WATCH: Pritzker reacts to Trump’s address; Immigration enforcement continues
December 18, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares highlights from Wednesday evening primetime address to the nation from President Donald Trump and Gov. J.B. Pritzker‘s reaction.
Bishop also jumps into the latest 24 hours of continued immigration enforcement in the Chicagoland area, including an interaction between immigration enforcement official Gregory Bovino and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss. This comes as the Illinois Accountability Commission prepares to meet today to provide an avenue for people to provide testimony about the impacts immigration enforcement.
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.
Today Jul 25
73°
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Legislator urges leaders to focus on relief for Illinois’ high property taxes
By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – With Illinois now being home to the highest property tax rates in the country, state Rep....
Meeting Summary: Manhattan Village Board for August 5, 2025
The Manhattan Village Board approved a major road resurfacing contract, implemented a local grocery tax to replace state funds, and hired a new full-time accountant during its meeting on Tuesday,...
Texas House, Illinois state senator sue 33 AWOL Democrats in Illinois court
By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Texas House of Representatives has sued 33 House Democrats who absconded to Illinois to prevent...
WATCH: Democrat state redistricting efforts created unfair advantages, lawmaker says
By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – While Democratic lawmakers from California to New York have threatened to redistrict in response to Texas'...
Illinois quick hits: Fatal helicopter crash; Comptroller orders another extra pension payment
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Fatal helicopter crash Two people are dead after a helicopter crashed into a barge on the Mississippi River. The Federal Aviation...
Village Board Approves Comprehensive Update to Employee Personnel Manual
MANHATTAN – The Village of Manhattan has updated its employee personnel manual for the first time since 2018, adopting a series of amendments to formalize policies and reflect current practices....
New poll: 50.2% of Illinois voters view Pritzker unfavorably
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A new poll shows that Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s approval rating has flipped negative for the first time....
WATCH: Pritzker welcomes FBI looking for TX Dems in IL, dismisses bribery question
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As the FBI gets involved in locating Texas Democrats hiding out in states like Illinois, Gov. J.B....
Manhattan Awards $537,907 Contract for Hanover Estates Road Resurfacing
MANHATTAN – The Village of Manhattan has awarded a $537,907.85 contract to D. Construction, Inc. of Coal City for its Fiscal Year 2026 Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) resurfacing project, which...
WATCH: Illinois State Fair: Affordable fun backed by $140M in taxpayer funding
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The 2025 Illinois State Fair is being praised for its affordability and accessibility to families across...
Op-Ed: State lawmakers gut Emmett Till Day bill, expose Illinois’ corruption problem
By LyLena D. Estabine | Illinois Policy InstituteThe Center Square July 25, 2025, would have marked Illinois’ first Emmett Till Day, a commemoration of the 14-year-old Chicagoan whose 1955 lynching...
Democratic PACs being investigated for bankrolling AWOL Texas House Democrats
By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Democratic political action committees are being investigated by state, and potentially federal, authorities over claims they...
Pritzker: Chicago mayor ‘never once called’ to oppose pension bill
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson never called him to oppose a pension bill...
WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Thursday Aug. 7th, 2025
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop continues his coverage...
Illinois quick hits: Cook County declares flood disaster; opt-out forms promoted; State Fair begins
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Cook County, Chicago declare flood disaster Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle have issued respective disaster...