January 30, 2026/
WATCH: Commission meets as Chicago mayor seeks to prosecute ICE; SNAP changes Sunday
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square’s Greg Bishop shares some of the latest comments from Trump border czar Tom Homan about finding cooperation with local officials while Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson looks for prosecutions of immigration enforcers. This as Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Illinois Accountability Commission is set to meet.
Bishop also reviews some of the latest deadlines around work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and shares data on how much tax money goes to SNAP, and how much Illinois’ error rate has increased in the last 10 years.
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.
Thu Jun 18
79° 62°
Sunny
Latest News Stories
Illinois business leaders press lawmakers as child care costs face scrutiny
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois business leaders pressured Illinois lawmakers Tuesday to approve billions of dollars in taxpayer‑funded child care investments,...
Illinois Quick Hits: Vacant lots go on sale in Chicago
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Planning and Development say more than 600 vacant city...
State vs. local property tax debate rages in Illinois
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says property taxes are a local issue, but a county treasurer’s report says hefty...
Illinois Quick Hits: County study reflects massive property tax hikes
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – According to a study by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, property taxes in the county increased at...
Fewer businesses of Illinois’ diversity-preferred group got state contracts last year
By Jared Strong | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) - Fewer businesses that get diversity-related government priority in Illinois are getting contracts with the state, according to...
Casey-Westfield Uses Five-Run Fifth Inning to Defeat Cumberland 7-3
The Casey-Westfield varsity softball team picked up a 7-3 non-conference road victory over Cumberland on Monday afternoon, breaking open a tight contest with a massive five-run surge in the fifth...
Casey-Westfield Takes Advantage of Late Errors to Defeat Cumberland 7-3
The Casey-Westfield varsity softball team utilized a massive five-run fifth inning and capitalized on defensive miscues to defeat Cumberland 7-3 in a home non-conference matchup on Monday. The game began...
Casey-Westfield Capitalizes on Miscues to Defeat Oblong/Hutsonville/Palestine 7-3
The Casey-Westfield varsity baseball team protected its home turf at Jerald Barr Field on Monday afternoon, securing a solid 7-3 non-conference victory over the Oblong/Hutsonville/Palestine (OHP) co-op. By combining steady,...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Martinsville C.U.S.D. #C-3 Board of Education for February 23, 2026
Martinsville C.U.S.D. #C-3 Board of Education Meeting | February 23, 2026 The Martinsville Community Unit School District #C-3 Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, February 23, 2026....
Some blame taxes as Illinois grows on paper but loses residents
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois' population has continued to narrowly grow this year, despite a significant number of cities in the...
Illinois quick hits: Cannabis company sued for alleged sexual harassment; Reparations class action suit to proceed; Disaster declaration approved for August 2025 storms
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Cannabis company sued for alleged sexual harassment The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says a cannabis company subjected female workers at...
Clark County Approves Highway Engineering Agreements, Discusses Infrastructure Upgrades
Clark County Board Meeting | February 20, 2026 Article Summary: The Clark County Highway Department received approval for a $20,562 engineering agreement to support a shoulder-paving project near Westfield, alongside...
Helm’s Two-Way Masterpiece Leads Champaign Central Past Casey-Westfield 3-0
The Casey-Westfield varsity softball team ran into a buzzsaw on Saturday afternoon, falling 3-0 to Champaign Central in neutral-site tournament action. The contest was defined by a spectacular two-way performance...