MARION, Ill. — Tonight stays mild and clear, with a low around 75 and little wind. Saturday is different.

The National Weather Service forecasts a sunny day with a high near 100 degrees. The heat index reaches 108. That's dangerous for outdoor work, for children playing, for the elderly. Stay hydrated. Check on your neighbors. Keep kids and pets indoors through the afternoon heat.

Saturday night brings a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m., then just a slight chance between 8 and 9 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. Afterward, mostly clear, with a low around 72 to 74.

Sunday clears to sunny, with a high near 93 and northeast winds 5 to 12 mph.

Watch the sky, keep the radio on.

- Forecast data from the National Weather Service.

The American Times' desks are written under standing pen names; the reporting under every byline meets the paper's sourcing standards. See "About Our Bylines."

PITTSBURG, Ill. — Calling the sheriff isn't always a good idea if you've got warrants out on you. A man in Pittsburg found that out the hard way when he phoned the Williamson County Sheriff's Office to report stolen property, and deputies who responded discovered he was wanted on two outstanding warrants, according to Williamson County Sheriff's Office reporting cited by the Southern Illinoisan.

Instead of taking a theft report, deputies found the caller hiding in an attic, authorities said. He was arrested on the spot.

It's the kind of small-town irony that sticks with a place — the victim who turns out to be the wanted man, the attic that turns out not to be much of a hiding spot. Whatever property was actually stolen remains, for now, beside the point.

— Compiled from reporting by the Southern Illinoisan.

The American Times' desks are written under standing pen names; the reporting under every byline meets the paper's sourcing standards. See "About Our Bylines."

JOHNSTON CITY, Ill. — The Indians didn't wait around Friday night. Johnston City jumped on Edwards County from the opening whistle and never let up, cruising to a 67-0 Black Diamond Conference victory at The Ralph, according to the Southern Illinoisan.

The blowout extends what the paper described as a strong start to the season for the Indians, a program that plays in one of the smaller conferences in this end of the state but plays it with plenty of pride. A 67-point night doesn't happen by accident — it happens when a team is clicking on both sides of the ball.

For a town the size of Johnston City, Friday nights under the lights carry weight well beyond the scoreboard. This one was worth the trip to The Ralph.

— Compiled from reporting by the Southern Illinoisan.

The American Times' desks are written under standing pen names; the reporting under every byline meets the paper's sourcing standards. See "About Our Bylines."

MARION, Ill. — Turnovers cost Marion football a clean night, but the Wildcats didn't need clean. They needed yards, and they got them on the ground in a win over Belleville West that sends the team into its South Seven Conference opener with real momentum, according to the Southern Illinoisan.

The running game did the heavy lifting, the paper reported, giving Marion's offense a physical identity heading into conference play — the stretch of the schedule where records get made or broken in this part of the state.

A conference opener is never just another Friday. For a program building confidence, it's the first real test of whether preseason progress translates when the standings start counting. Marion will find out soon enough.

— Compiled from reporting by the Southern Illinoisan.

The American Times' desks are written under standing pen names; the reporting under every byline meets the paper's sourcing standards. See "About Our Bylines."

MARION, Ill. — Extreme heat settles over Williamson County today and tomorrow, with the National Weather Service forecasting highs near 100 degrees and heat index values climbing to 108.

Today, Friday, expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures rising through the morning and afternoon. There's a slight 20 percent chance of rain showers after 1 p.m., but most of the county should stay dry. Winds will be light, from the west southwest at 0 to 5 mph. Tonight remains clear, with the low around 76 degrees and temperatures actually rising slightly to around 78 by morning.

Saturday brings more of the same: sunny skies, another high near 100, and heat index values again reaching 108. The breeze will shift to the northwest, 0 to 6 mph.

Relief comes Sunday. Temperatures moderate to around 94 with a fresher north-northeast breeze at 2 to 10 mph. By Sunday night, the low drops to around 72.

During the peak afternoon heat, drink water and check on neighbors. Keep the weather radio on for any updates.

- Forecast data from the National Weather Service.

The American Times' desks are written under standing pen names; the reporting under every byline meets the paper's sourcing standards. See "About Our Bylines."

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Ill. — Several criminal matters moved through the county this stretch, according to reports from KFVS12 and WPSD Local 6.

A man was arrested on allegations of infant abuse in Williamson County, WPSD Local 6 reports, though the outlet's coverage did not identify the suspect or the circumstances of the arrest. In Herrin, a man was charged with aggravated battery of a child, KFVS12 reports, also without further detail on the case released. A man was sentenced in connection with a 2015 shooting at a Herrin building, according to KFVS12's separate report. And in Johnston City, the police chief himself was accused of hitting a fellow officer, KFVS12 reports — an allegation, if it holds up, that would put the department's own leadership under the kind of scrutiny it's used to handing out. Separately, a Goreville man was arrested on a public indecency charge, WPSD Local 6 reports.

None of these reports included full details on charges filed, court dates, or the specific allegations behind each arrest. The American Times Press will follow up as court records become available on each case — particularly the Johnston City chief, given what it means for a small department when the top badge is the one under investigation.

— Compiled from reporting by KFVS12 and WPSD Local 6.

The American Times' desks are written under standing pen names; the reporting under every byline meets the paper's sourcing standards. See "About Our Bylines."

MARION, Ill. — An artist known locally as Vincelette has unveiled a new work honoring southern Illinois coal mining, the Marion Republican reports.

This county doesn't need a reminder that coal built it — the memory shows up in art like this before it shows up anywhere official.

The Marion Republican's report did not detail the medium, the piece's title, or where it will be displayed. What matters is that a working artist chose this subject, in this county, right now — proof the coal story is still the one people reach for when they want to say something true about where they're from.

— Attribution: Marion Republican

— Compiled from reporting by the Marion Republican.

The American Times' desks are written under standing pen names; the reporting under every byline meets the paper's sourcing standards. See "About Our Bylines."

MARION, Ill. — The Miss Illinois pageant came back to the Marion Cultural and Civic Center this week, and by the end of it, a winner had a new crown. Buchheit was named Miss Illinois, the Southern Illinoisan reports.

The civic center has become the pageant's home in recent years, drawing contestants and families from across the state into downtown Marion for a stretch that fills hotels and restaurants alongside the competition itself. It's the kind of week that puts the county seat in front of a statewide audience without a mine or a courthouse scandal attached to it — a rarer thing here than you'd think.

The Southern Illinoisan's report did not include Buchheit's hometown or further details on the competition. What's confirmed is that Marion once again played host to the state's marquee pageant and crowned a new Miss Illinois on its own stage.

For a civic center built to be the region's premier venue, that's the job done right.

— Compiled from reporting by the Southern Illinoisan.

The American Times' desks are written under standing pen names; the reporting under every byline meets the paper's sourcing standards. See "About Our Bylines."

CARTERVILLE, Ill. — Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge has a new manager. Sexton was named to the post, according to the Southern Illinoisan, in a piece headlined with the question "Why not Crab Orchard?" — the Southern Illinoisan's own framing, not a confirmed direct quote from Sexton.

Whoever runs the refuge inherits a full plate. KFVS12 reported a clean-up alternatives open house at the refuge. WPSD Local 6 reported on the Little Grassy Lake drawdown, part of an ongoing plan to lower the lake that has drawn questions locally. And NBC 5 Chicago reported skeletal remains were found on refuge grounds.

The Southern Illinoisan's report did not detail Sexton's full background or start date. But taking the job as this much sits on the agenda is itself worth noting for a refuge that's rarely short on business.

— Attribution: Southern Illinoisan, KFVS12, WPSD Local 6, NBC 5 Chicago

— Compiled from reporting by the Southern Illinoisan.

The American Times' desks are written under standing pen names; the reporting under every byline meets the paper's sourcing standards. See "About Our Bylines."

CARTERVILLE, Ill. — Plans to drain Little Grassy Lake are moving forward, and not everyone is satisfied with how, WPSD Local 6 reports. In a related update, refuge officials at Crab Orchard have laid out details on the drawdown process itself.

Little Grassy Lake, part of the Crab Orchard refuge complex, draws anglers, boaters and lake-house owners from across the county. A drawdown — lowering lake levels, typically for maintenance, dam work, or habitat management — can leave docks stranded and property owners scrambling, which tends to be where the questions start.

Neither report specified the exact reason for the drawdown, its timeline, or who raised the objections referenced in WPSD's coverage. What's on record is that the refuge has moved to formalize the plan even as concerns persist among people who use the lake.

For a refuge that's already managing a skeletal-remains investigation and a separate cleanup open house this season, Little Grassy is one more item on a crowded plate. The American Times Press will follow what residents are told at any public forums on the drawdown.

— Compiled from reporting by WPSD Local 6.

The American Times' desks are written under standing pen names; the reporting under every byline meets the paper's sourcing standards. See "About Our Bylines."

CARTERVILLE, Ill. — Skeletal remains were discovered at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, NBC 5 Chicago reports.

The report did not identify the remains, the exact location within the refuge, or whether investigators have opened a formal case to determine identity or cause of death.

A discovery like this leaves one more open question for whichever agency takes the lead. The American Times Press will follow this story as investigators release more information, including any identification of the remains and how long they may have been there.

— Attribution: NBC 5 Chicago

— Compiled from reporting by NBC 5 Chicago.

The American Times' desks are written under standing pen names; the reporting under every byline meets the paper's sourcing standards. See "About Our Bylines."

MARION, Ill. — A 20-year-old woman crashed a vehicle into the library of a Marion elementary school, WPSD Local 6 reports.

The report did not specify which school was struck, the timing relative to the school day, or whether anyone inside the building was hurt. It also did not detail what caused the driver to lose control.

A car through a library wall is the kind of image that sticks with a small city — a reminder that even routine days can turn sideways fast. Marion's schools sit inside neighborhoods that residents have watched grow for decades, and any incident that touches a school building draws immediate concern from parents checking on their kids.

The American Times Press will follow up on the driver's condition, any charges filed, and what repairs the district now faces before students return to that wing of the building.

— Compiled from reporting by WPSD Local 6.

The American Times' desks are written under standing pen names; the reporting under every byline meets the paper's sourcing standards. See "About Our Bylines."

MARION, Ill. — Video of an arrest made by Marion police is raising questions about excessive force, WPSD Local 6 reports.

The outlet's report did not identify the officers involved, the person arrested, or the underlying charge that led to the encounter. What it does confirm is that footage of the arrest is circulating and drawing scrutiny from the public.

This is a department that answers to a city council and, ultimately, to the people on Marion's streets. Video like this doesn't settle anything on its own — but it puts a burden on the department to explain what happened, on camera, in its own words.

The American Times Press will follow whether Marion officials or the police department issue a formal response, and whether any internal review follows. In a county with a long memory for how power gets used and covered up, this is exactly the kind of story that doesn't go away on its own.

— Compiled from reporting by WPSD Local 6.

The American Times' desks are written under standing pen names; the reporting under every byline meets the paper's sourcing standards. See "About Our Bylines."

MARION, Ill. — Crews are renovating the clock tower in downtown Marion, KWCH reports.

Any renovation to a landmark like this draws attention in a town that doesn't have many of them left standing. KWCH's report did not include a timeline for completion or the cost of the project.

A clock that runs on time isn't a small thing for a county seat. Now it just has to be legible from the street.

— Attribution: KWCH

— Compiled from reporting by KWCH.

The American Times' desks are written under standing pen names; the reporting under every byline meets the paper's sourcing standards. See "About Our Bylines."

MARION, Ill. — Marion's mall is getting a facelift as part of the city's proposed entertainment district, WPSD Local 6 reports.

WPSD's report did not detail the total cost, the timeline, or which businesses are involved in the makeover. What is clear is that city officials see the mall property as central to their entertainment-district ambitions rather than a relic to be quietly emptied out.

For a county seat that's watched retail patterns shift for decades, betting on the old mall instead of walking away from it says something about which direction Marion thinks it's headed.

— Attribution: WPSD Local 6

— Compiled from reporting by WPSD Local 6.

The American Times' desks are written under standing pen names; the reporting under every byline meets the paper's sourcing standards. See "About Our Bylines."

CARTERVILLE, Ill. — A Carterville teacher has been placed on administrative leave following an investigation into alleged sexual abuse, KFVS12 reports.

The outlet's reporting did not name the teacher, specify the school, or detail the allegations beyond the fact of the investigation and the leave. It is a separate matter from the subpoenas issued this week involving a former assistant football coach also connected to Carterville schools — two different cases, same district, same short stretch of days.

When a small-town district faces two personnel investigations at once, parents start asking the same question every time: what did administrators know, and how fast did they act. Carterville has grown into one of the county's steadier residential communities, built in part on trust in its schools.

The American Times Press will follow this case as more details from the investigation become public.

— Compiled from reporting by KFVS12.

The American Times' desks are written under standing pen names; the reporting under every byline meets the paper's sourcing standards. See "About Our Bylines."

CARTERVILLE, Ill. — Carterville school officials called a special meeting after a former assistant football coach was placed on house arrest, KFVS12 reports. The coach, already on leave from the district, is now the subject of subpoenas from investigators, according to a separate report from The Daily Egyptian.

Neither outlet's reporting, as available, specified the underlying allegations that led to the house arrest or the subpoenas. What's on the record is this: a coach connected to Carterville's football program is under active investigation serious enough to prompt both a special school board session and formal legal process.

Carterville is a district that has grown alongside the town itself, feeding into a community built around John A. Logan College just up the road. A situation like this — a coach removed, a board convened on short notice, subpoenas issued — tends to travel fast through a school community that size.

Parents and taxpayers deserve to know what the district knew and when. That's the story to keep pulling.

— Compiled from reporting by KFVS12 and The Daily Egyptian.

The American Times' desks are written under standing pen names; the reporting under every byline meets the paper's sourcing standards. See "About Our Bylines."

CARTERVILLE, Ill. — Ground broke on a new DG Market here, and organized labor showed up to make sure everyone noticed. Union members picketed the construction site as work began, according to kbsi23.com.

This county built its identity on the union hall long before it built strip malls, and a picket line at a new grocery development is a reminder that the old questions — who gets the work, and on what terms — haven't gone anywhere. Carterville has grown steadily as a residential draw near John A. Logan College, and new commercial construction like this brings jobs. The picket suggests not everyone believes those jobs are being awarded fairly.

The report did not specify which union is picketing or what the dispute is over — wages, contractor selection, or something else. Nor did it say how long the demonstration is expected to continue.

Worth a follow: who's building it, who isn't getting the call, and what the union says it wants before the parking lot gets paved.

— Compiled from reporting by kbsi23.com.

The American Times' desks are written under standing pen names; the reporting under every byline meets the paper's sourcing standards. See "About Our Bylines."

HERRIN, Ill. — Quinn Laird spent a career giving orders inside the Herrin Police Department. Now the retired chief wants to run the whole county's law enforcement, entering the race for Williamson County sheriff, the Southern Illinoisan reports.

Laird's candidacy puts a known name from one of the county's largest municipal departments into a countywide contest that touches every town from Crainville to Crab Orchard. Sheriff's races in this county carry weight beyond the badge — the office has long been a proving ground for who gets taken seriously in local politics.

The Southern Illinoisan's report did not lay out Laird's platform or list any opponents already in the field. What's clear is that a retired police chief with Herrin roots is now asking voters countywide to trust him with a bigger jurisdiction.

Expect more names to surface before filing closes. In Williamson County, the sheriff's race rarely stays quiet for long.

— Compiled from reporting by the Southern Illinoisan.

The American Times' desks are written under standing pen names; the reporting under every byline meets the paper's sourcing standards. See "About Our Bylines."

Three days of triple-digit heat indexes are moving across Williamson County this week, with no relief in the forecast.

Tonight stays clear and warm, a low around 75, according to the National Weather Service. Thursday brings full sunshine and a high near 99, but don't let that number fool you — the heat index climbs to 105. That's the kind of heat that demands respect if you're working outside or spending any real time in the sun.

Friday gets worse: sunny again, high near 99, but the heat index reaches 108. Dangerous heat. Drink water. Check on elderly neighbors. Keep outdoor work and activity to early morning and evening.

Saturday more of the same — sunny, high near 99.

No rain expected. No storms. Just heat, day after day, relentless and real.

Watch the sky, keep the radio on.

- Forecast data from the National Weather Service.

The American Times' desks are written under standing pen names; the reporting under every byline meets the paper's sourcing standards. See "About Our Bylines."