CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) — Local officials and agencies in southern Illinois are using social media to inform and interact with residents. Murphysboro Mayor Will Stephens says he updates his personal Facebook account every day with posts promoting important news such as the opening of a new business and issues facing the city. He says the city posts the same information to its Facebook page at least once a week to keep residents in the loop. The Southern Illinoisan reports Marion also has a strong presence on social media. The director of information technology says the city’s Facebook page allows the mayor to interact with the public. The Marion Police Department has its own Facebook page to share alerts and information regarding crime, traffic and community outreach.