On April 19, 2026, at 3:43 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of a disturbance in the 600 block of East Brummitt Street in Owensville. Upon arriving on scene law enforcement officers could hear the disturbance happening inside the residence while approaching the residence. Deputies finally got the residents to step outside of the residence so the parties could be separated to conduct an investigation into the disturbance. While speaking with one of the parties Deputies detected multiple clues that the person was under the influence of Methamphetamines. As the investigation progressed Deputy Eric Powell applied for a search warrant of the resident and was ultimately granted a search warrant by the courts. At that point a search of the residence was conducted where Methamphetamines, Marijuana, and Drug Paraphernalia were seized. Once the investigation was completed 33-year-old Zane Thompson and 40-year-old Tara Crowley of Owensville were taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center.
Zane Thompson was charged with:
Possession of Methamphetamines
Possession of Marijuana
Possession of Paraphernalia
Possession of a Hypodermic Needle
Possession of a Legend or Prescription Drug
Maintaining a Common Nuisance
Tara Crowley was charged with:
Possession of Methamphetamines
Dealing in a Schedule Drug
Possession of Marijuana
Possession of Paraphernalia
Possession of a Hypodermic Needle
Maintaining a Common Nuisance
Deputy Eric Powell was assisted in his investigation by:
Sgt Loren Barchett- Gibson County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Wes Baumgart- Gibson County Sheriff's Office
Deputy Wyatt Hunt- Gibson County Sheriff's Office
Deputy Wyatt Lashbrook- Gibson County Sheriff's Office
Officer Matt Perry- Princeton Police Department
Officer Jackie Wood- Princeton Police Department
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Princeton man arrested for OWI
On April 19, 2026, at 3:15 a.m. Gibson County Deputy Levi Sims conducted a traffic stop on a Gray 2025 Mazda CX3 for speeding on US 41 near State Road 168. Upon stopping the vehicle on US 41 near CR 550 South Deputy Sims detected multiple clues that the driver 50-year-old Rennan Sublemente of Princeton was under the influence. At that point Deputy Sims began a roadside DUI investigation that resulted in Mr. Sublemente being taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center where he was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated.
Princeton Officer David Jones assisted Deputy Sims in his investigation.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sex Offender Registry check leads to drug arrest
n April 18, 2026, at 5:46 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Wes Baumgart went to the Diplomat Motel located at 1733 S State Road 57 to conduct a Sex Offender Registry Compliance Check on 39-year-old Brian Dillard of Oakland City. Upon arriving at the hotel room Deputies detected the odor of burnt Marijuana coming from inside the residence when Mr. Dillard opened the door. At that point they began a drug investigation. During the investigation Mr. Dillard became argumentative and physically resisted law enforcement officers on scene when they attempted to stop him from leaving. After a brief struggle Mr. Dillard was taken into custody and prepared for transport to the Gibson County Detention Center. At the conclusion of the investigation Mr. Dillard was charged with Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Methamphetamines, Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of Hypodermic Needles, and Resisting Law Enforcement.
Deputies Wyatt Hunt, Sgt. Loren Barchett, and Eric Powell assisted Deputy Baumgart in his investigation. Oakland City Police Officer Michael McGregor and Princeton Officers Matthew Perry and Jackie Wood also assisted in this investigation.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Evansville woman arrested for never having received a valid operators license
On April 17, 2026, at 5:44 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Wyatt Lashbrook conducted a traffic stop on US 41 near County Road 350 South after conducting a traffic stop on a White 1995 Ford Ranger for having an expired license plate. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Lashbrook identified the driver as 42-year-old Dolores Correa of Evansville. During a roadside investigation Deputy Lashbrook ran Ms. Correa through the Indiana Department And Communications System and discovered that the driver was operating a vehicle without ever having received a valid license. At the conclusion of the investigation Ms. Correa was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center where she was charged with Operator Never Licensed and Possession of Marijuana.
Deputy Lashbrook was assisted in his investigation by Deputy Eric Powell.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Despite Increase--Wabash Co. Still Has Lowest Jobless Rate In So. IL.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security has released its January unemployment figures, showing higher jobless rates across the region compared to one year ago.
In Wabash County, the unemployment rate rose to 4.1 percent in January 2026, up from 3.5 percent in January 2025. Edwards County increased to 5.6 percent, up from 4.1. Lawrence County came in at 5.6 percent, compared to 4.4 a year ago, while Richland County matched Wabash at 4.1 percent, up from 3.5. Wayne County reported a 5.2 percent unemployment rate, up from 4.2 percent last year.
Wabash and Richland Counties are tied for the lowest unemployment rates in southern Illinois. The highest rate in the region was reported in Pulaski County at 7.2 percent. Statewide, Illinois posted a 5.4 percent unemployment rate in January.
Meanwhile, the Olney–Mount Carmel area saw total nonfarm payrolls decrease by 725 jobs compared to January of 2025, with no sector posting job gains over the year.
The largest job losses were reported in manufacturing, down 200 positions. Private education and health services, as well as trade, transportation, and utilities, each declined by 150 jobs. Government employment dropped by 125 jobs, while smaller losses were seen in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and other services.
Construction, financial activities, information, and natural resources and mining remained unchanged over the year.
ILLINOIS EASTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGES HONORS THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF FORMER CEO TERRY L. BRUCE
Olney, Ill. – Illinois Eastern Community Colleges mourns the death of former Chief Executive Officer Terry L. Bruce, who passed away on April 17, 2026. Mr. Bruce’s decades of leadership and public service left a lasting mark on the institution, the region, and the Illinois community college system.
Bruce served as CEO of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges from 1996 until his retirement in 2019. Over those 23 years, he helped guide the district through a period of significant transformation while maintaining a strong commitment to students, employees, and the communities served by IECC.
In addition to his leadership at IECC, Bruce served on the Illinois Community College Board, including as Vice Chair. Earlier in his career served in both the Illinois Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. Throughout his public life, he played an important role in advancing education and public service in southern Illinois.
“Mr. Bruce’s impact on IECC and on community colleges in Illinois is difficult to fully capture,” said Dr. Ryan Gower, Chancellor of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges. “His influence is woven into what we do every day. He cared deeply about access to education and about strengthening the communities of District 529, and that commitment continues to shape this institution.”
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mr. Bruce was known for his character and the way he connected with others.
“For those who knew Mr. Bruce and worked closely with him, what stood out most was how deeply he cared about people,” Gower said. “He believed in giving second chances, and I saw him extend those opportunities time and again. He believed in helping people move forward in their lives, and that showed up in how he led this institution and how he conducted himself personally. He made a difference in the lives of many people.”
The Board of Trustees, faculty, and staff of IECC extends its deepest condolences to the Bruce family and to all who knew and worked with him.
House approves Pritzker initiative to regulate social media algorithms
Plan seeks to make children’s social media feeds less addictive
By BEN SZALINSKI
Capitol News Illinois
bszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com
Article Summary
The Illinois House voted on bipartisan lines to pass the Children’s Social Media Safety Act.
The bill is designed to limit children’s access to social media algorithms that the courts have ruled and scientists have warned are addictive.
It would require platforms to use stricter default settings for minors, including limiting location sharing, digital currency transactions and nighttime notifications.
Gov. JB Pritzker proposed the bill and said addictive social media feeds are one of the top concerns parents ask him to address.
This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.
SPRINGFIELD — A bill to regulate social media companies and the features they make available to minors is advancing in the Statehouse.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House voted 82-27 to pass House Bill 5511, also known as the Children’s Social Media Safety Act. Gov. JB Pritzker proposed the bill, which is designed to make social media scrolling less addictive for children.
“What this bill is really designed to address is the weaponization of your data, your personal habits in a way that keeps kids glued and addicted to the screen,” bill sponsor Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview, said.
The bill does not limit social media use to certain ages but does require platforms to allow users setting up an account to input their age, which would trigger certain settings on the device for users under 18 years old.
The bill mandates that information used to generate a social media feed cannot be “persistently associated with the user’s device” and based on content the user previously shared or interacted with. Users must follow the creator of the content or person who shares it to see the content in their feed. Additional content could only be provided to the user when they search for it.
The bill would also require social media platforms to have default privacy settings for minors that would stop addictive feeds, location sharing and transactions with digital currency. Platforms would also be prohibited from sending notifications to minor users between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Companies that violate the law would have to pay fines.
The changes would take effect in 2028, and despite cracking down in some areas, Gong-Gershowitz said there won’t be restrictions on the content kids see.
"This bill does not include any content moderation or allow parents to monitor what children are doing online,” Gong-Gershowitz said. “It simply targets a harmful design feature like addictive algorithms that are designed to keep kids online. Children can still see the same content.”
Pritzker, some Republicans back it
Pritzker called on lawmakers during his February State of the State address to advance regulations.
“Everywhere I go, parents tell me one of their deepest concerns is the impact social media is having on their kids,” Pritzker said in his address. “It’s a challenge unique to this generation. And it is made worse by the perverse incentive that social media companies seem to have to keep kids scrolling no matter what the cost to their physical and mental health.”
Read more: Lawmakers advance Pritzker’s cell phone ban, social media regulations
Tackling children’s addictions to social media has been a bipartisan priority in Springfield in recent years and nine House Republicans joined Democrats in advancing the measure to the Senate.
“Up until this point, we haven’t had a lot of guardrails when it comes to social media use in our state,” Rep. Nicole La Ha, R-Lemont, told Capitol News Illinois. “Being a mom of school aged children, I think it’s really important that we start to have those conversations.”
La Ha said she is looking forward to using parental controls to make sure the content her kids see on their feeds is appropriate for their age.
Other Republicans said they supported the concept of the bill but would vote against it until more changes were made in the Senate.
Pritzker is also pushing lawmakers to tax social media companies based on the number of users they have in Illinois.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview, takes a picture of the vote board in the Illinois House after the passage of a bill in May 2023. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
Latin American history, pet custody bills advance in Springfield ahead of deadline
Lawmakers moving dozens of measures as legislature enters final 6-week stretch
By PETER HANCOCK,
BEN SZALINSKI
& JENNA SCHWEIKERT
Capitol News Illinois
news@capitolnewsillinois.com
Article Summary
Lawmakers entered their final six-week stretch by moving dozens of bills from one chamber to the other.
They require the teaching of Latin American education, change child care worker background check processes, address pet custody disputes and ban speculative ticket sales.
It’s an important step for the bills, but they will all still need approval from the other chamber and a signature from the governor to become law.
This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.
SPRINGFIELD — Public school teachers in Illinois may soon have to add Latin Americans to the list of ethnic groups whose contributions to American history and culture must be taught in class.
The new curriculum mandate is one of dozens of measures that have advanced in the General Assembly this week ahead of a Friday deadline for moving bills from one chamber to the other. The deadline is a key milestone in the legislature’s annual push toward its May 31 adjournment.
The Illinois House voted Wednesday to pass House Bill 4372, which would amend a portion of the school code that defines how United States history is taught in schools.
That law already requires history classes to include the study of contributions from “African Americans and other ethnic groups, including but not restricted to, Native Americans, Polish, Lithuanian, German, Hungarian, Irish, Bohemian, Russian, Albanian, Italian, Czech, Slovak, French, Scots, Hispanics, Asian Americans, etc.”
The bill would insert “Latin Americans” in that list, just before “Hispanics.”
Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado, the bill’s lead sponsor, said the term “Latin American,” or “Latine,” is more inclusive than “Hispanics” because it encompasses people from all of South America, including Brazil, and not just people from Spanish-speaking backgrounds.
Some Republicans, including Rep. Brad Halbrook, of Shelbyville, called the bill a mandate on local schools that would ultimately raise people’s property taxes.
“We have the highest real estate property taxes in the nation,” he said. “This could continue to increase our property taxes when our residents or constituents or citizens are asking from some level of relief.”
But Rep. Laura Faver Dias, D-Grayslake, argued that American history education too often centers on the study of white males. “That isn’t history,” she said. “That’s a fairy tale, and this mandate will not raise your property taxes.”
The bill passed 74-34. It next moves to the Senate for consideration. If it becomes law, it would take effect in the 2027-28 school year.
Child care worker background checks
The Illinois House passed legislation this week that takes another step in transferring authority over early childhood education and services to the new Department of Early Childhood.
House Bill 5099 would transfer the responsibility for conducting criminal background checks for child care workers to the new agency from the Department of Children and Family Services, beginning in 2027.
Gov. JB Pritzker called for creation of the new agency in 2024 to consolidate a vast array of programs and services currently spread across several agencies under one roof. Those range from managing a nearly $750 million block grant program for preschools around the state to the licensing and regulation of child care facilities and workers.
The new agency is scheduled to become fully operational in the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1. Its budget, still being negotiated in the General Assembly, is expected to total $4.4 billion from all funds, including $2 billion in general revenue funds. Most of that represents money currently allocated to other agencies.
Many lawmakers have been especially focused on the issue of background checks, saying they frequently hear from constituents who complain about the time it takes to complete them. But Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, the bill’s lead sponsor, said she’s optimistic the process will improve under the new agency.
“Under the new system, background checks will stay with the individual rather than with the center or location, so that will allow them to move from location to location, or even employer to employer,” she said. “It will also allow them to do background checks in advance of getting a position, so their background check can be ready by the time they're hired, rather than then waiting a month before their background check goes through and they can work.”
The bill passed unanimously out of the House. It now awaits action by the Senate before being sent to Pritzker’s desk for his signature.
Speculative ticket ban
Hours after a federal judge ruled that Ticketmaster’s parent company operated a monopoly on event ticket selling, the House passed House Bill 4984 to ban speculative ticket selling.
Speculative tickets are event tickets that sellers offer even though they don’t have a certainty of obtaining that ticket. Consumers often don’t know they’ve bought one, and could lose out on thousands of dollars in travel and hotel purchases for an event they can’t attend.
“There's apparently an Usher concert that's going to be happening in Chicago,” Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Palatine, said. “There are event ticket resellers attempting to sell these tickets on the basis that they might somehow obtain them without a clear pathway of doing so.”
The bill passed unanimously and now moves to the Senate.
Pet custody
House Bill 4540 would create a legal pathway for separated couples or roommates to go to court to fight for custody of an animal.
Custody of pets is already an item for debate in divorce cases for married couples, but bill sponsor Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, said nonmarried cohabitants also need a way to determine custody of a pet that may have been jointly owned.
"If you are in a long-term relationship and you break up in an amicable way, then you might not need this,” Hernandez said. “However, there are certain cases — we've seen it a lot in domestic violence cases — where they use the animal as leverage and unfortunately those are the situations that we’re trying to prevent.”
The bill would allow courts to consider who has been responsible for caring for the pet, paying for vet visits, emotional bonds between a pet and human, the living environment and documentation on who bought the animal.
The bill passed the House 72-38 and now heads to the Senate.
Construction bathrooms
Senate Bill 3465 would require construction sites with 10 or more workers and a worker who menstruates to have a separate bathroom on site for the woman to use. Menstrual hygiene products would also have to be available for free. Accommodations would also have to be available for lactation.
“Women and anyone who menstruates have a right to care for their bodies in a dignified and sanitary way,” bill sponsor Sen. Graciela Guzmán, D-Chicago, said in a statement. “Whether in the office or on the job site, we need common sense accommodations for those who menstruate and those who are lactating."
The bill passed the Senate 37-14 with Republicans arguing the bill would raise already high construction costs. It now moves to the House.
Female CPR
House Bill 4788 would require students in secondary schools to have the opportunity to learn CPR on breasted manikins to simulate the live-saving practice on women.
“People with breasts are 27% less likely to receive bystander CPR than people without breasts,” bill sponsor Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, said. “And largely due to this disparity, men have a 23% higher likelihood of survival after a cardiac arrest.”
The bill passed 73-38, with Republicans expressing concerns about the cost of purchasing supplies for school districts. The bill now heads to the Senate.
Prescription hormone therapy
Under House Bill 5492, insurance providers would have to cover up to a year of hormone therapy when prescribed. The bill came out of situations in which insurers were denying claims for yearlong supplies of medication, said bill sponsor Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville.
“I get frustrated with insurance companies when they don't let patients and doctors work together for what's the best way to access care,” Stuart said. “Pharmacists have the authority to dispense the full 12 months, that already exists.”
The bill passed 74-37 along party lines.
Lions, tigers and bears
The House passed a bears bill, but it does not involve the football team. House Bill 4255 would ban traveling animal acts from using cougars, jaguars, leopards, lions, tigers, bears and primates. State law already bans acts with elephants. The bill passed 75-33 and awaits Senate consideration.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
State Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado speaks on the House floor on Wednesday, April 15. (Capitol News Illinois phot by Peter Hancock)
Judge Updates Pool Project
Mount Carmel’s new aquatic center project is still moving forward, but facing delays tied to state approval, according to Mayor Joe Judge.
During last week’s “Ask The Mayor” segment on WSJD, Judge said the city is currently waiting on final approval from the Illinois Department of Public Health after a last-minute request to relocate a deck drain.
Judge says that approval could come any day now, and once it does, work is expected to ramp up quickly.
He noted that contractors are currently on standby, but ready to move in fast. Landmark, the aquatics contractor, plans to bring in three crews, while Garmong, which is handling construction of the bathhouse, will have two crews on site.
Judge acknowledged frustration with the pace of progress so far, saying much of the delay is due to the State of Illinois permitting process, which can take months compared to other states.
In the meantime, local crews have been preparing the site, including work on entrances and parking areas.
Despite the delays, Judge says the goal of having the aquatic center ready around Homecoming in September is still in reach, though it may be close.
Once construction resumes, residents can expect to see rapid progress as multiple crews begin work simultaneously.
Wabash Valley College to Celebrate 2026 Commencement Ceremony on May 15
Mount Carmel, IL — Wabash Valley College (WVC) will celebrate the achievements of its graduating students during the 2026 Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 15, at 7:00 p.m.
The ceremony will take place on campus, with doors opening at 6:00 p.m.
For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be live streamed online. The live stream will be produced by WVC’s Radio/TV program and aired on YouTube via News Channel 15 at: https://www.youtube.com/@my15news
A direct link to the live stream, along with additional commencement details, will be available on the WVC graduation webpage: https://www.iecc.edu/wvc/graduation
Wabash Valley College looks forward to celebrating the hard work, dedication, and accomplishments of its graduates and thanks the families, faculty, staff, and community members who have supported students throughout their college journeys.
For the latest commencement updates and information, visit www.iecc.edu/wvc/graduation.
