WATCH: GOP governor candidates forum highlights; Pritzker talks taxes increase, Bears
January 20, 2026/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square’s Greg Bishop provides highlights from Monday evening’s Illinois State Rifle Association Republican gubernatorial candidates forum at GAT Guns in East Dundee. The entire forum can be viewed here.
Bishop also airs some of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s news conference after signing the Clean Slate Act into law where the governor talked about criminal justice reform, taxing millionaires and the ongoing question of where the Chicago Bears will land a new stadium deal.
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
88° 73°
Partly Sunny
Latest News Stories
Flash index shows rising tax receipts in Illinois
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois income tax and sales tax receipts are up for the fiscal year that ended on June...
Illinois Quick Hits: Aqua seeks water rate hike
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Another Illinois utility wants to raise rates on consumers. The Citizens Utility Board said a proposed $26.5...
Pritzker signs AI regulation critics say harms innovation, ‘picks winners’
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation Monday that he and lawmakers said intends to provide new protections...
500-plus fugitives arrested across two states
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – More than 400 fugitives have been arrested in Illinois, and another 117 in Missouri, over the last...
Illinois Quick Hits: Woman sentenced for voting twice
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A Hoopeston woman has been sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $2,500...
Embattled state lawmaker resigns after investigation into ‘unethical’ behavior
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – After two days of calls for his resignation by Democrat leaders, embattled Illinois state Rep. Harry Benton,...
New statewide tenant law signed; Chicago seeks to push further
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law into effect that lawmakers say intends to increase renter protections...
Illinois Quick Hits: 179 charged in ‘badgeless’ federal enforcement
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Andrew Boutros says 179 people have been charged in...
Poll: Voters more likely to support GOP over Trump
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Republican voters are more likely to identify themselves as supporters of the party itself rather than supporters of President Donald Trump, results of a new...
Report: Texas and Florida are leading in tort reform, Boom Belt success
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Texas and Florida are leading in tort reform, bringing more business and economic growth to southern Boom Belt states, the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute...
Poll: 96% want Senate candidates to address Social Security cuts
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Ninety-six percent of voters want Senate candidates to explain how they'll prevent an automatic 22% Social Security benefit cut for 70 million Americans, a new...
Energy group praises bill curbing EPA regulatory ‘abuses’
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Recently introduced legislation that would rein in certain regulatory powers of the Environmental Protection Agency has drawn praise from dozens of energy industry groups. The...
Taxpayer cost questions surround push for suicide prevention measures on I-74 Bridge
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Suicide prevention advocates are renewing calls for safety measures on the Interstate 74 Bridge, arguing that...
