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.
Today Jun 8
87° 69°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Report: Illinois U.S. Rep faces minimal penalty after disclosure violations
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – According to a new report, Illinois U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson has violated federal law by making late...
18 were injured, 2 killed in Minneapolis shooting
By Jon StyfThe Center Square A total of 18 victims were injured and two were killed in a Wednesday shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, a total reached after...
Trump HHS tells states to remove gender ideology from sex ed or lose PREP funding
By Tate MillerThe Center Square The Trump administration directed 46 states and territories to remove gender ideology from their sex ed materials or else face possible termination of federal Personal...
Americans could face ‘sticker shock’ as once-small tax exemption ends
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Americans could be in for a surprise when a nearly century-old trade rule that allowed shoppers to avoid President Donald Trump's tariffs expires on Friday....
‘Pro-taxpayer’ law requires operators to clean up abandoned Illinois oil wells
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A state lawmaker says recently-signed legislation will ensure that Illinois taxpayers don’t foot the bill for cleaning...
Black-only medical directory must open to all races after lawsuit
By Tate MillerThe Center Square After a lawsuit from medical group Do No Harm, a Philadelphia-based directory of Black physicians is now open to all races. The directory entitled “Black...
Embattled Fed governor sues Trump over ‘illegal’ firing
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A Federal Reserve governor accused of mortgage fraud filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging her firing was "unprecedented and illegal." Trump fired Federal Reserve Governor Lisa...
Watch: Cook County gun ban plaintiffs petition SCOTUS; Pritzker hasn’t heard from White House
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop gets to the...
Illinois quick hits: Man on pretrial release accused of murder; holiday weekend impaired driving patrols
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Man on pretrial release accused of murder After reportedly violating curfew dozens of times while wearing an ankle monitor, a man...
Beecher Library Schedules New Window Installation for Early August
Article Summary: New windows are scheduled to be installed at the Beecher Public Library on Friday, August 1, a project intended to improve the building's infrastructure. The work is expected...
Illinois quick hits: Gun ban challengers petition SCOTUS; man sentenced for COVID fraud
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Gun ban challengers petition SCOTUS The Second Amendment Foundation is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take a challenge to Cook...
WATCH: Trump: Illinois’ ‘slob of a governor’ should call for help with public safety
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he has not received communication from the federal government about potential troop...
Beecher Library Awarded Over $10,000 in State Per Capita Grant
Article Summary: The Beecher Public Library District will receive $10,013.78 in state funding through the Public Library Per Capita Grant program. The grant, awarded by the Illinois Secretary of State's...
