WATCH: $10M campaign finance fine dropped; Digital ID unveiled, Chicagoans speak up
November 19, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop reviews actions taken by the Illinois State Board of Elections in regards to a nearly $10 million fine for campaign finance violations with Illinois Senate President Don Harmon’s campaign committee.
Bishop also shares recent public comments from residents of the city of Chicago about the city’s finances and immigration policies ahead of a new budget year with the prospect of a slew of tax increases to pay for a more than billion dollar budget deficit.
Finally, Bishop shares an announcement from the Illinois Secretary of State about the launch of digital ID for Apple devices.
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 Jun 10
82° 59°
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Mullin sworn in as secretary of Homeland Security
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square As the Department of Homeland Security nears 40 days since a government stalemate shut it down, Markwayne Mullin has been sworn in as the ninth...
Gas spike continues for Illinoisans; state leaders offer no plan to help yet
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As fuel prices continue rising, government leaders in Illinois have responded to growing concern over the impact...
BREAKING: Minnesota sues feds for evidence in Metro Surge shootings
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Minnesota filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for refusing to share evidence regarding three...
Supreme Court appears to favor Trump’s asylum border policy
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court appeared in favor of the Trump administration's policy to prevent immigrants making asylum claims from being processed if they are on...
Updated: St. John Woman Charged with Nine Counts of Murder in Crete Township Triple Homicide
Article Summary: Jenna Strouble, 30, of St. John, Indiana, has been charged with nine counts of first-degree murder following the shooting deaths of her former partner, Jacob Lambert, and his...
NASA plans to build $20 billion base on the Moon
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square NASA has abandoned its plans to build a lunar-orbiting space station and will instead use those resources to construct a $20 billion permanent base on...
HUD launches investigation into race-based Washington housing program
By Tim ClouserThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development launched a fair-housing investigation into the Washington State Housing Finance Commission Tuesday over its race-based Covenant Homeownership...
Illinois lagging the nation for entrepreneurship, economic growth
By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Policy Institute’s Josh Bandoch says he could have easily predicted the state would rank as...
Illinois Quick Hits: Iowa PA license wait times half of Illinois
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing says the state’s average wait time for new physician...
Will County Previews ‘GuideWill’ Comprehensive Resource Management Plan
Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | March 2026 Article Summary: Will County's Land Use Department unveiled the branding, interactive tools, and initial timeline for its updated Resource Management...
State attorneys general blame feds for rising gas prices, Trump admin pushes back
By Dave Mason | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) - It’s up to the federal government to stop hikes in gas prices, according to Democratic attorneys general...
Union president: TSA workers want to be paid, not replaced by ICE
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Federal immigration law enforcement officers have joined Transportation Security Administration workers at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago....
Illinois Quick Hits: DHS wants migrant charged with killing to remain in custody
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is asking Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago officials to not release...
