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 14
74° 56°
Mostly Sunny
Latest News Stories
House Republicans re-pass DHS funding bill in symbolic vote
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. House re-passed the 2026 Homeland Security funding bill in a symbolic vote Thursday, amping up pressure on Democrats as DHS remains shuttered while...
Illinois Quick Hits: Pritzker to Noem: ‘Don’t let the door hit you’
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s legacy is corruption and chaos. In...
Trump’s newest tariff program won’t raise nearly as much money
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump's newest tariffs, which already face a legal challenge in court, could increase deficits by $1.6 billion over the next decade, if they...
Legal experts: Supreme Court should decide energy policy framework over climate lawsuits
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in the fall over a case to decide whether states can sue fossil fuel companies for damages related...
Judge orders tariff refunds, but Friday’s hearing could set course
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The government must refund more than $130 billion in tariffs imposed under President Donald Trump's unconstitutional tariff regime, even to those who did not file...
Iran War Powers resolution fails in House
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Congressional efforts to halt the U.S. military’s operations in Iran have now failed twice, with the U.S. House tanking a War Powers Resolution only a...
WATCH: Democratic officials sue Trump over new tariff
By Dave MasonThe Center Square Democratic attorneys general across the U.S. sued the Trump administration Thursday to stop the implementation of a new 15% global tariff under Section 122 of...
Chicago police monitor Iran-U.S. conflict; public advised to be aware
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago Police say they are monitoring the U.S. conflict in Iran. Residents and visitors observed a significant...
Noem ousted as secretary of Homeland Security; Mullin to succeed
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square President Donald Trump is nominating Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma as the next Homeland Security Secretary. On Thursday, the second-term Republican decided to reassign...
DHS remains shuttered after third failed vote to reopen it
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Senate Democrats tanked the Department of Homeland Security funding bill for the third time Thursday, ensuring the department’s funding lapse will continue for at least...
Walz, Ellison face resignation calls during House fraud hearing
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison on Wednesday faced calls to step down during a hearing of the U.S. House Oversight Committee...
U.S. House introduces bill to require national debt transparency
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Lawmakers introduced a bill to require greater transparency on the national debt and GDP. Reps. Lloyd Smucker, R-Penn., and Jared Golden, D-Maine, introduced the Debt-to-GDP...
Illinois secretary of state wants nearly 2% budget increase
By Sean Reed | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias wants nearly 2% more in taxpayer funds for his upcoming...
