WATCH: Tax increase talk at Statehouse; Bost’s election lawsuit against Illinois wins standing
January 15, 2026/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square’s Greg Bishop discusses the status of Illinois’ budget, and shares comments from Gov. J.B. Pritzker about the impacts to state spending if federal taxpayer funds are frozen. Legislators discuss the prospect of tax increases with a proposal being floated to have a surcharge on millionaires.
Bishop also discusses the status of mail-in voting in Illinois. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Illinois Congressman Mike Bost has standing to sue the Illinois State Board of Elections over the state’s policy of counting mail-in ballots up to two weeks after election day.
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.
⚠️ Flood Watch issued June 10 at 6:54PM CDT until June 11 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Wed Jun 10
88° 60°
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
P&Z Commission: New Women’s Recovery Center Proposed for Patterson Road Receives Support
Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | December 2, 2025 Article Summary: The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval for a new inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility...
WATCH: ‘Unfortunate accident’: Miss. senator blasted for comment on Guard troop shootings
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., faced heavy criticism Thursday after characterizing the recent shooting of two National Guard members blocks from the White House, killing...
WATCH: House Homeland Security hearing filled with tense exchanges
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square A U.S. House hearing on homeland security wasn’t void of drama Thursday as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem engaged in several tense exchanges with Democrats,...
Judge rules against Trump’s freeze on wind energy
By Dave MasonThe Center Square Democratic attorneys general applauded a federal judge’s ruling this week that the Trump administration can’t halt development of all wind energy projects. Proponents have long...
Illinois’ new paint fee takes effect, with critics calling it another burden on taxpayers
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A new statewide fee on paint products adds a small charge to each container sold as...
Pritzker decision looms for energy bill ‘on ratepayers’ backs’
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has indicated support for energy legislation awaiting his signature, but small business owners are...
WATCH: Use of National Guard debated in U.S. Senate as Illinois case lingers
By Greg BishopThe Center Square While the use of the National Guard remains on hold in Illinois, pending a legal challenge, the U.S. Senate is debating having troops on American...
Illinois quick hits: Senator’s deferred prosecution deal approved; Indiana Senate votes against new maps
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Senator's deferred prosecution deal approved U.S. District Court Judge Andrea Wood has approved a deferred prosecution agreement to resolve the bribery...
Suspect in Charlie Kirk assassination makes first in-person appearance in court
By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The Utah man charged with assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk appeared in person before a Utah court Thursday for the first time since his arrest....
Pro-life orgs call out FDA, Makary for not fulfilling promise to review abortion drug
By Tate MillerThe Center Square Pro-life groups are holding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and its commissioner Marty Makary accountable for leaving its promise to review the “dangerous” abortion...
Bill to extend enhanced Obamacare subsidies dies in Senate
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square As expected, lawmakers failed to pass either of the competing partisan health care bills in the Senate on Thursday. The result all but ensures that...
Judge: CHA lawyers must pay $59K for citing ChatGPT-created cases
By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Lawyers who defended the Chicago Housing Authority in a case that resulted in more than $32 million in judgments to two families...
Op-Ed: Your kids now belong to the Chicago Teachers Union
By Mailee Smith | Illinois Policy InstituteThe Center Square Students who can’t read and secrecy from parents – that’s just part of the legacy of Stacy Davis Gates during her...
