WATCH: IL child welfare interns debate heats up; state financial audit released
August 22, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop talks live with state Rep. Jed Davis about his continued concerns about the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services’ use of interns. He says he’s seeking legislative solutions but worries the issue could get buried heading into an election year.
Bishop also shares reaction to the state of Illinois’ fiscal year 2023 audit being released more than two years after the fiscal year concluded. Comptroller Susana Mendoza says future audits will be released quicker. Truth in Accounting’s Sheila Weinberg reacts.
Watch the full program below. 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 Jul 20
85° 60°
Mostly Sunny
Latest News Stories
Federal crackdown targets two Minneapolis drug trafficking groups
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Federal prosecutors have charged 25 members and associates of two group feds say are Minneapolis-based drug trafficking organizations. The indictments, unsealed by the U.S. Attorney’s...
Peterson, Kiros to square off in Denver’s congressional race
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Melat Kiros, a former lawyer and Democratic Socialist, will face off against Republican Christy Peterson in the 1st Congressional District in Denver. Kiros, 29, overcame...
Legislators to consider bill designed to protect Altadena
By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square Legislation to protect Altadena from predatory real estate speculation moves to committee hearings Wednesday in Sacramento. Known as the Keep Altadena Lands in Altadena Hands...
Illinois politicians claim cautious win in birthright citizenship ruling
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against an executive order by President Donald Trump Tuesday, which sought...
Tax system overhaul better than credits, think tank says
By David BeasleyThe Center Square Instead of awarding job creation tax credits to individual companies that expand or build new businesses in Ohio, the state should focus on overhauling its...
Wisconsin members of Congress split on Supreme Court rulings
By Benjamin YountThe Center Square Wisconsin’s Congressional reacted predictably to Tuesday’s rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court ruled on cases involving birthright citizenship, boys playing in girls’...
Op-Ed: America at 250: A Republic, if we can keep it
By Cathy McMorris RodgersThe Center Square On July 4, America will celebrate 250 years of independence. As our nation marks this extraordinary milestone, we should pause to remember where we've...
Illinois Quick Hits: Man accused in White House terror plot ordered detained
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A federal judge has ordered that a Chicago man be detained pending his obstruction-of-justice trial related to...
Beecher Board Grants Nonconforming Status to Keep Dixie Highway Home Residential
Beecher Village Board Meeting | June 22, 2026 Article Summary: The Beecher Village Board voted June 22 to grant permanent nonconforming status to a single-family home at 1220 Dixie Highway,...
Republican incumbents win Colorado congressional primaries
By Liam HibbertThe Center Square Republican incumbents won their primaries Tuesday for Colorado’s 3rd, 5th and 8th congressional districts. Democratic candidates in the three congressional races had the most at...
Weiser wins Dems’ primary for governor; GOP race is close
By Liam HibbertThe Center Square Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser was projected to win the Democratic primary for governor after early results on Tuesday, but the Republican primary for the...
Hickenlooper survives primary, DeGette too close to call in Colorado races
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Democrats in Colorado survived some primary challenges on Tuesday night while other races were too close to call. Outspoken Democratic Socialist candidates sought to oust...
Tennessee congressman introduces bill to ban ‘birthright tourism’
By Kim JarrettThe Center Square Hours after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship, Tennessee congressman Andy Ogles introduced a bill that would ban pregnant nonimmigrants from coming to America....
