Local News

Sunny & Mild For Today
After a rainy and stormy Monday, we should get some sunshine and mild temperatures for today. We are looking at sunny skies for today with a high of 79. Then, clear skies and a little cooler tonight with a low of 54. We should remain dry through the work week before rain and storms return to the area this weekend. Sunr...
7h ago

Vandalia City Council approves bid for Sewer project, and bid for Water Tower work
The Vandalia City Council briefly discussed going with a higher bid on a project because of familiarity with the company. But, they eventually decided to go with the low bid. The project is for a lift station pump replacement and piping rehabilitation at Illini Avenue or the former PolyPak location. The two bids receiv...
7h ago

Big Opening Weekend at Charter's Patio
Opening weekend at Charter's Patio in downtown Vandalia was very well attended. This past Saturday night, there were performances from The Morning After and 1973-The Music of Journey. A very large crowd was out for the opening event of the year at Charter's Patio, estimated at 600 to 700 people in attendance. Meanwhile...
7h ago
Gov Pritzker touts state spending to cover federal cuts in passed budget
Just hours after the state's General Assembly wrapped its spring session, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker appeared along top Democrat leadership in Springfield to tout the passage of a 2027 fiscal year budget and numerous policy recommendations he's asked the body to take up. 163 bills passed both chambers in the final wee...
7h ago
Amended micromobility bill heads to governor's desk--Would regulate scooters & e-bikes
The Illinois General Assembly has passed legislation to regulate e-bikes, scooters and other micromobility devices. State Rep. Barbara Hernandez said a broad coalition asked for state regulation after injury reports surged across the country. The micromobility bill cleared the state legislature on Monday morning and ca...
7h ago
Gov Pritzker Accepts Fact Bears Could Leave Illinois
(Springfield, IL) -- Governor Pritzker is accepting the fact that the Bears could leave Illinois after the state legislature failed to approve a bill designed to help the team build a stadium in Arlington Heights. Pritzker acknowledged the team's possible departure yesterday. A bill that was introduced late Sunday n...
7h ago
$55.9 billion State budget includes new taxes, 'no property tax relief'
The Illinois General Assembly has passed a record-high $55.9 billion budget for fiscal year 2027. The budget includes new taxes on targeted advertising services, digital assets, social media platforms and fantasy sports. It limits certain income tax carryover deductions and raises the tax on retail tire sales from $2 t...
Jun 01, 2026

Showers & Storms likely this morning---Chance of a Strong to Severe Storm
We have showers and storms in the forecast for this morning and there is a chance of a strong to severe storm today. Our forecast for today calls for showers and storms likely this morning, then mostly cloudy skies after that with a high of 80. Then, gradually clearing skies for tonight with a low of 58. Meanwhile, th...
Jun 01, 2026

Vandalia City Clerk touts new "Community Connect" program coming later this month
City of Vandalia Clerk Carla Huhn says the new "Community Connect" program will make life a lot easier for folks dealing with the city in a number of ways. Speaking on our podcast "Talking about Vandalia," Huhn says not only will you be able to make online payments quickly and securely along with a ...
Jun 01, 2026
Illinois to require bell-to-bell student phone ban in public schools
Legislation to ban the use of cell phones by students from bell-to-bell officially passed both chambers in the Illinois Capitol on Sunday, sending the bill to Gov. J.B. Pritzker's desk. Having passed the Senate in April 2025, the governor urged lawmakers to move it forward before the end of this session. After months o...
Jun 01, 2026
Gov Pritzker indicates he'll sign new insurance regulations
State government will have power to regulate auto insurance rates under legislation headed to Gov. J.B. Pritzker's desk. The Illinois House passed Senate Bill 714 on Wednesday night. State Rep. Thaddeus Jones said the bill would bring consumer protection and affordability to residents. Giannoulias is rumored to be cons...
Jun 01, 2026
Gov Pritzker Praises Reproductive Health Records Privacy Act
(Springfield, IL) -- Governor Pritzker is praising new legislation that aims to keep patient medical records related to abortion care in Illinois private. The state General Assembly approved the Reproductive Health Records Privacy Act. The bill would require health information exchanges to limit user access to systems ...
Jun 01, 2026

Mostly Sunny & Mild Today
We will be mostly sunny and mild today. We will see mostly sunny skies with a high of 79. Then, partly cloudy skies for tonight with a low of 61. Meanwhile, showers and storms come into the area early Monday morning and are expected to linger until about noon on Monday. The National Weather Service in St. Louis says s...
May 31, 2026

A shower possible this morning--After that, Mostly Cloudy and Warm
We could see a passing shower pop up this morning. But, after that moves on, we will see mostly cloudy skies for today with a high of 81. Then, partly cloudy skies for tonight with a low of 59. Our high will be in the upper 70's on Sunday.
May 30, 2026

Mostly Cloudy & Warm Today
We will be mostly cloudy and warm today. We will see mostly cloudy skies for today with a high of 80. Then, we'll be mostly cloudy for tonight with a low of 63. We do have a slight chance of showers in the early Saturday morning hours. Meanwhile, we have some added rain chances now in our forecast for in the early mo...
May 29, 2026














