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...

Robert Carroll of Nashville, IL joined the Real Rock Army today!

Robert thinks he should be a part of the Real Rock Army because “if he’s awake, he’s tuned in!”. Robert listens all day long, but is a certified Lern-Loverboy. Roberts’ kids have moved out of state, so he’s moved his dad into the house and made it his mission to convert dad into a KSHE listener.

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...

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another count in the case was dismissed, and a petition to revoke probation filed in a separate 2023 felony case was withdrawn.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.

Giant City School earns Illinois’ highest school rating

JACKSON COUNTY, Ill. (Heartland News) - A Jackson County, Illinois school earned a major achievement this year. Giant City School received an exemplary designation by the Illinois State Board of Education, the highest ranking under its guidelines. In order to receive it, the school had to reach certain levels of...

Johnson County voters weigh in on future of historic courthouse restoration

JOHNSON COUNTY, Ill. (KBSI) – The future of Johnson County’s historic courthouse is back in the hands of voters as residents consider whether county leaders should continue pursuing funding to restore the condemned building. The courthouse was evacuated in 2023 after a serious structural problem raised concerns about...

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...

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.

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.

EDWARDS COUNTY BOARD ANNOUNCES DATE CHANGE FOR DECEMBER MEETING

Edwards County Clerk and Recorder, Melanie Knight has announced a schedule change for the December meeting of the Edwards County Board of Commissioners. The meeting, originally scheduled for Monday, December 7th, has been moved to Wednesday, December 2, 2026, at 9 a.m. The meeting will be held at the Edwards...

Marion County Clerk Steve Fox’s last election anything but normal

Marion County Clerk Steve Fox had some special surprises for his final election before retiring December first. It started with power problems. “Three precincts that had power outages for multiple hours during the day. I really want to thank the community for stepping up. We had generators, lights, and different things brought in so that we could get through the day, and I appreciate that.”

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...