WATCH: Commission makes ICE accountability referral; Rep says Pritzker wrong on prices
December 19, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop provides moments and reaction from and around the first Illinois Accountability Commission hearing. Appointees of Gov. J.B. Pritzker heard testimony and public comment about the impact of federal immigration enforcement in a state with migrant sanctuary policies.
Bishop also shares more perspective from legislators on both sides of the aisle about prices and the policies that drive them, and the cost of energy with Illinois lawmakers discussing policies around planned coal and natural gas plant closures and the focus on alternatives like battery storage.
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 9
88° 70°
Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Latest News Stories
Illinois quick hits: Illinois U.S. senators split on shutdown vote
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Illinois U.S. senators split on shutdown vote Illinois U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth differed as the Senate voted to...
End to government shutdown in sight after senators make funding deal
By Thérèse Boudreaux | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – U.S. senators finally broke the government funding impasse Sunday night, voting 60-40 to advance a bill ending...
Will County Saves Nearly $5.74 Million in Bond Refinancing, Explores Future Borrowing Options
Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting | November 4, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board’s Capital Improvements & IT Committee learned that the county has successfully saved nearly...
Will County Board Advances New Speed Limits in Green Garden and Frankfort Townships
Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | November 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board approved new speed limits for a section of Stuenkel Road in Green Garden...
New Lenox Garage Variance Denied After Neighbor Cites ‘Massive’ Scale and Neighborhood Impact
Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | November 4, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously denied a New Lenox Township homeowner's request for a variance...
State Veto Session Passes Energy Bill Limiting County Zoning, Approves Toll Hike for Mass Transit
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Legislative Committee for November 4, 2025 Article Summary: A state lobbyist reported to Will County that the Illinois General Assembly passed a major energy bill...
Large naval presence in Caribbean ahead of Ford arrival
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square As the number of suspected narcotic transport boats destroyed by the U.S. military grows, so does the number of naval vessels in the Caribbean. Secretary...
Voting rights group warns CA redistricting push could undermine trust in IL
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (THE CENTer Square) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging states like Illinois to redraw congressional maps, but voting rights...
Chicago downtown office space vacancy rate jumps to record high levels
By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – With Chicago’s downtown office vacancy rate now at a record-high 28%, Illinois Policy Institute researcher LyLena...
Commission Approves Peotone-Area Farmhouse Split, Overruling Staff’s “Spot Zoning” Concerns
Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | November 4, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission approved a request to rezone a 1.75-acre portion of a larger...
Will County Finance Committee Hits Impasse on 2025 Tax Levy, Postpones Budget Votes
Will County Finance Committee Meeting | November 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Finance Committee postponed votes on the 2025 tax levy and the 2026 budget after a contentious debate...
Federal court backs union on feds’ partisan emails
By Esther WickhamThe Center Square A federal judge ruled Friday that the Trump administration violated employees’ First Amendment rights by allegedly hijacking their email accounts to send automated partisan messages...
Senate Democrats propose new govt. funding deal; Republicans reject it
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square After nearly six weeks of continuously blocking Republicans’ bill to end the ongoing government shutdown, Senate Democrats have modified their funding counterproposal. Instead of demanding...
