WATCH: Reaction to Charlie Kirk’s assassination pour in; Freedom Caucus discusses 2026
September 11, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares some of the reaction from political leaders to the assassination of Turning Points USA founder Charlie Kirk, an Illinois native, and the accusations of which side of the political spectrum is ratcheting up their political rhetoric.
Bishop also shares some of the thoughts about the 2026 elections from the Illinois Freedom Caucus, and reviews some of the campaign finance reports from the state’s Democrats, Republicans and candidates from both political parties for Illinois governor.
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
Resident Urges County to Restrict Residential Motocross Tracks After Neighborhood Dispute
JOLIET — A Will County resident appeared before the Land Use and Development Committee Thursday urging officials to modify zoning codes to prohibit motocross tracks in residential neighborhoods, citing an...
Committee Approves Truck Terminal Special Use Permit After Safety Modifications
JOLIET — The Will County Land Use and Development Committee voted Thursday to approve a special use permit for a truck terminal in New Lenox Township, after the applicant made...
County Committee Approves Two Solar Energy Projects Despite Farmland Concerns
JOLIET — The Will County Land Use and Development Committee approved two commercial solar energy projects Thursday, advancing the proposals to the full county board for final consideration despite concerns...
Will County Approves Vision Zero Initiative to Reduce Traffic Fatalities
Will County has officially adopted Vision Zero, a data-driven safety initiative aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities throughout the county. The Public Works and Transportation Committee unanimously approved the resolution, which...
County’s First Roundabout Planned for Exchange Street and Beecher Road Intersection
Will County's first roundabout is advancing to the final public meeting phase, with construction tentatively scheduled for 2027. County Engineer Jeff Ronaldson announced that the Department of Transportation will hold...
County Accepts $377,000 Developer Donation for Romeo Road Improvements
The Will County Public Works and Transportation Committee has accepted a $377,000 donation from a developer to fund roadway improvements at the southeast corner of Romeo Road and Weber Road...
Contracts Awarded for LED Signal Upgrades and Guardrail Maintenance
The Will County Public Works and Transportation Committee has approved contracts for two significant infrastructure maintenance projects: LED traffic signal upgrades and guardrail maintenance across the county. A contract for...
BRIEFS: Will County Public Works Projects
County Line Road Resurfacing Contract Awarded: The committee approved a $767,249 contract to Iroquois Paving Corporation for resurfacing County Highway 58 (County Line Road) from N5000 East Road east to...
County Approves Two Solar Energy Projects, Committee Discusses Zoning Challenges
The Will County Land Use and Development Committee approved two commercial solar energy projects Wednesday despite objections from the Village of Manhattan regarding one of the proposals. In a 6-1...
Committee Debates Easing Size Restrictions on Accessory Dwelling Units
Will County's Land Use and Development Committee is considering changes to its accessory dwelling unit (ADU) regulations that could provide more flexibility for homeowners looking to create additional living spaces...
“Tiny Homes” Status Creates Regulatory Confusion for County Officials
Will County officials are struggling to establish clear regulations for "tiny homes," with committee members expressing confusion over terminology and appropriate standards during Wednesday's Land Use and Development Committee meeting....
County Officials Begin Exploring Regulations for Small Modular Nuclear Reactors
Will County is beginning to explore potential regulations for small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) after recent Illinois legislation allowed their development, planning staff told the Land Use and Development Committee...
Will County Land Use News Briefs
Truck Terminal Proposal Tabled for Traffic Study: The committee tabled a special use permit request from Litmax Multi-Service Inc. for a truck terminal in New Lenox Township at 22645 Cherry...
County Moves Forward with Veterans Building Renovations, Questions Arise on Pace Building Plans
Will County's Capital Improvements Committee received updates Tuesday on multiple county facility projects, including progress on the Copperfield Drive building renovations for veterans services, while discussions revealed questions about the...