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.
Today Jul 20
89° 66°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Casey Approves First Annexation in Push to Erase City Boundary Gaps
Casey City Council Meeting | June 15, 2026 Article Summary: The Casey City Council approved Ordinance #631 annexing a Casey-Westfield school district parking lot, the first in a series of...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Lake Land College Board of Trustees for May 11, 2026
Lake Land College Board of Trustees Meeting | May 11, 2026 The Lake Land College Board of Trustees covered a full agenda at its regular meeting Monday, May 11, 2026,...
Lake Land Trustees Approve Performance Contract for $4 Million Library Overhaul
Lake Land College Board of Trustees Meeting | May 11, 2026 Article Summary: The Lake Land College Board of Trustees approved a performance agreement with Omni Energy Partners of Lake...
Lake Land Renews $137,967 Canvas Contract as Vendor Reports Cyber Incident Resolved
Lake Land College Board of Trustees Meeting | May 11, 2026 Article Summary: Trustees approved a one-year, $137,967.36 renewal of the college's Canvas learning management system, the same night administrators...
Lake Land Board Terminates Dean of Enrollment and Student Success
Lake Land College Board of Trustees Meeting | May 11, 2026 Article Summary: Following closed session, trustees voted unanimously to terminate the employment of Jamie Corda-Hadjaoui, Dean of Enrollment and...
Trump calls out NATO nations for their spending
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Ahead of the NATO summit in Turkey, President Donald Trump is calling out several NATO partners for their spending. The president is set to attend...
Pritzker declares 11 county disaster over storms; state wants federal aid
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a disaster declaration late Tuesday covering 11 counties across the state that...
GAO: Additional actions needed to secure northern border
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square At a recent Congressional hearing, Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Chairman Michael Guest, R-Miss., and Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence Chairman August Pfluger, R-Texas,...
U.S. adds 57K jobs in ‘disappointing’ June report
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. economy added 57,000 jobs in June, reflecting a steady job market, according to a new report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics...
State lawmaker accused of sexual harassment asked to resign or be ousted
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois state lawmaker has been asked to resign by Democrat leadership after allegations of his sexual...
Illinois Quick Hits: 178 Illinois tornadoes so far in 2026
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – According to preliminary quality controlled data from the National Weather Service, Illinois has had more than twice...
Op-Ed: The Declaration is a gift. But to keep it, we must earn it
By Jay Lapeyre | Free Society CoalitionThe Center Square As Americans prepare to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday, there will be no shortage of fireworks, parades, speeches and reflections on...
Justice Department sues California, Virginia over new gun laws
By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The U.S. Justice Department sued California and Virginia Wednesday over new gun laws that went into effect the same day. Both states used their Democratic...
