November 17, 2025/
WATCH: DCFS updates missing children numbers; Budget cuts EO transparency criticized
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares the latest numbers on youth in care missing provided by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and gets reaction from Statehouse candidate Bailey Templeton, who is also seeking more transparency on the management of the child welfare agency.
Bishop also shares recent criticism from Illinois House Republicans to what they say is the lack of transparency around Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s recent executive order calling for state agencies to find efficiencies in their annual spending plan.
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.
⚠️ Heat Advisory issued July 27 at 2:02AM CDT until July 27 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Today Jul 26
93° 76°
Patchy Fog then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Michigan candidates to battle for competitive races
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Michigan voters will head to the polls on Aug. 4. to determine the outcome of primary races that could determine the balance of power in...
Group in Congress pushing for more Epstein transparency
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Nearly eight months after the Epstein Files Transparency Act became law, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is demanding additional federal disclosure of records related...
Michigan primary candidates debate immigration, healthcare
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Voters in Michigan will head to the polls on Aug. 4 in races that could determine control of Congress. Some Michigan U.S. House district races...
Congresswoman aims to flip student screening law
By Jim TalamontiThe Center Square Universal mental health screenings for Illinois students are scheduled to take effect in 2027, but federal legislation from an Illinois congresswoman could flip the script....
GAO says fraud risk high in $1.1T of state-run federal programs
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Twenty federal programs that route nearly $1.1 trillion through state governments – including Medicaid, SNAP and disaster relief – are vulnerable to fraud because of...
Democrats push back against education department dismantling
By Esther WickhamThe Center Square Eighty-six House Democrats are urging the U.S. Department of Education to stop plans to transfer two key offices to other federal agencies, arguing the move...
Trump urges Senate GOP to pass $95B budget bill before August break
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square President Donald Trump is urging Senate Republicans to approve the House’s $95 billion budget resolution before Congress leaves for the month of August. After congratulating...
New tariffs face lawsuit, fall short on revenue, analysis finds
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Two American small businesses sued the Trump administration over its new forced-labor tariffs, arguing the government is preserving a global tariff regime the U.S. Supreme...
Illinois quick hits: United delays launch of service at Willard Airport
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square United delays launch of service at Willard Airport United Airlines has pushed back its planned service between Chicago and Champaign-Urbana. University...
Election 2026: Field increases in U.S. Senate special Republican primary
By Alan WootenThe Center Square Led by U.S. Sen. Darline Graham, and U.S. Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman, the field swelled on Friday in South Carolina’s U.S. Senate special...
Drivers pay more as gas tops $4 nationwide
By Alton WallaceThe Center Square The U.S. price of a gallon of regular grade gasoline remained above $4 a gallon for the fifth consecutive day on Friday as escalating Middle...
Trump warns China, Russia against aiding Iran amid escalating strikes
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Following another round of ramped-up strikes against Iran for the 13th consecutive night, President Donald Trump warned China and Russia Friday not to assist Iran...
Democratic members of Congress hold field hearing on ICE shooting in Houston
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and U.S. House Homeland Security Committee, all Democrats, held a field hearing in Houston Friday to address concerns about...
