 best small town downtowns in Illinois" or something like "10 best small town weekend getaways in Illinois." Speaking on this week's podcast "Talking about Vandalia," Mayor Doug Knebel says he's not sure how those ...
Dec 05, 2025

Sen Plummer says Youth Advisory Council great way to bring students together to work on some common goals
We hear more today from State Senator Jason Plummer, who held his annual Youth Advisory Council in Vandalia this week at the Kaskaskia College-Vandalia Campus. Senator Plummer says there are several levels that make up the event. Students from all 11 counties of Senator Plummer's Senate district broke into different g...
Dec 05, 2025
Maroa Man Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For Lighting Girlfriend On Fire
(Maroa, IL) -- A Maroa man is going to prison for lighting his girlfriend on fire last year. Matthew Broadhacker was sentenced to 20-years after pleading guilty to attempted murder. Police say Broadhacker was arrested after police found the victim with burn injuries in a Maroa home in September 2023. The woman was tran...
Dec 05, 2025
Massey Commission Releases Final Report
(Springfield, IL) -- The Massey Commission is unveiling its final report. The commission was formed after the shooting death of Sonya Massey last year in Springfield by former Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson. The report reveals recommendations designed to prevent a similar incident from happening again. T...
Dec 05, 2025

Partly Sunny & Cold Today---Very Cold Tonight---A "Warm Up" Coming on Friday & Saturday
We will see our coldest day so far this season today. We are looking at partly sunny skies for today with a high of just 21. Then, partly cloudy and very cold tonight with a low of 8. Meanwhile, we will get a "warm up" coming on Friday and Saturday, as we'll get above freezing on both days. We are looking t...
Dec 04, 2025

Senator Plummer Hosts Annual Youth Advisory Council
State Senator Jason Plummer hosted his Annual Youth Advisory Council at the Kaskaskia College Vandalia Education Center. Senator Plummer says he loves the numbers that the district always produces. Senator Plummers' Youth Advisory Council included schools from all 11 counties of Senator Plummer's 55th State Senate Dist...
Dec 04, 2025
St. Elmo City Council Handles Multiple Items at Monthly Meeting
Multiple topics were discussed at the December Saint Elmo City Council Meeting. The first item that was discussed was the hiring of a new lawyer for the City. With the current Lawyer, Richard Day, retiring at the end of the month, the Council agreed to hire Taylor Law Office from Effingham. The Council then voted on th...
Dec 04, 2025
Gov Pritzker says Pres Trump weaponizing food as USDA looks for SNAP fraud
Governor J.B. Pritzker is pushing back against the Trump Administration's insistence that states share data with the federal government about who is getting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds. Tuesday, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins told President Trump they are preparing to withhold federal taxpayer funds ...
Dec 04, 2025
Gov Pritzker signs vaccine law GOP doctor called 'Trump Derangement' bill
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation to expand vaccine access in Illinois, but a Republican lawmaker and medical doctor says the bill is an example of "Trump Derangement Syndrome." The governor signed House Bill 767 in Chicago Tuesday to expand vaccine access and further empower the Illinois Department o...
Dec 04, 2025
Illinois Unveils Plans For Celebrating America's 250th Anniversary
(Chicago, IL) -- Illinois will be celebrating America's 250th Anniversary next year. Speaking at Navy Pier yesterday, Governor Pritzker announced a series of statewide initiatives to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. The Illinois America 250 Commission was established to o...
Dec 04, 2025

Brief Warm Up today, snow on the way for this evening
We will see a very brief warm up today, with some light snow this evening and then much colder temperatures on the way. For today we do have a chance of flurries last this afternoon, but we'll otherwise see mostly cloudy skies for today with a high of 35. Then, we might start off with rain and then see it change to sn...
Dec 03, 2025
Festival of Lights to hold "Official" Opening Weekend this Saturday
The Festival of Lights in Vandalia has been open for a few weeks now, but will get their official opening this Saturday. The Festival of Lights this year features 136 Christmas displays and 114 In Memory Of Angels. This Saturday, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand, along with live Reindeer, Cookies and cocoa with th...
Dec 03, 2025
Deer Hunters get ready for 2nd weekend of firearm deer hunting season--Fayette County Hunters took 1,275 deer in 1st weekend
As hunters get ready for the 2nd weekend of firearm deer hunting season, a look back to the first weekend shows hunters harvested better than 51,000 deer. The total was 51,409. That number is down from 54,661 taken the first weekend last year and 53,348 taken in the first weekend in 2023. In Fayette County, hunters to...
Dec 03, 2025


















