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.
⚠️ Extreme Heat Warning issued July 27 at 11:18AM CDT until July 27 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Today Jul 26
94° 76°
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Casey Faces Utility Rate Hikes Amidst Inflation and Shrinking Customer Base
Casey residents can expect to see their utility bills rise in the near future as the city grapples with the dual pressures of inflation and a declining population. During a...
What’s Happening at the Library in August?
Tuesdays, August 5, 12, 19, & 26 - 1pm is BINGO with Renee! It is FREE and no registration is required. ALL are welcome. Thursday, August 7 - At 11am...
Casey Council Approves $33.27 Million Appropriation Plan for FY 2026
The Casey City Council on Monday gave its final approval to a $33.27 million appropriation ordinance for the 2026 fiscal year. The spending plan, which sets the legal limit for...
Cecile Stephens
May 19, 1939 - August 2, 2025 Cecile Stephens, 86, of Belton, South Carolina, passed away peacefully at her home on August 2, 2025, after a brief illness. She was...
Lake Land College Board Approves 3% Pay Raises, New Salary Structure for Staff
Many full-time and part-time employees at Lake Land College will see a 3% salary increase starting July 1, following a vote by the Board of Trustees to approve base salary...
Lake Land College Backs 12-Year Extension for Mattoon’s Midtown TIF District
The Lake Land College Board of Trustees has thrown its support behind a 12-year extension for the City of Mattoon's Midtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Redevelopment Project Area, a move...
Lake Land College Celebrates Grand Opening of New Effingham Technology Center
Lake Land College officially opened the doors to its new Effingham Technology Center on Wednesday evening, welcoming hundreds of community members to explore the 100,000-square-foot facility that represents a major...
EIU Leads OVC With 48 Academic Medal Of Honor Winners
On Friday it was announced that 349 Ohio Valley Conference student-athletes have earned the OVC Academic Medal of Honor for the 2024-25 academic year. It marks the second-highest total in...
Suncode Energy Pitches Six-Part Community Solar Project Near Martinsville
Suncode Energy outlined plans for its Summit Project at a public hearing on June 10, presenting a "community solar" model that differs from traditional utility-scale developments. The project, located on...
Meeting Briefs: Clark County Public Hearing for June 10, 2025
County Cites New Ordinance for Solar Hearing: Chairman Rex Goble clarified that the public hearing was required under the county’s new solar siting ordinance. This ordinance was not in place for...
Clark County Residents Challenge Solar Developers on Farmland, Finances, and Future
A public hearing on two proposed solar energy projects became a forum for resident anxieties on Tuesday, June 10, as citizens pressed developers about the long-term impact on prime farmland,...
Schelsky Wins 75th Casey Open in Playoff Thriller
Rich Schelsky of Rockville, IN, smiles after sinking the winning putt in a playoff to capture his first Casey Open title on Sunday. Schelsky shot a...
Casey-Westfield Meeting Summary: Board Saves on Insurance, Approves Major Purchases
The Casey-Westfield CUSD C-4 Board of Education made several significant financial decisions at its June 23, 2025, meeting, including approving a new insurance package that will save over $52,000 and...
