WATCH: Sanctuary bill soon law; Use of force case proceeds; CTU audits due Mon
December 2, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop airs concerns a Republican state legislator has over a bill pending Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signature to expand the state’s migrant sanctuary policies.
Bishop also reviews some of the status around the federal court challenge against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s use of force in enforcing federal immigration law.
Finally, Bishop shares a story from The Center Square’s Jim Talamonti about the Chicago Teachers Union’s response to a U.S. House committee requesting the union hand over financial audits since 2020. Separately, some union members are suing in court to force the union to release the files.
Subscribe to Illinois in Focus Daily with The Center Square on YouTube. You can also subscribe to the Illinois in Focus podcast to get the entire show uninterrupted.
Fri Jul 24
81° 68°
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Latest News Stories
Trump hits 60 nations with forced-labor tariffs
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The Trump administration imposed forced-labor tariffs on 60 trading partners Thursday, covering most U.S. imports, but did not say what the duties will cost American...
Illinois news in brief: Year-over-year unemployment rates rise; Judge gives Rockford woman six months for stealing from booster club; Chicago Fed’s National Activity index rises
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Year-over-year unemployment rates rise According to data released on Thursday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department...
Voters say economy rigged for wealthy as Trump earns low marks
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A majority of American voters, including more than 4 in 10 Republicans, say the economy is rigged to favor the wealthy, according to a new...
Parents challenge special ed regulation for private schools, seek SCOTUS review
By Esther WickhamThe Center Square Two Massachusetts families have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether the state can deny certain special education services to children whose parents choose...
Trump: Data center boom will lower Americans’ energy costs
By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square More data centers will actually mean lower energy costs for most Americans under one of the Trump administration's initiatives, according to President Donald Trump. The...
Election 2026: Third day of filing for Graham’s seat remains quiet
By Alan WootenThe Center Square Thursday’s third day of filing in South Carolina’s special election Republican primary for the U.S. Senate remained quiet. According to the South Carolina Elections Commission...
White House has extra asks for stalled federal highway bill
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square With Congress facing a deadline in two months to renew funding for transportation infrastructure nationwide, the Trump administration is urging lawmakers to codify its list...
Carolina, Virginia Tech chosen for fellowship program by War Department
By Alan WootenThe Center Square Carolina and Virginia Tech have succeeded Ivy League institutions War Department Secretary Pete Hegseth says are “woke breeding grounds of toxic indoctrination” in being chosen...
Future regional power supply down, but not out
By Lauren Jessop | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Shrinking power supply remains a challenge according to the grid operator’s most recent capacity auction, signaling...
Exclusive: USDA distributing loans to Oregon, Nevada sawmills to expand timber production
By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square Sawmills in Oregon and Nevada will be receiving $80 million in federally guaranteed loans to increase American timber production, the Department of Agriculture shared exclusively...
Lawsuit claims digital asset tax is unconstitutional
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – According to a lawsuit filed in Sangamon County court, a new, first-in-the-nation digital asset tax in Illinois...
Minnesotan will spend life in prison for deaths of House speaker, husband
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square The Minnesotan convicted of attacking lawmakers last year, killing House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, will spend the rest of his life in...
Minnesota wins dismissal of federal lawsuit over immigration detainers
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Minnesota has won a legal battle against the Trump administration over immigration detainers after a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by the administration. The...
