WATCH: Candidate investigates Medicaid spending; Diversity program audit urged
January 26, 2026/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square’s Greg Bishop shares a conversation with Statehouse candidate Bailey Templeton about her latest findings through public records requests showing a 725% increase in the amount of Medicaid spending on children without Social Security Numbers.
Bishop also talks with The Center Square investigative reporter Jared Strong about his research into Illinois’ diversity agency which is now prompting calls from legislators for further scrutiny.
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