WATCH: Use of Guard debated; Trump singles out Pritzker on AI; Property tax ruling

WATCH: Use of Guard debated; Trump singles out Pritzker on AI; Property tax ruling

December 12, 2025/
Spread the love

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop reviews heated moments from separate U.S. House and Senate committee hearings that touched on the use of the National Guard for public safety around federal immigration enforcement.

Bishop also discusses the status of regulations on artificial intelligence and President Donald Trump’s latest executive order concerning a unified front for regulation. Trump singled out Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker as a “totally unreasonable person.”

Finally, Bishop discusses a story from Legal Newsline about Cook County’s property tax sale system being found unconstitutional by a federal judge. The ruling comes as activists in Chicago urge taxpayer to boycott their property taxes, which help Illinois being the state with the highest property taxes in the country.

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.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

SSUCv3H4sIAAAAAAAACnSRz07DMAzG70i8Q5XzKpY10I0jB248wcTBdcwaLUum/AGhae9O0rQjB7jFP9uf/cWX+7umYQN4hey5ueQoxUrr6IODoKxJeL2auSMjydWEpArWKdA1HCDgaOBECZqodcbXKcl8gBA9+TxsRgiBDkmjwJtE2Whf4mZJTMnUkVKMrSrm4zCxBRXxfzpfoleGvH94VQYM0l9Kb8ojaQ2GbPS/suXxvliFAxn8ntxULh1pguJyX0rZ8SuQO9W+IUplK8ufFkHngq5SOjuFyhyqNhvG6QRLG9pogssr3D6EaWvPMOj8/x9JkxY+gvepXC68GoTp4PZUzTE2TAZmVSbTmXLIu023E6Lre7HlohNPYi4opx1V0pnWWYRSjEcla+sqb8AIibbYb1qOXLZih7wdeNe3m+6Ry4H3fECRPv76AwAA//8DAJrJGBCkAgAA

Township Appoints Temporary FOIA Officer During Trustee’s Leave of Absence

ARTICLE SUMMARY: The Green Garden Township Board appointed resident Belinda Olszewski as a temporary, non-paid Administrative Assistant and FOIA Officer to fill the roles while Trustee Sarah Boxer is on a...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Green Garden Township Board for August 11, 2025

The Green Garden Township Board pushed forward with plans for a new town hall and approved key budget transfers to support the assessor's office during its August 11th meeting. Supervisor...
WCO-Finance-Aug-5.1

Will County Health Department Seeks $1 Million to Avert ‘Drastic’ Service Cuts from Expiring Grants

ARTICLE SUMMARY: The Will County Health Department is requesting an additional $1 million in county funding for its 2026 budget to prevent the elimination of 11 critical staff positions, warning...
WCO-Cap-Imp-8.5.1

Will County’s “First-in-Nation” Veterans Center to House Workforce Services, Sparking Debate

ARTICLE SUMMARY: The new Will County Veteran's Assistance & Support Center will also become the home for the county's Workforce Services department, a move officials say will save approximately $250,000 in...
WCO-Finance-Aug-5.2

Improved Vendor Service Creates $1.2 Million Shortfall in Sheriff’s Medical Budget

ARTICLE SUMMARY: The Will County Sheriff’s Office is facing a more than $1.2 million shortfall in its budget for inmate medical services, a problem officials attribute to an ironic cause:...
WCO-PZ-Aug-5.1

Will County Public Works Committee Unveils 25-Year Transportation Plan, Projects $258 Million Gap

ARTICLE SUMMARY: Will County officials have presented "Our Way Forward 2050," a new long-range transportation plan that provides a 25-year vision for infrastructure projects while forecasting a $258 million shortfall in...
WCO-Public-Safety.4

Will County Animal Protection Services Seeks New Facility Amid “Gaping Wound” of Space Crisis

Article Summary: Will County Animal Protection Services is seeking approval for a new facility, telling a county committee that its current building is critically inadequate for housing animals, leading to...
WCO-Cap-Imp-8.5.2

Board Confronts Animal Services Crowding, Explores Future Facility Options

ARTICLE SUMMARY: Will County officials are grappling with an ongoing animal housing crisis that has overwhelmed the county’s Animal Protective Services facility, prompting discussions about expansion, new construction, or even repurposing...
WCO-Finance-Aug-5.3

Will County Board Members Demand Transparency in Cannabis Tax Fund Allocation

ARTICLE SUMMARY: A debate over transparency and process erupted at the Will County Board’s Finance Committee meeting regarding the distribution of local cannabis tax revenue. Board members called for more...
WCO-PZ-Aug-5.2

Homer Glenn Residents Push Back on 143rd Street Widening as Officials Signal “Tentative Agreement”

ARTICLE SUMMARY: A Homer Glenn farm owner voiced strong opposition to the planned widening of 143rd Street during a county meeting, while committee members indicated a "tentative agreement" is in the...
WCO-LEG-8.5.1

Will County Forges 2026 Federal Agenda Amid D.C. Policy Shifts, ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Impacts

ARTICLE SUMMARY: The Will County Board's Legislative Committee is reshaping its federal priorities for 2026, adding new language on environmental justice and LGBTQIA+ rights while creating a more transparent process for...
WCO-Public-Safety.3

Health Department Seeks $1 Million Levy Increase to Prevent “Weakened System”

Article Summary: The Will County Health Department is asking for a $1 million increase to its property tax levy to save 11 critical jobs that are at risk as post-pandemic...
WCO-Cap-Imp-8.5.3

County Rolls Out New “OneMeeting” Software to Improve Public Access

ARTICLE SUMMARY: Will County has officially launched a new agenda and meeting management software called "OneMeeting," aimed at improving transparency and making it easier for the public and officials to access...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Finance Committee for August 5, 2025

The Will County Board’s Finance Committee confronted major budget challenges during its Tuesday meeting, led by a stark presentation from the Will County Health Department. Health officials are requesting an...
WCO-PZ-8.12.2

Will County PZC Approves Rezoning for Truck Repair Facility on Manhattan Road Amid Resident Concerns

Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-2 to rezone nearly 14 acres in Joliet Township for a truck repair facility. The approval came after a neighboring...