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
18 were injured, 2 killed in Minneapolis shooting
By Jon StyfThe Center Square A total of 18 victims were injured and two were killed in a Wednesday shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, a total reached after...
Trump HHS tells states to remove gender ideology from sex ed or lose PREP funding
By Tate MillerThe Center Square The Trump administration directed 46 states and territories to remove gender ideology from their sex ed materials or else face possible termination of federal Personal...
Americans could face ‘sticker shock’ as once-small tax exemption ends
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Americans could be in for a surprise when a nearly century-old trade rule that allowed shoppers to avoid President Donald Trump's tariffs expires on Friday....
‘Pro-taxpayer’ law requires operators to clean up abandoned Illinois oil wells
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A state lawmaker says recently-signed legislation will ensure that Illinois taxpayers don’t foot the bill for cleaning...
Black-only medical directory must open to all races after lawsuit
By Tate MillerThe Center Square After a lawsuit from medical group Do No Harm, a Philadelphia-based directory of Black physicians is now open to all races. The directory entitled “Black...
Embattled Fed governor sues Trump over ‘illegal’ firing
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A Federal Reserve governor accused of mortgage fraud filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging her firing was "unprecedented and illegal." Trump fired Federal Reserve Governor Lisa...
Watch: Cook County gun ban plaintiffs petition SCOTUS; Pritzker hasn’t heard from White House
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop gets to the...
Illinois quick hits: Man on pretrial release accused of murder; holiday weekend impaired driving patrols
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Man on pretrial release accused of murder After reportedly violating curfew dozens of times while wearing an ankle monitor, a man...
GOP legislators propose creating new state from CA counties
By Dave MasonThe Center Square Republicans are calling for 35 inland counties to secede from California and create a new state. The GOP announced the plan Wednesday as their response...
WATCH: Pro-life groups step up to meet growing demand in post-Dobbs America
By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square It’s been more than three years since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that reversed Roe v. Wade,...
FDA approves latest versions of COVID vaccines but under new ‘framework’
By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square As the school year kicks off and the seasons change, the latest version of COVID-19 vaccines will soon be available – but not to everyone....
Illinois quick hits: Gun ban challengers petition SCOTUS; man sentenced for COVID fraud
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Gun ban challengers petition SCOTUS The Second Amendment Foundation is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take a challenge to Cook...
WATCH: Trump: Illinois’ ‘slob of a governor’ should call for help with public safety
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he has not received communication from the federal government about potential troop...
