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.
⚠️ Wind Advisory issued June 17 at 1:55AM CDT until June 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Today Jun 16
84° 66°
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Trump visits Michigan to promote economic ‘turnaround’
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square President Donald Trump returned to Michigan on Tuesday to tout the economy and the auto industry. During his visit, Trump spoke to the Detroit Economic...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: City of Casey Council for Jan. 5, 2026
Meeting Summary and Briefs: City of Casey Council Meeting | Jan. 5, 2026 The Casey City Council met on Monday, January 5, 2026, to address a variety of infrastructure and...
Music, drama teacher sues Catholic HS over ‘anti-gay’ discrimination
By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A gay man who was fired from the position of music and theater director at Marquette High School in Alton has filed...
Fed charges: Yemeni, Haitian nationals stole millions in SNAP benefits
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square It’s not just Somalians in Minnesota charged in a widescale scheme to defraud taxpayer-funded federal welfare programs. Haitian and Yemeni immigrants have also been charged...
Illinois Quick Hits: IDPH accountability officer fired
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The former chief grant accountability officer for the Illinois Department of Public Health is being held accountable...
Los Angeles County considers creating ICE-free zones
By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square Editor's note: This story has been updated since its initial publication to include a comment from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Los Angeles County...
States sue feds over gender ideology rules on health grants
By Dave MasonThe Center Square New York, California and Oregon are leading 12 states suing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services over allegedly threatening to withhold billions of...
Johnson expects on-time passage of all govt funding bills as two more head to floor
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Congress has less than a month to pass the remaining appropriations bills providing fiscal 2026 funding for federal agencies, but House Republicans are convinced it’s...
WATCH: Advocates urge action on trans sports ban
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square While justices in the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday over whether state laws banning transgender people from participating in women’s sports were unconstitutional, advocates...
Advocacy groups praise Trump admin’s healthcare price transparency commitment
By Tate MillerThe Center Square The Trump administration’s commitment to healthcare price transparency has been met by praise from advocacy groups, with the organizations stating such a move is “imperative”...
Trump: Chicago crime is down in spite of ‘incompetent’ Pritzker
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – President Donald Trump says crime in Chicago would go down virtually 100% if not for Gov. J.B....
‘Put politics aside’ to support no tax on tips, Illinois Democrat says
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A Democratic state legislator is looking to bring the federal no tax on tips policy to the...
Former ‘Vegas’ coroner seeks county administrator job after journalist’s murder
By Arthur KaneThe Center Square Retired Clark County Coroner P. Michael Murphy, who was brought in to fix the county's public administrator's office right before the then-administrator murdered a newspaper...
