WATCH: Chicago mayor warns of budget ‘chaos,’ end-of-life options bill on gov’s desk
December 11, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop provides highlights from Wednesday’s Chicago City Council meeting where residents shared their criticism of the mayor and alderman. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson later provided updates on budget negotiations as the end-of-month deadline approaches.
Bishop also discusses the debate around a measure on Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk about “end-of-life” options for terminally ill patients that opponents say has “grave” consequences. The measure was approved by the Illinois Senate in the final hours of fall veto session, early Halloween morning.
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 18
75° 59°
Mostly Sunny
Latest News Stories
Illinois may take DOJ ‘Anti-Weaponization’ payouts from residents
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois lawmaker wants to create a law that would allow the state to take any funds...
Supreme Court rules in favor of racially biased jury claims
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision on Thursday, ruled in favor of an Black man convicted of capital murder in Mississippi, who said...
Poll: Voters have unfavorable opinions of Owens, Shapiro, Kirk, Pratt
By Jon StyfThe Center Square American taxpayers have a heavily unfavorable opinion of Candace Owens, Ben Shapiro and Erika Kirk but Los Angeles Mayor candidate Spencer Pratt was barely underwater...
Illinois Quick Hits: Waukegan official charted with casting dead mother’s ballot
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A Waukegan alderman has been arrested and charged with a felony after she allegedly used her dead...
Top Illinois diversity commissioner did not disclose side pay
By Jared Strong | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) -- The chairperson of Illinois' diversity commission has been earning thousands of dollars each year from her former...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Beecher Community Unit School District 200-U for May 13, 2026
Beecher Community Unit School District 200-U Meeting | May 13, 2026 The Beecher Community Unit School District 200-U Board of Education met on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the Beecher...
Durbin warns of divisions in Illinois farewell speech
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says divisions in the United States today are reminiscent of Abraham Lincoln’s...
USMCA talks open as tariffs loom over North America
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A top U.S. trade official heads to Mexico on Thursday for talks expected to keep tariffs at the center of North American trade policy, even...
Los Angeles mayor’s campaign presents defense against Spencer Pratt’s allegations of illegal electioneering
By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square The Karen Bass for Mayor campaign is disputing claims from Republican challenger Spencer Pratt that she is guilty of illegal electioneering. Pratt made the accusation...
Bill: Fee on medium-to-large scale housing investors advances in Senate
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As part of a larger housing proposal by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a bill that would impose a...
Poll reports Arizona approval of Trump hits new low
By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square President Donald Trump has his lowest job approval rating on record in Arizona, according to a new poll. Noble Predictive Insights released a poll showing...
$1.1T Pentagon funding bill leaves room for White House spending spree
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square U.S. House lawmakers have unveiled the draft text of their $1.14 trillion annual defense bill, a must-pass bipartisan bill that fits into President Donald Trump’s...
Trump’s pressure on Iran to strike a deal spills over on Gulf allies
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The demands on Iran are becoming clearer as President Donald Trump sheds more light on a potential deal during a cabinet meeting. The president made...
Illinois Quick Hits: Springfield plan detached from megaprojects
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A proposal to create the Capital Area Tourism Authority and Capital City Downtown Medical District in Springfield...
Election outcomes differ for Texan candidates known for anti-Islamic rhetoric
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Two Republican candidates known for their anti-Islamic rhetoric experienced opposite outcomes in their runoff elections Tuesday night in Texas. Neither were endorsed by President Donald...