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 10
82° 59°
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
TVA to keep two coal-fired power plants operating indefinitely
By Alton WallaceThe Center Square Two coal-fired power plants in Tennessee that had been scheduled for closure in 2026 and 2028 will be kept open for the “foreseeable future” after...
Lawmakers probe nationwide child care fraud
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square A bipartisan group of senators probed allegations of fraud in the child care industry on Thursday. The lawmakers called for greater transparency and more rigorous...
WATCH: Attorney cites positive impact of corruption trials 1 year after Madigan conviction
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – One year after a federal jury convicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan of bribery, conspiracy, wire...
Illinois Quick Hits: $10M scheme alleged in heath care fraud case
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Two Pakistani nationals have been charged in Chicago with participating in a $10-million scheme to fraudulently bill...
GOP governor candidate Heidner wants Illinois to ‘make,’ not ‘take’
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – One of the four Republicans vying for the party’s nomination to take on Gov. J.B. Pritzker says...
Op-Ed: If Illinois wants clean energy, it needs data centers
By LyLena Estabine | Illinois Policy InstituteThe Center Square If Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker wants to reach his environmental and economic goals, data centers will need to be central to...
Illinois senator’s bill on transgender ‘mental illness’ sparks debate
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State Sen. Andrew Chesney, R–Freeport, is pushing legislation that would classify transgenderism as a mental illness...
Lawmaker says Illinois behind 44 states in legislative transparency
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois House Minority Leader Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, is renewing her bid to increase transparency in...
Illinois Quick Hits: Foreign national faces harboring, forced labor charges
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A Honduran citizen residing in Waukegan has been indicted for allegedly bringing illegal aliens into the United...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Legislative Committee for February 3, 2026
Legislative Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026 The Will County Legislative Committee convened on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, to finalize its federal priorities and receive updates on state and national...
Village to Revise Noise Ordinance Following Trucking Complaints
Village of Beecher Meeting | February 9, 2026 Article Summary: The Village of Beecher plans to update its zoning ordinance to address ambiguous language regarding noise violations. The move follows...
Health & Safety Committee: Opioid Overdose Deaths Drop to Zero in January as Behavioral Health Department Expands Role
Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting | February 5, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Health Department reported a significant decline in opioid overdose deaths, recording zero fatalities in January...
Illinois GOP state reps call on Dems to stop taxing s’mores, other goods
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois House Republicans are calling on Democrats to oppose new tax proposals. State Rep. Dave Severin, R-Benton,...
