September 25, 2025/
Illinois in Focus: Candidate urges civil debate around ICE; state spends 43% more; mandatory voting
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares comments from Republican gubernatorial candidate Ted Dabrowski, state Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, and Vice President J.D. Vance about public safety around immigration enforcement.
Bishop also delves into recent analysis by The Center Square’s investigative team about the increased state spending of tax dollars under the Pritzker administration and reaction from legislators on both sides of the aisle.
Finally, Bishop shares debate from an Illinois House Ethics and Elections Committee about the ideas around mandatory voting and consolidating local elections.
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
WATCH: Warnings of higher IL property taxes heard as pension bill advances
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Supporters of an Illinois Statehouse pension measure say it is a “fix” for Tier 2 public employee...
Top-selling automaker confirms U.S. investment, but no details yet
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The world's top-selling automaker said it plans to continue investing in U.S. operations but wouldn't confirm on Wednesday that it will be $10 billion, as...
Fentanyl poised to take center stage during Trump, Xi meeting
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Fentanyl is set to be at the center of President Donald Trump’s scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping Thursday morning. Trump told reporters last...
‘Outrageous’: Lawmakers bash Biden admin for targeting, surveilling 156 Republicans
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The Biden administration’s probe into President Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss progressed far beyond investigating potential fraud and potentially targeted 156 conservatives and conservative organizations....
WATCH: Cruz calls on House to impeach federal judge over subpoenas of Republicans
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on Wednesday called on the U.S. House of Representatives to impeach a federal judge involved in an investigation into President...
WATCH: Pritzker declares agricultural trade ‘crisis’ while Trump touts new deals
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed an executive order to declare an agricultural trade crisis in Illinois. The...
Economists say Trump’s tariff play could boost trade deficits
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Economists told the U.S. Supreme Court that President Donald Trump's plan to reduce U.S. trade deficits will backfire, exacerbating the underlying issue the president used...
Amnesty International condemns U.S. strikes on suspected drug boats
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Amnesty International, a human rights organization, condemned U.S. military strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific that have killed 57 people...
‘Astonishingly reckless:’ IL Dems intro tax on ‘unrealized gains’ to fund transit
By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square With just two days remaining in the Illinois legislative fall veto session, Illinois Democratic state lawmakers have introduced new legislation, ostensibly designed...
Federal Reserve cuts key interest rate for second time this year
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter-point on Wednesday for the second time this year, not nearly as much as President Donald Trump...
Immigrants grow Michigan’s population, advocates say
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Detroit’s population grew for the second year in a row after years of steady decline, according to census data. Advocacy groups attribute much of the...
WATCH: Trump says he can’t run for third term after months of conjecture
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he's disappointed he can't seek another term as president after months of speculation that he might try to...
Senate votes to approve ‘Bat Week’; no vote to end shutdown
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square U.S. senators have remained locked in a government shutdown fight for nearly a month, but unanimously agreed Wednesday to designate Oct. 24 to Oct. 31,...
