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.
Today Jun 15
77° 56°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Latest News Stories
DOJ brings first ever Antifa terrorism charges in Texas ICE attack
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Following the designation of Antifa by President Donald Trump as a domestic terror organization, the FBI announced that terrorism charges have been brought against suspects...
Many agree with McMahon that government shutdown proves DoEd is unnecessary
By Tate MillerThe Center Square U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon’s statement that the now more than two-week long government shutdown reveals the U.S. Department of Education is unnecessary –...
Colorado aids federal workers as shutdown hits week three
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Colorado is taking steps to assist its over 50,000 federal employees as the government shutdown enters its third week. While not all of those employees...
Democrats tank bipartisan bill to fund DOD in midst of government shutdown
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square In an act of defiance, Democratic senators blocked the House-passed full-year funding bill for the Department of Defense from advancing Thursday. The procedural vote on...
U.S. Chamber of Commerce sues Trump over H-1B visa fee
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, one of the world's largest business federations, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Thursday over its proposed $100,000...
Senate Republicans offer govt funding olive branch; Democrats refuse it
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Senate Democrats blocked Republicans’ bill to reopen the government for the tenth time Thursday – even after Republican leaders agreed to hold a vote on...
Trump, Putin agree to meet in Hungary to discuss peace
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Following a “lengthy” phone call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two have agreed to meet to try to end the...
WATCH: Pritzker says he’s lucky winning $1.4M gambling; GOP say he’s out of touch
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he’s a lucky man after reporting $1.4 million in gambling winnings from...
Report: Sharp decline in trans-identifying youth between 2023 and 2025
By Tate MillerThe Center Square A sharp decline in Gen Z Americans identifying as transgender and queer has occurred, from 6.8% identifying as a gender other than male or female...
Judge blocks USDA from demanding SNAP info from Illinois, other states
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois leads a 21-state coalition blocking the U.S. Department of Agriculture from demanding sensitive Supplemental Nutrition...
Clark Secures Fourth Career All-Conference Honor at LIC Meet
Featured photo caption: Casey-Westfield senior Kayla Clark runs at the LaVern Gibson course during Tuesday's LIC Championship meet. Her 8th-place finish secured her fourth consecutive selection to the Little Illini...
‘Moral disaster’: Wisconsin leaders want answers on teacher assault probe
By Jon StyfThe Center Square The leaders of Wisconsin’s Senate Committee on Education are demanding answers from the state’s Department of Public Instruction following a report showing that 200 investigations...
Stellantis announces $13B investment in U.S.
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Stallantis NV has announced a massive manufacturing investment in the U.S., specifically in four Midwestern states. The automaker, which manufactures more than a dozen brands...
