October 29, 2025/
WATCH: Expect tax and fee increases for veto; Democrats want more sanctuary policies
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop reviews the prospects of increased taxes and fees expected to come from Illinois legislators in the final days of fall veto session. Democrats are looking to increase taxes to pay for mass transit and an energy bill to support battery storage. Republicans say both policies are bad for Illinois families and businesses.
Bishop also airs some of the latest debate between Republicans and Democrats over public safety and immigration reform. Democrats are looking to expand the state’s migrant sanctuary policies as Republicans blame such laws for a recent fatal crash involving a county board member, his wife and two illegal immigrants.
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 8
87° 73°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Researchers put a number on how much debt U.S. can carry
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The United States has about 20 years to change course on its national debt before it reaches the estimated limits of its debt capacity, according...
Colorado governor vetoes legislation allowing ICE to be sued
By Liam HibbertThe Center Square Colorado Gov. Jared Polis vetoed a Democrat-backed bill on Wednesday that would have allowed citizens to sue immigration enforcement officers for civil rights violations. The...
Ballots processed slowly as Californians await 36-day count
By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square It will be more than a month before Californians see the official results from Tuesday's primary. That is especially the case in the races for...
WATCH: WA mayor stands by pro-ICE, anti-Antifa proclamations
By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square The city of Battle Ground has been getting more attention this week than the small southwest Washington community typically receives, due to national coverage of...
U.S. House narrowly passes bill to fund USDA, FDA in 2027
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Less than four months before fiscal year 2027 begins, the U.S. House passed the second of the 12 annual appropriations bills that will fund the...
Ruling: Illinois Supreme Court likely overstepped in ousting of Cook County judge
By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A federal judge says he believes a Cook County judge has leveled serious accusations against the Illinois Supreme Court for trampling his...
Illinois passes law to restrict new federal migrant detention centers
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Lawmakers passed a bill last weekend that will heavily restrict where immigration detention centers can operate in...
Alcohol tax amendments may be unconstitutional
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois government officials have proposed amending the way the state taxes alcohol, but the changes may not...
Illinois quick hits: Lawsuit filed over drunk driving deal involving noncitizen
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Lawsuit filed over drunk driving deal involving noncitizen A Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed with Urbana, Illinois, claims the city...
Illinois to regulate intoxicating hemp products, loosen up on cannabis
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Headed to the governor’s desk is legislation that will regulate and restrict some intoxicating hemp products and...
Questions loom after data center legislation stalls
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The speaker of the Illinois House says he thinks state lawmakers will eventually pass data center regulations,...
Illinois quick hits: Stop child care scams act clears U.S. House, Illinois U.S. Reps introduce immigrant due process bill
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Stop child care scams act clears U.S. House The U.S. House of Representatives has passed Illinois Congresswoman Mary Miller’s legislation aimed...
Pratt, Bass on track to face each other in Nov. 3 mayoral race
By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square The Center Square) – It continues to appear that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass will be in a Nov. 3 runoff with Spencer Pratt. Bass,...
Kiley, Wahab, Desmond hold onto leads in House districts
By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square There are still 37 days left for counting ballots, but Democrat Aisha Wahab has a big lead in the race for California's Congressional District 14....
GOP maintains leads despite congressional redistricting
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Republican candidates in congressional races throughout California’s redrawn districts still maintain razor-thin margins with all precincts partially reporting on Wednesday afternoon. Several Republican incumbents maintained...