WATCH: Pritzker says Trump’s first year a failure; Raoul discusses prosecuting fraud
January 21, 2026/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square’s Greg Bishop discusses some of the highlights President Donald Trump provided from his first year in office of his second non-consecutive term. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Trump’s first year has been a “failure,” while Republicans in Illinois say Pritzker’s policy are not making the state safe or affordable.
Bishop also delves into the start of an investigation into overpayments in the state’s child care funding operations, with reaction from Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul saying fraud should be prosecuted.
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 Jun 5
86° 65°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Latest News Stories
Frankfort Township Upgrading Senior Apartments Amidst High Demand
Frankfort Township is moving forward with significant upgrades to its senior apartments to meet modern standards, Supervisor Nick George announced at Monday’s board meeting. The improvements come as the township...
Outdoor Bar Expansion Gets Green Light from Frankfort Township
The Frankfort Township Board has approved a special use permit that will allow a bar in an unincorporated area to expand its service outdoors. The unanimous decision was made during...
Meeting Briefs: Frankfort Township Board for April 14, 2025
The Frankfort Township Board of Trustees met on Monday, April 14, 2025, to address zoning matters and new business. The board took a firm stance against government consolidation, unanimously passing...
Manhattan Township Recommends Denial of Bruns Road Rodeo Permit Amid Neighbor Objections
The Manhattan Township Board unanimously recommended that Will County deny a permit for a large-scale commercial rodeo on Bruns Road, following a contentious public hearing where neighbors cited a history...
Road Contract Awarded as Township Races Against Bridge Funding Deadline
The Manhattan Township Highway Department has awarded a $91,000 contract for its annual road resurfacing program, while simultaneously facing a critical deadline that puts $500,000 in county funding for a...
Manhattan Township Halts Electric Aggregation Program, Citing Poor Pricing
Residents in unincorporated Manhattan Township will no longer be enrolled in a group electricity purchasing plan after the Township Board voted unanimously not to renew its electric aggregation contract. The...
Meeting Briefs: Manhattan Township for April 8, 2025
Assessor’s Office to Replace Server, Receives New Tax Multiplier: Assessor Joe Oldani reported that the township’s server is not compliant with current security methods and must be replaced by the end...
Fire District Receives Clean Audit, Adds 9 New Firefighters Despite Staff Departures
The Manhattan Fire Protection District received a clean audit report for fiscal year 2023 while addressing staffing challenges with nine new part-time firefighters set to join the department at the...
Construction Manager Decision Delayed for New Fire Station Project
The Manhattan Fire Protection District has postponed a decision on hiring a construction management company for its new fire station project while fee structures are finalized. Board members met with...
Manhattan Fire District March 17 Meeting Briefs
Vehicle Updates Progressing: The new Tahoe ordered last year has arrived but will require several months before entering service. The ambulance damaged in December's crash is currently at the body...
Manhattan Township to Fight State Consolidation Bills, Citing Threat to Local Services
The Manhattan Township Board is mounting a formal opposition to a series of state bills that officials believe threaten the existence of township governments across Illinois. During their monthly meeting...
Massive Battery Storage Facility Proposed in Manhattan Township, Could Be “Largest in Illinois”
A proposal for a 15-acre battery storage facility that could be the "largest substation in Illinois" is under consideration in Manhattan Township, a project that could reshape a portion of...
Proposed Bruns Road Rodeo Sparks Concerns Over Safety, Zoning, and Past Violations
A proposal to host a large, multi-weekend rodeo on Bruns Road has raised numerous red flags for the Manhattan Township Board, which cited concerns ranging from public safety and zoning...
