November 18, 2025/
WATCH: Chicago committee rejects proposed tax hikes; Hemp industry wants regulation
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares comments from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson after a city council committee rejected a slew of proposed tax increases he says are needed to prevent layoffs in city government. Johnson vowed to veto a budget with a property tax increase, but dodged whether he’d veto a budget that didn’t include a head tax on employers.
Bishop also discusses the current status of regulations on the hemp industry after the federal government approved regulating intoxicating hemp products. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he’s looking to work with the industry on how Illinois can further regulate the industry.
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.
Events
Latest News Stories
Trump says he won’t back down on Antifa terrorism designation
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump is moving quickly against an organization that he blames for destruction, looting and protests, another indication the president is acting faster during...
Exclusive: DOJ ‘weaponization’ victim still in jail, asking for Trump pardon
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square After former FBI Director James Comey was indicted on Thursday and as Congress continues to investigate the “weaponization” of the Biden Department of Justice, one...
Champaign stabbing raises concerns over Illinois mental-health law
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A state lawmaker who also serves as a police officer says the recent stabbing of non-police...
Lake Land College Invests Over $360,000 in Allied Health Program Technology
Article Summary: The Lake Land College Board of Trustees approved a series of major purchases totaling more than $360,000 to enhance the college’s Allied Health and nursing programs. The investments...
Colorado tops nation for millennial migration, report finds
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Millennials are flocking to Colorado, according to a recent report that looked at migration rates nationwide. In 2024, nearly one in every 10 millennials in...
Congress unmoved by imminent government shutdown threat
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Only four days remain until the federal government runs out of money and partially shuts down, but Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress refuse to...
Illinois quick hits: DHS apprehends ICE protester with firearm; bill allows campaign funds for security
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square DHS apprehends ICE protester with firearm The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says more than 200 rioters blocked access to a...
Exclusive: BlackRock pressured ‘woke’ ideology on companies
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The nonprofit Consumers’ Research urged the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to conduct tougher enforcement efforts on investment firms like BlackRock in...
Trump’s tariffs on imported drugs could raise prices
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Analysts are warning that U.S. consumers could face higher prices after President Donald Trump promised it will hit imported drugs with a 100% tariff next...
Lawmaker responds to IL’s push for adult COVID shots against CDC guidance
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois health officials recommend all adults get the COVID-19 vaccine this fall, defying recent U.S. Centers...
Immigration advocates sue Trump administration over ‘unlawful’ ICE arrests
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square A coalition of immigrants rights advocacy organizations filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its immigration enforcement in Washington, D.C. The advocacy organizations, which...
18% of med schools receive F when judged by academic excellence, DEI rejection
By Tate MillerThe Center Square Of 154 medical schools analyzed, 28 received a grade of “F” from a new ranking system launched by medical group Do No Harm that ranks...
Plastics industry one of ‘most powerful economic engines’ thanks to nation’s shale gas, ingenuity
By Tate MillerThe Center Square The American plastics industry is one of the “most powerful economic engines” in the U.S. due to the nation’s ingenuity and its abundant and affordable...
