August 22, 2025/
WATCH: IL child welfare interns debate heats up; state financial audit released
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop talks live with state Rep. Jed Davis about his continued concerns about the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services’ use of interns. He says he’s seeking legislative solutions but worries the issue could get buried heading into an election year.
Bishop also shares reaction to the state of Illinois’ fiscal year 2023 audit being released more than two years after the fiscal year concluded. Comptroller Susana Mendoza says future audits will be released quicker. Truth in Accounting’s Sheila Weinberg reacts.
Watch the full program below. 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.
Sun Jun 7
82° 70°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Offense Erupts, Bonds Shines as Casey-Westfield Dominates Seeger 15-3
The Casey-Westfield varsity softball team unleashed a relentless offensive assault and rode a dominant strikeout performance from sophomore Arhianna Bonds to a commanding 15-3 non-conference road victory over Seeger on...
Illinois lawmaker warns medical records bill could delay care
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State lawmakers are clashing over an Illinois proposal that would restrict how certain sensitive medical information...
‘Farm Bill’ may ease cost burden for farmers; Ag groups urge US Senate action
By Sean ReedThe Center Square Many farm-focused organizations say they support a GOP-led legislative package on agriculture that narrowly passed through the U.S. House. The Illinois Farm Bureau has urged...
Indiana voters to decide compeititive congressional primary races Tuesday
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Indiana voters head to the polls Tuesday to elect party representatives in several competitive primary races. Across the Hoosier state, local political figures are seeking...
U.S. debt tops 100% of GDP, ‘deeply troubling’ for economy, national security
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. national debt is now larger than the entire American economy and is only set to keep growing, further exacerbating the affordability crisis and...
Erupting Volcanoes, Culinary Creations, and Caterpillars Highlight Casey-Westfield Spring Academics
Article Summary: The Casey-Westfield Board of Education reviewed highly detailed academic reports highlighting a surge of hands-on learning experiences across the district, ranging from explosive 6th-grade science experiments to intricate high...
U.S. troops in Italy, Spain hang in balance as troop reduction in Germany announced
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square On the heels of President Donald Trump threatening to reduce troops in Europe, the Department of War announced Friday the reduction of 5,000 troops from...
Federal appeals court halts access to mail-order abortion drug
By Dan McCalebThe Center Square A federal appeals court on Friday temporarily halted a Biden-era rule that allowed individuals to receive the abortion pill mifepristone through the mail without a...
Labor unions back McCormick’s plan to reform federal permitting
By John ColeThe Center Square In a rare show of solidarity, building trade unions and U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., want to streamline the federal permitting process so that projects...
Court-ordered tariff refunds bypass consumers who paid
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The Trump administration has begun returning $166 billion in tariff refunds, launching a new portal for U.S. importers to claim their money back, but consumers...
Late Three-Run Surge Propels Casey-Westfield Baseball Past Marshall, 6-3
A pivotal three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning lifted the Casey-Westfield varsity baseball team to a 6-3 conference victory over visiting Marshall on Thursday. In a tightly...
Gustafson Strikes Out 11 as Marshall Softball Defeats Casey-Westfield 4-1
Junior pitcher Kyla Gustafson delivered a dominant performance in the circle, striking out 11 batters to lead the Marshall varsity softball team to a 4-1 conference victory over host Casey-Westfield...
Professor: Surging gas prices will have long-term effects
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A University of Chicago professor says the effects of high gas prices will ripple through the economy...
