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.
Sat Jun 6
83° 68°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Crete-Monee Delays Vote on Non-Union and Administrative Salary Increases
Crete-Monee Board of Education Meeting | April 21, 2026 Article Summary: The Crete-Monee Board of Education voted Tuesday to postpone the approval of 2026-2027 salary increases for administrators and non-union staff...
Monee Township Board Authorizes Sweeping Line-Item Budget Transfers Across Departments
Monee Township Meeting | March 19, 2026 Article Summary: The Monee Township Board of Trustees approved six separate line-item transfers totaling more than $35,000 to balance departmental budgets, moving funds from...
Chicago mayor to push for local funding, keeping Bears
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As he travels to Springfield to lobby for state funding of local governments, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson...
Senate Republicans unveil $72 billion budget package to fund ICE, CBP
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Republicans are forging ahead with legislation to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and U.S. Border Patrol along party lines. The two Senate committees...
Illinois AI regulations have mild industry support, could draw federal ire
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Experts in artificial intelligence spoke to state lawmakers recently, providing guidance on four bills introduced in the...
DOJ files complaint to block Minnesota climate lawsuit
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a complaint against Minnesota, seeking to block the state from continuing to pursue a lawsuit against energy companies...
Hegseth: Ceasefire holds despite Iranian aggression
By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square Despite Iranian forces opening fire on American warships in the Strait of Hormuz Monday, War Secretary Pete Hegseth said the ceasefire still holds and the...
Illinois Quick Hits: Mayors to visit capitol urge protection of local funding
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus is urging Gov. J.B. Pritzker to reverse his proposed budget cut to local...
Despite tax revolt, Lower Merion keeps administrator pay high
By Mark StricherzThe Center Square Despite a $27 million settlement with taxpayers in 2022, Lower Merion School District continues to pay top-tier salaries to administrators.Assistant high school principals in the...
Supreme Court allows Louisiana to immediately move on drawing new map
By Nolan MckendryThe Center Square Louisiana lawmakers can immediately begin drawing a new congressional map after the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday night put into effect its ruling striking down...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Monee Village Board for April 22, 2026
Monee Village Board Meeting | April 22, 2026 The Monee Village Board met on Wednesday to approve key technological and infrastructure investments, while engaging in a deep debate over regional...
After Fifth Circuit ruling on TX border security law, ACLU sues to stop it from going into effect
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Roughly one week after the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals handed Texas a win on its border security law, SB 4, the law is...
Colorado legislators back psychedelic drug research
By Liam HibbertThe Center Square Psychedelic drugs are experiencing an unprecedented wave of support across the U.S. for their potential therapeutic benefits. President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to research...
