October 30, 2025/
WATCH: Debate around which tax to increase; pension enhancements, energy bills advance
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop reviews the ongoing debate at the Illinois Statehouse about which taxes to increase during the final days of fall veto session. Among the proposals are an “amusement tax,” a retail delivery tax and decoupling Illinois tax code from the federal tax code.
Bishop also reviews several measures advancing through the legislature, including a pension reform measure that passed an Illinois House committee and an energy measure focused on renewables that passed the Illinois House. Both chambers are in session for the final day of veto session Thursday.
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 13
55°
Mostly Clear
Latest News Stories
Op-Ed: Illinois is closed for business
By Alan Jernigan and Joshua MeyerThe Center Square The policies coming from Springfield send a clear message: Illinois is closed for business. While other states enact pro-growth policies and create...
Illinois Quick Hits: Proposal would allow two-year, online car registration
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois House Republican Leader Tony McCombie has filed legislation she says will make the vehicle registration process...
Flint, Detroit top list of most-affordable U.S. cities for homebuyers
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Flint and Detroit rank as the two most-affordable cities in the nation for homebuyers, according to a new WalletHub report. The analysis compared 300 U.S....
SCOTUS turns away Palatine HS teacher fired over anti-BLM Facebook posts
By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineeThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court will not review lower courts' decisions finding a suburban school district did not violate the constitutional rights of...
WATCH: Critics say political protests interfere with education
By Esther WickhamThe Center Square As student walkouts and protests tied to immigration enforcement increase nationwide, education experts are raising concerns about declining civics proficiency among K-12 students and the...
Congressional candidates discuss agriculture, healthcare
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Editor's note: This is the part of a series of stories that are appearing this week on the June 2 primary in California. The stories...
Trump admin still releasing minors into U.S., well below Biden era
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The Trump administration is still releasing unaccompanied alien children (UAC)s into the U.S., although the numbers are dramatically lower than the unprecedented numbers released by...
TrumpRx expanding, offering generic prescription drugs
By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square TrumpRx is expanding to about seven times its current size, adding more than 600 generic prescription drugs to the months-old direct-to-consumer government website, the president...
Trump pauses planned military strikes against Iran, cites further negotiations
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Renewed military strikes against Iran have been postponed once again, President Donald Trump said Monday. In a Truth Social post, the president says a military...
Consumer advocates say Nicor’s rate hike is unreasonable, profit-driven
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Consumer advocates have signaled heavy opposition to a proposed $221 million rate hike by Nicor Gas, arguing...
Johnson’s office counters Pritzker claim Chicago mayor ‘has no plan’ to keep Bears
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has no plan to keep the Bears in the...
Pritzker: Trump war to blame for high gas prices
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says everyone is paying more for gas because of President Donald Trump’s military action...
Proposed law would require women’s restroom on construction sites
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Construction companies across Illinois may be required by law to provide female employees with separate bathroom facilities...
