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.
⚠️ Hydrologic Outlook issued June 16 at 2:44AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Today Jun 15
72° 54°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Monee Accepts Energy Company Donation Despite Split Vote; Solar Firm Building Outside Village
Monee Village Board Meeting | January 14, 2026 Article Summary: The Monee Village Board voted 4-2 to accept a Community Benefit Agreement with Sparrow Property Management, LLC, associated with Earthrise...
Blaze Destroys Building and Food Truck at Woldhuis Sunrise Nursery
By Andrea Arens A massive fire tore through Woldhuis Sunrise Nursery late Thursday morning, destroying one greenhouse building, a food truck, damaging another building and drawing firefighters from across the...
Pritzker signs Clean Slate Act to automatically seal some criminal convictions
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation to automate the state’s record-sealing process for individuals with certain criminal...
Freight Clusters Drive Push for Overhaul of Wilmington-Peotone Road; County Advances Broader 2050 Plan
Will County Board Meeting | January 15, 2026 Article Summary: Citing the emergence of "new freight clusters," Will County is seeking federal support for a massive study to redesign 22...
Sunny Hill Administrator Defends Private Room Model Amidst Capacity Discussions
Will County Board Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting | January 7, 2026 Article Summary: During the January 7, 2026, meeting, Sunny Hill Nursing Home Administrator Maggie McDowell reported a...
District Plans Tax Abatement for Bonds; Receives $639k TIF Surplus
Crete-Monee School District 201-U Meeting | January 13, 2026 Article Summary: The Crete-Monee School District anticipates no tax increase for the debt service on its 2024 and 2025 alternative revenue...
Elite private colleges can’t cap off price-fixing collusion class action
By Scott Holland | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A federal judge in Chicago has refused to end an antitrust class action complaint accusing elite universities of colluding in the financial...
Illinois Quick Hits: GOP gubernatorial forum set for Monday
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – All four Republican gubernatorial candidates are scheduled to participate in a forum in East Dundee on Monday....
New Police Officer Sworn In
Officer Colton Peterson was sworn in as the newest member of the Monee Police Department. Trustee Scott Youdris noted that with Peterson's hiring, the department has reached its authorized headcount...
WATCH: Ives investigates tax dollars for NGOs; Republicans say Pritzker raising energy prices
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square's Greg Bishop talks live with Jeanne...
ICE hiring ban bill reignites SAFE-T Act fight at Illinois Capitol
By Catrina Baker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A newly introduced bill that would bar former Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from working in...
Executive Committee Advances Dissolution of Southeast Joliet Sanitary District
Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | January 8, 2026 Article Summary: The Executive Committee moved forward with two resolutions to facilitate the dissolution of the Southeast Joliet Sanitary District...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Legislative Committee for January 6, 2026
Will County Board Legislative Committee Meeting | January 6, 2026 Overall Meeting SummaryThe Will County Board Legislative Committee met on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, to finalize the county’s state and...
