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.
⚠️ Flood Watch issued June 10 at 9:11PM CDT until June 11 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Today Jun 10
88° 60°
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Poll: Americans skeptical of Trump’s 10% credit card cap
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square A significant portion of Americans believe they cannot take on more debt, according to a new survey from WalletHub. The new survey analyzed the latest...
Illinois Quick Hits: FEMA says no to Illinois disaster declaration
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied the state of Illinois’ appeal for a major disaster declaration...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee for Jan. 6, 2026
Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting | Jan. 6, 2026 The Will County Board Capital Improvements and IT Committee met Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, to discuss the county's...
Legislative Committee: Lobbyists Report on Federal Shutdown and Legislative Outlook
Legislative Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026 Article Summary: Federal lobbyists provided the Legislative Committee with an update on the partial government shutdown and the status of appropriations bills. While...
Ex-COPA deputy who revealed boss’ anti-cop bias can’t sue over firing
By Scott Holland | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A federal judge has tossed a lawsuit from a former top investigator for the Chicago city office responsible for investigating police misconduct...
Lawsuit demands Pritzker’s office release docs over pic with criminal
By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's office has illegally attempted to scrub from the public record photos and other proof that he posed at...
Pritzker announces bond expansion, says progress has been made with Bears
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says progress has been made in conversations with the Chicago Bears. Pritzker announced the...
Illinois Quick Hits: Statewide bag tax proposed
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State Rep. Laura Faver Dias, D-Grayslake, has proposed legislation to impose a 10-cent fee on carryout bags...
Lawmakers join Chicago Teachers Union to push for more school funding
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State lawmakers have introduced legislation backed by the Chicago Teachers Union to immediately increase evidence-based funding and...
Illinois proposal makes businesses financially liable for climate change
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A proposal to create an Illinois Climate Change Superfund is drawing sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers...
Illinois unemployment rate tops national average; state ends 2025 with fewer jobs
By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois State Rep. Chris Miller argues numbers tell the story as new U.S. Bureau of Labor...
Illinois Quick Hits: Iowa wants Illinois’ counties
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Iowa state lawmaker has introduced legislation that would establish a committee to study the potential transfer...
County Authorizes Financial Study of Homer Glen Law Enforcement Contract
Finance Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026 Article Summary: The Finance Committee voted to authorize a professional study to evaluate the true cost of providing law enforcement services to the...
