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 17
75° 57°
Isolated Rain Showers
Latest News Stories
U.S. regulator licenses deepwater port in Gulf for oil exports
By Alton WallaceThe Center Square Texas GulfLink has received a license to build and operate a deepwater port in the Gulf of America, marking the first such approval in the...
Supreme Court declines challenge to California’s congressional map
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to California's redistricting bid that would add more Democrat-majority districts in the state. In November, California...
Candidate: $243 million in unlawful spending is example of ‘Preckwinkle’s mismanagement’
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A candidate for Cook County board president says county spending of $243 million in violation of Illinois’...
Tillis probes ICE practices after calling Noem a ‘sycophant’
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A Republican Senator wants answers about reports of U.S. citizens being detained as part of President Donald Trump's widespread immigration enforcement campaign. Sen. Thom Tillis,...
GOP lawmakers urge Thune to tweak filibuster rules to pass voter ID bill
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Dozens of Republicans are demanding that the U.S. Senate take up House-passed legislation implementing election security reforms – and they’re willing to restructure filibuster rules...
Illinois housing crunch sees prices rising, units dwindling
By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – With Illinois facing a housing shortage fueled by dwindling availability and rising prices, Illinois Policy Institute...
700 federal agents to leave Minnesota, Homan says
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The Trump administration will remove 700 federal agents who are assisting immigration enforcement measures in Minnesota, White House Border Czar Tom Homan said Wednesday. Homan...
New York, New Jersey sue feds over Hudson Tunnel funding cuts
By Christen SmithThe Center Square New York and New Jersey are taking the Trump administration to court over its move to "illegally" claw back $15 billion in federal funding for...
Parents sound alarm over Illinois high school voter registration bill
By Catrina BarkerThe Center Square A proposal backed by Illinois Democrats to expand voter registration opportunities for high school students is raising concerns among some parents and education advocates, who...
Illinois Quick Hits: Violent Crime down, arrest rates up in Chicago
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – New research from the Illinois Policy Institute shows that violent crime declined in nearly 90% of Chicago’s...
Judicial manual pushes climate agenda, critics say
By Emily Rodriguez and Andrew RiceThe Center Square The Federal Judicial Center, the judiciary’s research and education branch, provided a manual for judges based on policies preferential to climate activists,...
Palatine teacher fired over anti-BLM posts turns to SCOTUS
By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A former Palatine High School teacher who was fired for posting anti-Black Lives Matter content to her personal Facebook page has asked...
Attorneys seek to remove prosecutors in Tyler Robinson trial
By Dave MasonThe Center Square Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray stressed his decisions on defendant Tyler Robinson – including his intention to seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted...
