January 15, 2026/
WATCH: Tax increase talk at Statehouse; Bost’s election lawsuit against Illinois wins standing
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square’s Greg Bishop discusses the status of Illinois’ budget, and shares comments from Gov. J.B. Pritzker about the impacts to state spending if federal taxpayer funds are frozen. Legislators discuss the prospect of tax increases with a proposal being floated to have a surcharge on millionaires.
Bishop also discusses the status of mail-in voting in Illinois. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Illinois Congressman Mike Bost has standing to sue the Illinois State Board of Elections over the state’s policy of counting mail-in ballots up to two weeks after election day.
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
85° 66°
Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
WATCH: Businesses argue Congress holds purse strings in tariff challenge
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Lawyers challenging President Donald Trump's tariff authority say the president is acting contrary to what the nation's founders intended. A group of small businesses argue...
Report: FEMA under Biden politically discriminated against Americans
By Alan WootenThe Center Square Reports of FEMA disaster assistance teams in 2024 bypassing homes displaying signs supporting then-presidential candidate Donald Trump were true and were indicative of a pattern...
Trump begins accepting $100k visa payments
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The Trump administration officially started accepting $100,000 payments for H-1B visas. On Sept. 19, President Trump issued a proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on future...
Vance optimistic with Gaza peace plan; reiterates no U.S. troops to be on the ground
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square No U.S. troops will be on the ground in Gaza, Vice President JD Vance reassured Americans during a visit to Israel on Tuesday. “There are...
Poll: Majority of Americans do not support National Guard to deter crime
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square As President Donald Trump continues to deploy troops into American cities in an effort to reduce crime, more than half of Americans said they do...
‘Legal minefield:’ Biometrics reforms needed to keep IL tech biz growing
By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square For the past year, business leaders, attorneys and others in Illinois and beyond have watched to see how the courts and the...
Warriors Fall to Olney 28-27 in Heartbreaking Battle for Little Illini Title
Featured image caption: Senior Fred Thomas delivers a game-changing play, sacking the Olney quarterback, stripping the ball, and making the recovery to give the Warriors possession in the second quarter....
As military branches celebrate 250 years, Democrats vote against paying them
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square In addition to U.S. Senate Democrats voting 11 times to keep the government shut down, they’ve also voted against funding U.S. military personnel, many of...
Chicago transit violent crime at 7 year high, funding concerns persist
By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – With federal authorities now threatening to cut Chicago Transit Authority funding due to rising violence across...
WATCH: National Guard case before SCOTUS; Trump insists China soybean deal coming
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop reviews the latest...
Illinois quick hits: Harvey furloughs some employees; lead poisoning prevention continues
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Harvey furloughs some employees The Chicago suburb of Harvey has furloughed 69 employees, including police and fire, after the city council...
Illinois quick hits: Filings made to SCOTUS in National Guard case; Chicago sued DHS
By The Center SquareThe Center Square Filings made to SCOTUS in National Guard case Illinois asked the Supreme Court not to hear President Donald Trump's request to deploy the National...
Colorado Dems seek restoration of $600M in federal funds
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Colorado Democrats joined together to sign a letter calling for the U.S. Department of Energy to restore over $600 million in funding for 38 Colorado-affiliated...
