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...

(Peoria Co, IL) -- A hearing to determine if the former Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy convicted of killing Sonya Massey will be released from prison will be closed to the public. Sean Grayson is set to appear before the Illinois Prisoner Review Board on July 31st. The board decided that the hearing will be closed. G...

We will be partly sunny and mild today. We are looking at partly sunny skies today with a high of 84. Then, partly cloudy skies for tonight with a low of 66. Looking ahead, Wednesday should be much the same--although just a bit warmer. Showers and thunderstorms come back into the forecast on Thursday night and contin...

The issue of the Kaskaskia River Water Intake not working and potentially getting it repaired came up for discussion during two different meetings on Monday night at Vandalia City Hall. Nearly 20 years ago, a new river intake was paid for by the City and put in place. But, that new intake has rarely worked for any sus...

Vandalia Mayor Doug Knebel gives an update on the project to remove, or start removing, siltation from Vandalia Lake at Monday's Lake Committee. Mayor Knebel says they have just one more landowner to get on board before they can move forward. Knebel says once they get that last landowner on board, he estimates they wou...

Gov. J.B. Pritzker says Illinois does not need semiautomatic weapons. The governor spoke at a cannabis dispensary in Chicago on Thursday, two days after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case challenging Cook County's ban on purchases of semiautomatic weapons. Pritzker said Illinois banned the weapons statewide f...

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law into effect that lawmakers say intends to increase renter protections statewide. While the measure initially drew skepticism from many landlords, the law reached what some now call "workable." The state law specifically targets undisclosed and "junk" fees tha...

(Chicago, IL) -- Illinois is taking action to protect residents from advancements in artificial intelligence. Governor Pritzker signed the Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act. The landmark legislation established what officials say is the nation's strongest framework for AI safety, transparency and accountab...

(Effingham, IL) -- State police are identifying the Missouri man who was seriously wounded in an officer-involved shooting at a church in Effingham. Authorities say security at St. John's Lutheran Church contacted Effingham Police on Sunday to report a suspicious man inside the church wishing to speak with the pastor. ...