Illinois in Focus: Candidate urges civil debate around ICE; state spends 43% more; mandatory voting
September 25, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares comments from Republican gubernatorial candidate Ted Dabrowski, state Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, and Vice President J.D. Vance about public safety around immigration enforcement.
Bishop also delves into recent analysis by The Center Square’s investigative team about the increased state spending of tax dollars under the Pritzker administration and reaction from legislators on both sides of the aisle.
Finally, Bishop shares debate from an Illinois House Ethics and Elections Committee about the ideas around mandatory voting and consolidating local elections.
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.
Today Jun 17
55°
Mostly Clear
Latest News Stories
District Approves New Firefighter Hire and Updates Fleet Status
Frankfort Fire Protection District Meeting | December 16, 2025 Article Summary: The Frankfort Fire Protection District approved the hiring of an additional firefighter to balance shift schedules and provided updates...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Frankfort Public Library District for Dec. 11, 2025
Frankfort Public Library District Meeting | Dec. 11, 2025 The Frankfort Public Library District Board of Trustees met on Thursday, December 11, 2025, to discuss facility renovations, financial reports, and...
Chicago’s $41 billion financial hole exposes city’s pension crisis
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago finished fiscal year 2024 with a $41.1 billion gap between the money it has available...
Will County Public Works: Access Will County Dial-a-Ride Expands to All 24 Townships, Eliminating Borders
Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026 Article Summary:In a major overhaul of county transit, officials presented a quarterly report confirming that the Access Will County Dial-a-Ride...
Suspect Captured in Execution-Style Murder of Momence Bar Owner
Article Summary: Authorities have arrested a 47-year-old Indiana man in connection with the fatal shooting of Courtney Drysdale, the owner of a bar in rural Momence. The suspect was apprehended...
Early voting starts Thursday in most Illinois jurisdictions
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Early voting is scheduled to begin Thursday in most Illinois jurisdictions for the state’s Democratic and Republican...
Frankfort Chamber to Honor Local Leaders at Women in Business Awards Night
Article Summary: The Frankfort Chamber of Commerce is preparing to celebrate National Women’s History Month with a special evening recognizing the contributions of women in the local business community. Women...
Illinois Quick Hits: Group files FOIA lawsuit vs. Pritzker
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Judicial Watch has filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The suit...
First lady meets with former Oct. 7 hostages
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square American citizen and Chapel Hill, N.C. native, Keith Siegel and his wife Aviva focused their meeting with First Lady Melania Trump on hope and a...
Supreme Court declines challenge to California’s congressional map
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to California's redistricting bid that would add more Democrat-majority districts in the state. In November, California...
Candidate: $243 million in unlawful spending is example of ‘Preckwinkle’s mismanagement’
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A candidate for Cook County board president says county spending of $243 million in violation of Illinois’...
GOP lawmakers urge Thune to tweak filibuster rules to pass voter ID bill
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Dozens of Republicans are demanding that the U.S. Senate take up House-passed legislation implementing election security reforms – and they’re willing to restructure filibuster rules...
Illinois housing crunch sees prices rising, units dwindling
By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – With Illinois facing a housing shortage fueled by dwindling availability and rising prices, Illinois Policy Institute...
