September 11, 2025/
WATCH: Reaction to Charlie Kirk’s assassination pour in; Freedom Caucus discusses 2026
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares some of the reaction from political leaders to the assassination of Turning Points USA founder Charlie Kirk, an Illinois native, and the accusations of which side of the political spectrum is ratcheting up their political rhetoric.
Bishop also shares some of the thoughts about the 2026 elections from the Illinois Freedom Caucus, and reviews some of the campaign finance reports from the state’s Democrats, Republicans and candidates from both political parties for Illinois governor.
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.
Wed Jun 3
83° 64°
Mostly Sunny
Latest News Stories
Trump-endorsed Gallrein outs Massie in Kentucky
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Rep. Andy Barr and Ed Gallrein secured partisan nominations in high-profile Kentucky primary races Tuesday, according to multiple outlets. President Donald Trump's endorsement appeared critical...
U.S. House defies Senate, weakens private equity restrictions in housing bill
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Despite the White House publicly urging the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to approve the U.S. Senate’s bipartisan housing bill, House lawmakers have put forth their...
Illinois Quick Hits: Group files lawsuit against gun owner ID law
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A new challenge to Illinois’ requirement for gun owners to have a state police-issued license has been...
Pritzker touts EV plant in Normal, Bailey says taxpayers bear the burden
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says Rivian is the best electric vehicle maker in the world, but his...
State Supreme Court hears arguments over Uber forced arbitration
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Four years after two men – an Uber driver and a passenger – died in a car...
Vance defends DOJ’s nearly $1.8B ‘weaponization’ fund
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday defended a nearly $1.8 billion taxpayer fund through the U.S. Department of Justice aimed at supporting victims of "lawfare...
Vance highlights ‘progress’ in Iran negotiations, floats additional fighting
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Vice President JD Vance said the U.S. and Iran have "made a lot of progress" on negotiations to end the conflict between the two nations....
Experts: Republican bills offer little data privacy protection, override state laws
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Republicans have introduced legislation that would enact nationwide consumer data protections, but experts disagree on whether the proposed federal standard would actually protect Americans’ online...
NAACP asks Black university athletes in 7 states to boycott
By Alan WootenThe Center Square Black athletes in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and South Carolina at public universities are being encouraged to join the NAACP’s Out of Bounds...
Tillis to Hegseth: Choose meritocracy over your mediocre yes-men
By Alan WootenThe Center Square Gen. Chris Donahue, former key leader aboard Fort Bragg and in the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, got a strong backing from an outgoing North Carolina senator...
Chicago committee approves $5M for public school project
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago aldermen are planning to spend more tax increment financing dollars on Chicago Public Schools, even though...
Group files federal lawsuit against Illinois’ gun owner ID law
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A new challenge to Illinois’ requirement for gun owners to have a state police-issued license has been...
Feds push back on Minnesota prosecution of ICE agent
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Federal immigration officials are calling Minnesota’s prosecution of an ICE agent a “political stunt” after Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced criminal charges tied to...
