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.
Latest News Stories
Student Initiative Leads to Lunch Program Overhaul at Summit Hill
Summit Hill School District 161 | October 15, 2025 Article Summary: A student-led effort at Summit Hill Junior High is sparking significant changes to the district's food service program, including...
Frankfort Park District Awaits State Agreement on DCEO Grant Amid Public Interest
Frankfort Park District Meeting | September, 2025 Article Summary: Frankfort Park District commissioners are fielding questions from residents about a state grant, with some suggesting the funds be used for the...
Universities respond to new federal Grad PLUS loan caps
By Esther WickhamThe Center Square Santa Clara University School of Law will guarantee $16,000 annual scholarships starting next fall, fully covering tuition following the new federal Grad PLUS loan caps...
Report shows California leads in debt among all 50 states
By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square A new Reason Foundation report pegs California as the state with the nation's highest debt. The report found that the California state government carries more...
High superintendent pay fuels debate over Illinois school consolidation
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A new Illinois Policy Institute report reignites debate over how schools are run and how much...
Illinois quick hits: Chicago expressway projects ends; Spooky graveyards
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Chicago expressway projects ends Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the end of Chicago’s Kennedy Expressway rehabilitation project on Friday. Illinois Transportation Secretary...
Trump plans to tell Congress about new drug war, won’t seek permission
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump and his administration plan to inform Congress about using the military to target drug traffickers, but stopped short of saying they would...
U.S. aircraft carrier being deployed to Latin America
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square As part of the Trump administration’s plan to target narco terrorists around Latin America, the Pentagon announced Friday that a U.S. aircraft carrier will be...
Federal agents arrive near San Francisco despite National Guard call-off
By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square Despite President Donald Trump calling off an impending National Guard deployment to San Francisco, federal agents arrived Thursday at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, on...
Over 100 pro-life organizations ask Congress to end forced taxpayer abortion funding
By Tate MillerThe Center Square More than 100 pro-life organizations are calling on Congress to end forced taxpayer funding of abortion that loopholes in Obamacare allow for, stating the Hyde...
Measles outbreak continues along Arizona-Utah border
By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square Health officials along the Arizona-Utah border continue to deal with measles cases. In Utah, there are 44 cases in the southwest part of the state,...
Value of movie and TV tax credits debated in California
By Dave MasonThe Center Square The latest round of movie and TV tax credits is projected to keep thousands of good-paying jobs in California and boost the state’s economy by...
Trucker in Florida triple fatal failed CDL exam 10 times
By Alan WootenThe Center Square Ten failures of a written exam for a commercial driver’s license have been uncovered against the suspect in a triple fatality on the Florida turnpike...
