WATCH: GOP governor candidates forum highlights; Pritzker talks taxes increase, Bears
January 20, 2026/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square’s Greg Bishop provides highlights from Monday evening’s Illinois State Rifle Association Republican gubernatorial candidates forum at GAT Guns in East Dundee. The entire forum can be viewed here.
Bishop also airs some of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s news conference after signing the Clean Slate Act into law where the governor talked about criminal justice reform, taxing millionaires and the ongoing question of where the Chicago Bears will land a new stadium deal.
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.
Latest News Stories
Trump highlights election integrity threats, accuses China of meddling
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square In a primetime address Thursday, President Donald Trump highlighted the need for election integrity while accusing China of meddling in U.S. elections, citing over a...
Judge calls for SCOTUS ‘benchslaps’ on Second Amendment cases
By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square (Legal Newsline) - A conservative federal appeals court judge has teed off once again on his left-wing judicial colleagues on the U.S....
WATCH: Washington candidates clash over Trump endorsement for House
By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square As Central Washington voters begin filling out primary ballots as soon as this weekend, some may be a bit confused about who President Donald Trump...
Congressional candidates debate housing, immigration
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Voters in Arizona will head to the polls Tuesday to make decisions in consequential congressional primaries that could determine the balance of power in Congress...
ICE Rio Grande Valley agents arrest 228 in single day without incident
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers working with law enforcement through its 287(g) program made the largest single day arrest of 228 people in the...
$95B price tag of Republican budget resolution questioned
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square U.S. House Republicans forged ahead Thursday with the blueprint for their third budget reconciliation bill, sending a $95 billion budget resolution to the floor for...
Back from leave, Leavitt touts economy, Trump accounts and border
By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s opening remarks to reporters at her first press briefing back from maternity leave focused on the economy, Trump accounts...
Med school dean questioned over antisemitism, DEI
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Squarre) – The interim dean of the University of Illinois College of Medicine testified before Congress that the school...
Probe of Mamdani, possible Iran negotiation violation sought
By Alan WootenThe Center Square Investigating the mayor of New York City and a member of his administration following a meeting with an ambassador from the Islamic Republic of Iran...
As a Trump tariff expires, a new one takes its place
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A federal tariff struck down by a U.S. trade court is set to expire on its own terms July 24, even as the Trump administration...
Leavitt: Trump’s primetime speech will ‘shock’ listeners about American election integrity
By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square President Donald Trump is set to address the nation Thursday night in a speech the White House is encouraging Americans to watch that will include...
Antifa the focus at Rubio-hosted international summit
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted what he described as the growing threat of left-wing terrorism Thursday at a ministerial he convened at the State...
Illinois Quick Hits: Unemployment holds at 5.1% in Illinois
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Illinois Department of Employment Security says...