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.
Latest News Stories
Village Board Approves Zoning Variances for New Custom Home on Bowen Street
FRANKFORT – The Frankfort Village Board on Monday approved two zoning variances for a new custom home at 50 E. Bowen Street, allowing the builder to use non-masonry siding and...
Meeting Summary: Frankfort Village Board for August 4, 2025
The Frankfort Village Board met on Monday, August 4, 2025, to address several key ordinances and conduct village business. The board approved a measure to replace the state's expiring 1%...
Indiana Woman Identified as Victim in Fatal Wilmington-Peotone Road Crash
The Will County Coroner’s Office has officially identified the woman killed in Tuesday’s fatal crash on Wilmington-Peotone Road as 70-year-old Judith L. Stirm of Delphi, Indiana. In a statement, Coroner...
Multiple Agencies Rescue Person in Mental Health Crisis from Frankfort Pond
A person experiencing a mental health crisis was safely rescued from a pond near 80th Avenue in Lakeview Estates on Wednesday after a coordinated response by multiple emergency agencies. Frankfort...
Green Garden Township Forges Ahead with New Town Hall Plan, Faces Budget and Neighbor Concerns
The Green Garden Township Board is advancing an ambitious plan to build a new, larger town hall and community center on a six-acre parcel south of its current location, a...
IT Consultant Urges Green Garden Township to Adopt Modern Cybersecurity Measures
Green Garden Township’s digital infrastructure is vulnerable to cybercrime and requires an immediate overhaul, including adopting a modern, secure email system and multifactor authentication, an IT consultant told the board...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Frankfort Township Board for June 9, 2025
The Frankfort Township Board on Monday, June 9, 2025, approved its primary financial documents for the upcoming fiscal year, passing separate and balanced budget appropriation ordinances for the township and...
Sanchez Family Unveils Major Redevelopment Plan for Monee Industrial Property
Article Summary: Developer Luis Sanchez, a key figure in Monee's commercial growth for two decades, presented a plan to revitalize an industrial property on Industrial Drive. The project, which includes...
Monee Approves Over $566,000 Payment for New Public Works Facility Nearing Completion
Article Summary: The Monee Village Board approved a payment of $566,134.16 for the ongoing construction of its new Public Works building. Officials reported the project is on track for a...
Sheepdog Firearms Gets Green Light for Special Use Permit in Monee
Article Summary: Sheepdog Firearms received final approval from the Monee Village Board for a special use permit to operate a retail and firearms range facility at 25812 S. Sunset Drive....
New Lenox Prepares for Grand Opening of Wintrust Crossroads Sports Complex
NEW LENOX – After months of anticipation and intensive work, the New Lenox Community Park District is making final preparations for the grand opening of its flagship Wintrust Crossroads Sports...
New Lenox D122 Board Approves Tentative Budget, Sets September Public Hearing
The New Lenox School District 122 Board of Education has approved a tentative budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, maintaining its long-standing practice of balanced budgets funded by existing cash...
New Lenox Township Food Pantry Reports Record Demand in May
NEW LENOX – The New Lenox Township Food Pantry experienced a record level of need in May, serving 431 families and 1,107 individuals, according to a report at the June...
