A 39-year-old Centralia man has been arrested for alleged child pornography and non-consensual dissemination of explicit digital materials. Thomas Jones of Dean Street was arrested at his place of employment in Salem Thursday morning after a search warrant was executed by the Marion County Sheriff's Department and the Illinois Attorney General's office. We'll have more details as they become available.[socast_ad_slot widget_name="Ad Slot" slot="lightbox_bigbox"]

In May 1975, the body of Centralia resident John Shakespeare was found in his basement, killed by a single gunshot to the head. More than fifty years later a new book, The Murder of John Shakespeare: a Centralia Cold Case, compiles and examines all available evidence surrounding Shakespeare's death to form a picture of the crime and the investigation that followed. The book is co-authored by Cary O'Dell and Richard Sprehe, both originally from southern Illinois. O'Dell, now living in Virginia...

by Maggie Dougherty, Capitol News Illinois December 3, 2025 Article Summary The Illinois America 250 Commission is gearing up to organize programming across the state to celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The initiative will seek to highlight local histories from across the state through archival projects, a youth art contest, a commemorative state "passport" and more. A $300,000 investment from the Illinois Arts Council will provide $15,0...

by Illinois Times, Capitol News Illinois December 3, 2025 Article Summary Former Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Grayson is seeking a new trial after his second-degree murder conviction last month. He was charged with murder for shooting Sonya Massey, an unarmed woman, in her kitchen after she called police to report a prowler. His attorneys say the judge should have barred video that showed Grayson's coarse and disparaging description of Massey in the minutes following the shooting. Th...

The Washington County Fair Board has announced that local country artists Gretchen Wilson from Pocahontas and Drew Baldridge of Patoka will perform together at the county fair on July 10th in what is being billed as a Welcome Home for both artists. General Admission and Track tickets go on sale this Friday at eight am. An 'Early Entry" option is available for an extra $10, allowing entry 30 minutes before gates open. You can purchase tickets at thewashingtoncountyfair.com.

A 41-year-old former Worship Minister at the Calumet Street Christian Church serving four years' probation on five counts of child pornography is now facing a petition to revoke his probation. Ian Mophet is accused in the petition of violating probation for using the internet to connect to two dating sites and creating his own YouTube channel. The petition also cites his failure to appear in court for an October pay or appear hearing for not paying court costs as ordered. While the prosecu...

A 17-year-old juvenile female from Shattuc lost control of her car on the Green Street Road between Scout and Lakeshore Drive Tuesday morning. The Marion County Sheriff's Department reports the car apparently hit a slick spot, left the road, went down an embankment and overturned. Both the driver and 17-year-old female passenger from Centralia were out of the car by the time emergency help from the Marion County Sheriff's Department and Salem Fire Department arrived. The passenger complained...

A 41-year-old former Worship Minister at the Calumet Street Christian Church in Centralia placed on four years' probation after pleading guilty to five felony counts of child pornography has been arrested in Georgia where he now lives. Court records indicate Ian Mophet had been issued a notice in October to appear in court for a probation violation for not being employed. The failure to appear warrant that he was arrested on was issued after he didn't show up in court. Mophet is scheduled to...