WATCH: Commission makes ICE accountability referral; Rep says Pritzker wrong on prices
December 19, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop provides moments and reaction from and around the first Illinois Accountability Commission hearing. Appointees of Gov. J.B. Pritzker heard testimony and public comment about the impact of federal immigration enforcement in a state with migrant sanctuary policies.
Bishop also shares more perspective from legislators on both sides of the aisle about prices and the policies that drive them, and the cost of energy with Illinois lawmakers discussing policies around planned coal and natural gas plant closures and the focus on alternatives like battery storage.
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 Jun 4
79° 69°
Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Advocates applaud, condemn SPLC wire fraud charges
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Lawmakers and political action groups simultaneously applauded and condemned the U.S. Department of Justice’s new superseding indictment from a grand jury against the Southern Poverty...
Gallagher elected to serve rest of LaMalfa’s term in Congress
By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square California Assemblymember James Gallagher, R-East Nicolaus, has been elected to serve the rest of the late Republican U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa's current term. Gallagher is...
Four House Republicans rebel against Trump, help pass War Powers Resolution
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square In the second congressional rebuke of the Trump administration's mission against Iran, the U.S. House passed a War Powers Resolution when four Republicans joined Democrats...
Hilton, Becerra remain ahead in California gubernatorial race
By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square It still appears that Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra will advance out of the June 2 primary and into the Nov. 3 general election for...
Budget math undercuts Bessent’s deficit reduction pledge
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump's next budget projects federal deficits running more than double Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's stated target through at least 2029 while also calling...
State Police, IDOT break ground on $14M training facility
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Transportation broke ground on a joint venture to...
Republican data privacy bill scrutinized in congressional hearing
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Businesses and online privacy advocates hold diametrically opposing views on the wisdom of congressional Republicans’ plans to enact a nationwide framework for consumer data privacy...
World Cup: Economic impact equation includes displaced regular tourism
By Kim JarrettThe Center Square Putting a dollar figure on the economic impact of the FIFA World Cup games scheduled for Atlanta is not an exact science, economists say. Eight...
Illinois Quick Hits: Johnson says comptroller running is ‘no breaking news’
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says it’s no breaking news that Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza is running for...
Trump targets 60 economies with forced labor tariffs
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The U.S. Trade Representative proposed tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 economies, including Canada, Mexico, Japan and the European Union, arguing that...
Lawmakers probe $1.2B Ohio Medicaid fraud
By Christine Johnson and Andrew RiceThe Center Square Federal lawmakers called for greater fraud enforcement in the Medicaid Waiver Program on Wednesday, citing concerns over recent reports of $1.2 billion...
Debt burden, pensions burden Chicago Public Schools
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The author of a new Civic Federation report says taking on more debt would be a death...
Nearly 100,000 Illinois Uber, Lyft drivers may soon be able to unionize
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A proposal that would allow many Uber and Lyft drivers to form a sector-wide union and engage...
