WATCH: IL child welfare interns debate heats up; state financial audit released
August 22, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop talks live with state Rep. Jed Davis about his continued concerns about the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services’ use of interns. He says he’s seeking legislative solutions but worries the issue could get buried heading into an election year.
Bishop also shares reaction to the state of Illinois’ fiscal year 2023 audit being released more than two years after the fiscal year concluded. Comptroller Susana Mendoza says future audits will be released quicker. Truth in Accounting’s Sheila Weinberg reacts.
Watch the full program below. 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.
Sun Jun 14
75° 54°
Sunny
Latest News Stories
JJC Advances ERP Modernization with New Vendor and Two-Year Budget
Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Meeting | October 15, 2025 Article SummaryJoliet Junior College is entering the next phase of its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system overhaul, with the...
Park District Reviews Emergency Response After Frankfort Square Shelter-in-Place
Frankfort Square Park District Meeting | September 2025 Article Summary: Following a law enforcement incident that prompted a shelter-in-place order in Frankfort Square, the park district reviewed its emergency protocols...
Will County Committee Shapes 2026 Legislative Agendas on Housing, Energy, and Health
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Legislative Committee for November 4, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Legislative Committee advanced key priorities for its 2026 state and federal legislative agendas, focusing...
Frankfort Library Board Moves to Explore Community Solar Power
Frankfort Public Library District Meeting | September 2025 Article Summary: The Frankfort Public Library District is exploring renewable energy options after the Board of Trustees authorized a consultant to seek...
Congressional Perks: Committees, caucuses cost $50 million since 2019
By Arthur KaneThe Center Square Since 2019, partisan and special interest caucuses and coalitions in the U.S. House spent at least $50 million for staff, food, travel and other expenses,...
JJC Authorizes Land Buy for Grundy County Expansion, Secures Site in Morris
Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Meeting | October 15, 2025 Article SummaryThe Joliet Junior College (JJC) Board of Trustees has authorized negotiations for a land acquisition to build a...
FAA funding problems hit airports in California, elsewhere
By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square As Christine Finch helped her father, Graham Finch, gather his luggage at the San Francisco International Airport, she was worried about how flight delays caused...
Judge bars ICE from acting against ‘protestors,’ ‘rapid response’ activists
By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A Chicago federal judge has barred federal agents from U.S. Border Patrol and ICE from conducting crowd control actions anywhere in northern...
Report: IL public schools show low academic proficiency, higher taxpayer funding
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The CEnter Square) – The latest education statistics indicate stagnant proficiency for public school students in Illinois, despite dramatic increases in...
Watchdog: Special interest group paid legislators’ $25,000 resort bill
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square A government watchdog group has filed ethics complaints against more than a dozen Democratic legislators in Colorado. Common Cause alleges the legislators had $25,000 in...
Commission Grants Green Garden Solar Farm Project Variance Extension
Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | November 4, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission granted a 180-day extension for two variances related to a commercial...
Union Pacific to ask appeals court for biometrics lawsuit exemption
By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Though he has said he believes the company's position would lead to legally "absurd" results, a federal judge will still allow freight...
Illinois quick hits: Notices of affected flights; injunction issued over ICE force
By The Center SquareThe Center Square Notices of affected flights Chicago-based United Airlines is promising to let passengers know “as soon as possible” if their flights are affected by the...
