WATCH: Pritzker alleges Trump election interference; tells disgruntled residents to move
August 29, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares where there appears to be common ground between the Trump administration and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on public safety as both say there needs to be more law enforcement officers. But Pritzker alleged without evidence that President Donald Trump’s push for using the National Guard for public safety is an attempt to interfere with the 2026 election.
Bishop also shares comments Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker made about sentiments across the state to split the state in two. He said if people don’t want to make the state better, they can move. New Illinois Chairman G.H. Merritt reacts and said the governor doesn’t understand what’s behind the movement, saying he won’t listen and doesn’t care.
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.
Latest News Stories
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Committee of the Whole for August 12, 2025
The Will County Board’s Committee of the Whole dedicated its August 12 meeting to an in-depth training session on Robert’s Rules of Order, aiming to foster more efficient and orderly...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee for August 12, 2025
The Will County Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee advanced several updated chapters of the county’s public works code during its August 12 meeting, addressing topics from solid waste to waste hauler...
Will County Receives Detailed Update on Landfill Expansion Investigation
Article Summary: The Will County Landfill Committee received a comprehensive technical update on the site investigation for the planned horizontal expansion of the county landfill, confirming the project remains on...
Report Finding Few Trucks Littering Sparks Debate on Cleanup Responsibility
Article Summary: A Will County report found that a very small percentage of waste-hauling trucks are the source of litter on roadways near the county landfill, sparking a debate among...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Landfill Committee for August 7, 2025
The Will County Landfill Committee on Thursday heard a detailed technical update on the ongoing investigation for the county landfill expansion, confirming that the complex project remains on schedule. Consultants...
Water Well, Waste Hauler Ordinances Updated by Will County Committee
Article Summary: The Will County Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee approved updates to chapters governing water well permits and waste hauler reporting, forwarding them to the Executive Committee for consideration. Changes...
Beecher to Draft Ordinances Regulating Scooters and Fishing in Village Ponds
Article Summary: The Beecher Village Board is moving to create new local laws governing the use of electric scooters and fishing in village-owned ponds. Citing safety concerns and resident inquiries,...
Beecher’s National Night Out Draws Large Crowd to New Police Station
Article Summary: Beecher's National Night Out was a resounding success, drawing a large and enthusiastic crowd to the new Public Safety Facility for the first time. The August 5 event...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Village of Beecher Board of Trustees for July 28 & August 11, 2025
Over its last two meetings, the Beecher Village Board took significant steps on fiscal policy, new local regulations, and community appointments. On July 28, the board unanimously passed an ordinance...
Finance Committee: Beecher Schools Project Balanced Budget, Earmark Funds for Major Projects
Article Summary: The Beecher School District 200-U Finance Committee reviewed a preliminary Fiscal Year 2026 budget that projects a narrow surplus, a significant turnaround from last year's initial deficit forecast....
Will County Health Department Seeks $1 Million to Avert ‘Drastic’ Service Cuts from Expiring Grants
ARTICLE SUMMARY: The Will County Health Department is requesting an additional $1 million in county funding for its 2026 budget to prevent the elimination of 11 critical staff positions, warning...
Will County’s “First-in-Nation” Veterans Center to House Workforce Services, Sparking Debate
ARTICLE SUMMARY: The new Will County Veteran's Assistance & Support Center will also become the home for the county's Workforce Services department, a move officials say will save approximately $250,000 in...
Improved Vendor Service Creates $1.2 Million Shortfall in Sheriff’s Medical Budget
ARTICLE SUMMARY: The Will County Sheriff’s Office is facing a more than $1.2 million shortfall in its budget for inmate medical services, a problem officials attribute to an ironic cause:...
Will County Public Works Committee Unveils 25-Year Transportation Plan, Projects $258 Million Gap
ARTICLE SUMMARY: Will County officials have presented "Our Way Forward 2050," a new long-range transportation plan that provides a 25-year vision for infrastructure projects while forecasting a $258 million shortfall in...
Will County Animal Protection Services Seeks New Facility Amid “Gaping Wound” of Space Crisis
Article Summary: Will County Animal Protection Services is seeking approval for a new facility, telling a county committee that its current building is critically inadequate for housing animals, leading to...