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.
Today Jul 27
80° 60°
Partly Sunny
Latest News Stories
Public education budgets balloon while enrollment, proficiency, standards drop
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In return for soaring state spending on education, Illinois taxpayers are getting chronic absenteeism, poor academic proficiency...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Manhattan Township for July 8, 2025
Manhattan Township Meeting | July 2025 Discussions about a massive 5,000-acre solar farm proposed by EarthRise Energy dominated the Manhattan Township meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. Supervisor Jim Walsh...
Manhattan Park Board Hires Architect for Round Barn Interior Buildout
Manhattan Park Board Meeting | July 2025 Article Summary: The Manhattan Park Board has approved a resolution to hire Jon Steven Ditter Architect PLLC to design a partial interior buildout of...
Frankfort Approves Over $19 Million in Surplus Fund Transfers for Future Projects
Article Summary: The Frankfort Village Board has approved the transfer of more than $19 million in surplus operating revenues to its capital funds to finance future infrastructure projects, equipment purchases,...
Frankfort Advances Plans for New Multi-Use Paths to Boost Pedestrian Safety
Article SummaryThe Frankfort Village Board has approved a $77,500 agreement with Robinson Engineering, Ltd. to design two new multi-use paths aimed at improving safety and connectivity in Main Park and...
Frankfort Police Department to Purchase New Portable Radios for $31,000
Article SummaryThe Frankfort Village Board has approved the purchase of 14 new Kenwood portable radios for the police department at a cost not to exceed $31,000. The new equipment will...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Village of Frankfort Board for August 18, 2025
The Village of Frankfort Board leveraged a significant budget surplus at its August 18 meeting, approving the transfer of over $19 million into capital funds designated for future infrastructure, equipment,...
Plan launched to place redistricting amendment before voters in 2026
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Two former U.S. Cabinet members have launched a new effort to stop Illinois politicians from drawing their...
30 charged in TdA drug trafficking, murder-for-hire and firearms offenses
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square As part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to pursue violent criminal foreign nationals, two federal indictments were made public charging 30 people, including several...
White House touts D.C. crackdown; no timeline on National Guard deployment
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square More than a week after President Donald Trump declared “Liberation Day” in Washington, D.C., his administration is touting the operation as a success as more...
Trump signs bill studying cancer among military pilots
By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square President Donald Trump has signed into law the Aviator Cancer Examination Study Act, which seeks to address cancer rates among former and current military aircrew...
Illinois GOP U.S. Senate candidates point to economy, Trump gains
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Economic issues are front and center for Republican U.S. Senate candidates in Illinois. Former Illinois GOP Chairman...
DOJ promises release of some Epstein records this week
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Justice will comply with a subpoena for records related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as part of a congressional investigation,...
