WATCH: HHS tells Pritzker ‘show receipts’ on welfare spending; Energy bill to be signed
January 8, 2026/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares conversations about fighting welfare fraud with Truth In Accounting founder and CEO Sheila Weinberg and HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill and how Illinois could be impacted and how the state can rectify a funding freeze.
Bishop also revisits debate over energy legislation Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to sign Thursday in Joliet. Supporters of Senate Bill 25 say it will help keep down rates with a continued focus on renewable energy. Opponents say they’ve heard that before with previous energy policies Illinois approved that they say has only led to higher utility rates.
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 Jun 7
82° 70°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Latest News Stories
Will County Public Health & Safety Committee July 3 Meeting Briefs
Grain Dust Complaint Prompts Investigation: Will County resident Tracy Henning of unincorporated Peotone addressed the committee about health problems she attributes to grain dust from a neighboring facility. Henning, who...
Prairie State College Board Accepts Positive FY2024 Financial Audit
Article Summary: The Prairie State College Board of Trustees unanimously accepted the audited financial statements for fiscal year 2024, signaling a clean bill of financial health for the institution. A...
Will County Seeks Asian Carp Provision in Federal Legislative Agenda
Will County Board member Julie Berkowicz is pushing to add specific language addressing Asian carp invasion to the county's federal legislative agenda, citing the ongoing threat to local waterways as...
State Legislative Session Update: Transit, Energy Bills Stall Despite Democratic Control
Illinois lawmakers failed to advance major transit funding and comprehensive energy legislation during the recently concluded spring session, leaving key issues unresolved despite Democratic supermajorities in both chambers, according to...
Will County’s Major Capital Projects Hit Key Milestones, VAC Buildout on “Aggressive Schedule”
Will County is making significant headway on several major capital improvement projects, with the new Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) & Support Center in Joliet on an “aggressive schedule” for a...
County Board Approves 2026-2031 Transportation Plan Despite Project Opposition
Will County board members approved a contested five-year transportation improvement plan Tuesday after heated debate over a controversial Homer Glen road project that has drawn sustained community opposition. The Will...
Contentious I-3 Rezoning for DuPage Township Storage Yard Narrowly Advances
A proposal to rezone a 20-acre parcel in DuPage Township from agricultural to the county's most intensive industrial classification narrowly earned a recommendation for approval from the Will County Planning...
Will County Legislative Committee July 1 Meeting Briefs
Federal Budget Impact: Will County could face significant funding challenges if federal budget reconciliation measures reduce Medicaid and SNAP benefits. The county health department and social services rely heavily on...
County Moves Forward with $200.8 Million Bond Refinancing Plan
Will County Finance Committee members on July 1 approved moving forward with a comprehensive bond refinancing ordinance that could save taxpayers more than $716,000 over the life of the bonds...
Access Will County Dial-a-Ride Program Sees Record Growth, Eyes Expansion
Will County's dial-a-ride transportation service for seniors and disabled residents reached record ridership levels while officials plan major expansion to cover all county townships. The Access Will County program served...
Will County to Launch New Public Meeting Agenda System in August Amidst Data Conversion Concerns
Will County is set to launch its new public meeting agenda and records software, Granicus “OneMeeting,” in August, but the transition will see over a decade of historical records converted...
Green Garden Township Poised for First Major Subdivision in Years After Rezoning
The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended a rezoning that could pave the way for the first major residential subdivision in Green Garden Township in nearly two decades....
County RNG Facility Shows Strong Performance Despite Solar Challenges
Will County's Renewable Natural Gas facility is exceeding production targets while officials explore options to reduce substantial electricity costs that currently impact profitability. Project manager Greg Komperda told Finance Committee...