Williamson County social worker pleads not guilty

Southern Illinois Has 8 Small-Town Diners Worth The Long Drive For Breakfast Alone

Some of the best mornings start with a plain little building you almost drive right past. You walk in hungry, grab a booth, and suddenly the bacon, biscuits, and coffee turn an ordinary trip into a story you keep telling. Southern Illinois is full of these quiet breakfast spots, tucked...

These 10 Under-The-Radar Illinois Thrift Shops Keep Bargain Hunters Digging For Hours

Paperback books for a quarter each. Three full floors of secondhand stuff stacked inside an old house. A charity shop where your purchase helps pay vet bills for rescue dogs. I could stop right there and you’d probably already be reaching for your car keys. Illinois has a sneaky habit of hiding its best bargains in plain sight, from a former warehouse to a grocery-and-thrift combo.

Salem Army Veteran receives $5,000 at Thrive Mount Vernon

MOUNT VERNON, Ill. (KBSI) — Leonard Newcomb and his wife have four children and three bedrooms. They’re looking to sell their current home and buy one with more room. Now, a $5,000 check could help with the down payment. Newcomb, a U.S. Army veteran, is the Illinois winner...

Southern Illinois schools earn Exemplary ratings on 2026 Illinois Report Card

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (KBSI) — Several Southern Illinois schools have earned the state’s highest overall designation on the 2026 Illinois Report Card. Carterville High School, Tri-C Elementary School, Giant City School and Vienna High School were among the schools receiving an Exemplary designation. The report cards, released Oct. 30,...

Free Veterans Weekend Community Event in Carbondale on November 7

A southern Illinois non-profit and a local gym are teaming up to host a free Veterans Weekend community event in Carbondale. Organizers say boxing and combat sports clubs from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri will take part in sparring matches held in two rings. The event will also feature veteran-owned businesses, food vendors, community resources, a student veterans food drive and live music.

FOUR DEFENDANTS SENTENCED IN WAYNE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

Four defendants appeared in Wayne County Circuit Court Thursday. 46-year-old Sean M. Dawkins of Clay City pleaded guilty to an amended Class 3 felony charge of unlawful possession of methamphetamine. Dawkins was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to serve 180 days in jail, with the jail sentence stayed. He was given credit for three days previously served. As part of his sentence, Dawkins was ordered to pay fines and court costs and pay $2,112.57 in restitution to Sierra Bravo Contractors, LLC. He must also complete any treatment or programs required by the probation department, submit to drug testing, and comply with standard probation conditions. Under the plea agreement, another count in the case was dismissed, and a petition to revoke probation filed in a separate 2023 felony case was withdrawn. Dawkins is scheduled to return to court October 3, 2028, at 1 p.m. for a review hearing.

Harrisburg High School asks parents for help following repeated restroom vandalism

HARRISBURG, Ill., (KBSI) — Harrisburg High School officials are asking parents and families for help following repeated incidents of vandalism in student restrooms throughout the school year. In a message shared with families, school officials said intentional damage has forced some restrooms to temporarily close, causing disruptions for students...

Three Southern Illinois counties vote on proposal to form new state separate from Cook County

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (KBSI) – Voters in three Southern Illinois counties are weighing in Tuesday on whether their county leaders should explore forming a new state separate from Cook County. Saline, Hamilton and Gallatin counties have advisory questions on their Nov. 3 general election ballots asking whether county officials should...

Oisín Dilger appointed carillonneur, Centralia Bell Tower

Oisín Dilger is appointed carillonneur for the Centralia Bell Tower, Centralia, Illinois. Originally from Galway, Ireland, he earned a music degree from University College Cork during which time he began studying carillon with Adrian Gebruers. He received the Quercus Scholarship of Performing Arts in 2023 and the following year the Staf Gebruers Memorial Award. Dilger has studied at the Royal Carillon School in Mechelen, Belgium, and has performed across Belgium, the Netherlands, and in the United States. He further studied organ at the conservatory of Mechelen.

Voters say ‘no’ to assessor appointment question in Massac

METROPOLIS, Ill. — Massac County voters expressed through their vote on Tuesday, Nov. 3, that they want to continue voting for the officeholder of Massac County Supervisor of Assessments. To the ballot’s yes-or-no referendum question: “Shall the Massac County Supervisor of Assessments be appointed rather than elected?,” 1,232 answered...

SIU Alum and retired Air Force General to speak at SIU Veterans Day vigil

When the nation honors veterans on Wednesday, the SIU Air Force and Army ROTC programs will join with SIU Veterans Services for a vigil at the Old Main Flagpole on campus. Beginning at 6 a.m., ROTC cadets will rotate through silent 15-minute shifts. At 11 a.m., Carbondale Mayor Carolin Harvey...

Downtown Cape Girardeau announces holiday events, 34th annual Parade of Lights

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — Old Town Cape Inc. is preparing for the holiday season with several events planned in downtown Cape Girardeau, including a Christmas tree lighting, Small Business Saturday and the 34th annual Parade of Lights. The holiday festivities will begin Friday, Nov. 27, with the downtown...

Hotel, restaurant owners offer to pay for Cape Girardeau tourism study

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Heartland News) - Local hotel and restaurant owners are prepared to pay a Chicago-based firm about $100,000 to assess Cape Girardeau’s tourism potential beyond sports tourism, according to a plan presented to the city council on Monday. Jeff Maurer of Mayson Capital Partners pitched the plan...

Missouri to pay $150,000 to settle lawsuit over prisoner’s death by suicide

Missouri must pay $150,000 to the mother of a man who committed suicide in a Southeast Missouri prison, a Mississippi County judge ruled Friday. Jahi Hynes was 27 when died April 4, 2021, at the Southeast Missouri Correctional Center in Charleston. His mother, Willa Hynes, sued the Department of Corrections, three of the agency’s corporate […]

Cape Girardeau’s Spaghetti Day set for Nov. 5

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department and Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Foundation will host Spaghetti Day on Thursday, Nov. 5. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the A.C. Brase Arena in Cape Girardeau. Meals will include...

Cape Girardeau prepares for more road work and street improvements

The City of Cape Girardeau boasts plenty of fun activities, a lively downtown and multiple subdivisions, but all of that traffic can cause more stress on the roadways. While it might cause more delays and longer travel times, the City of Cape Girardeau is planning more construction projects and improvements to the roads around town.

Jackson Veterans Day parade set for Nov. 11

JACKSON, Mo., (KBSI) — The city of Jackson will honor military veterans with a Veterans Day parade Wednesday, Nov. 11. According to the Jackson Police Department, the parade will begin at 4 p.m. and travel through uptown Jackson. The parade will start at the Frozen Food Locker on South...

Cape Public Library to host 2nd Fall Fair for families

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Heartland News) - The Cape Girardeau Public Library will host a Fall Fair with games, crafts and a petting zoo. The free Fall Fair is scheduled for November 14 from noon until 3 p.m. in the back yard at the library at 711 N. Clark Street. Attendees...