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.
⚠️ Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 17 at 7:49PM CDT until June 17 at 8:45PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
⚠️ Tornado Watch issued June 17 at 7:44PM CDT until June 17 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Wed Jun 17
77° 58°
Mostly Sunny
Latest News Stories
Casey Fire District Evaluates Half-Million Dollar Pumper Truck, Seeks Grant Writing Assistance
Casey Fire Protection District Meeting | March 2026 Article Summary: The Casey Fire Protection District is exploring a major capital investment after viewing a demonstration of a new 2,100-gallon pumper...
Martinsville Board of Education Renews 8-Man Football Program, Adopts Cardiac Emergency Plan
Martinsville C.U.S.D. #C-3 Board of Education Meeting | February 23, 2026 Article Summary: The Martinsville Community Unit School District #C-3 Board of Education approved the continuation of its 8-man football...
White House calls on Pritzker to cooperate with ICE
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The White House called on Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday to cooperate with immigration enforcement, after the killing of a student in Chicago. White...
DHS pushes back on Minnesota lawsuit over Metro Surge shootings
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is defending federal agents’ actions in three Minnesota shootings while pushing back on claims of “unprecedented noncooperation” raised in...
Supreme Court reverses $1B copyright lawsuit
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision on Wednesday, ruled that an internet service provider is not liable in damages when its users unlawfully...
U.S. Supreme Court rules against automatic prison release punishments
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court, in an 8-1 decision, decided an individual on supervised release is not automatically extended when that person absconds from their release....
State Police address FOID, cyber security audit findings
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As his agency works to correct compliance findings by the state’s auditor general, Illinois State Police Director...
Poll: Trump demonstrates stronger cognitive, communication skills compared to Biden
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square A majority of American voters say President Donald Trump has demonstrated better cognitive and physical skills during his second term compared to former President Joe...
Illinois Quick Hits: Red Line funds ordered to be unfrozen
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is hailing a federal judge’s ruling that directs the Trump administration to unfreeze...
EXCLUSIVE: 5 years in, Operation Lone Star seizes 870 million lethal doses of fentanyl
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Five years into Texas’ border security mission, Operation Lone Star officers have seized a record amount of illicit drugs. Gov. Greg Abbott first launched OLS...
Proposal to decrease reliance on paper documents passes House
By Alan WootenThe Center Square Safety is compromised, and costs are increased by outdated rules, U.S. Rep. Brad Knott tells The Center Square. His proposal with Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich.,...
Late Sixth-Inning Surge Lifts Casey-Westfield Baseball Past Altamont 4-1
For five innings on Tuesday afternoon, the Casey-Westfield varsity baseball team was completely stymied at the plate. But when the opportunity finally presented itself in the bottom of the sixth,...
Monroe Elementary Reading Initiatives Raise $13,000 as Students Log Nearly 91,000 Minutes
Casey-Westfield School Board Meeting | March 16, 2026 Article Summary: Monroe Elementary students shattered reading goals during two concurrent literacy programs, raising substantial funds for the school library and reading...
Gilbert Drives in Five as Casey-Westfield Outslugs Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg 11-7
The Casey-Westfield varsity softball team unleashed a 17-hit offensive barrage on Tuesday afternoon, securing an 11-7 road victory over non-conference opponent Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg. Sophomore G. Gilbert was the primary run producer...
