WATCH: Chicago committee rejects proposed tax hikes; Hemp industry wants regulation
November 18, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares comments from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson after a city council committee rejected a slew of proposed tax increases he says are needed to prevent layoffs in city government. Johnson vowed to veto a budget with a property tax increase, but dodged whether he’d veto a budget that didn’t include a head tax on employers.
Bishop also discusses the current status of regulations on the hemp industry after the federal government approved regulating intoxicating hemp products. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he’s looking to work with the industry on how Illinois can further regulate the industry.
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.
Community Events
MondayDecember 1, 2025
TuesdayDecember 2, 2025
WednesdayDecember 3, 2025
ThursdayDecember 4, 2025
FridayDecember 5, 2025
SundayDecember 7, 2025
TuesdayDecember 9, 2025
WednesdayDecember 10, 2025
Latest News Stories
WATCH: Bonta visits food bank amid lawsuit over CalFresh
By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Thursday he is continuing to push for federal emergency contingency funding to restore millions of Californians’ food benefits as...
IL taxpayers to pay $20M for food banks as SNAP funding lapses start Saturday
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois taxpayers are going to cover $20 million in food subsidies to food banks across the state....
Poll: 7 in 10 of Americans are against mail-order abortion without a doctor visit
By Tate MillerThe Center Square A national poll shows that seven in 10 “likely voters” think a doctor visit for an abortion pill prescription should be required and many are...
Trump’s plan to re-start nuclear weapons testing faces criticism
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump's plan to restart testing of nuclear weapons drew concern from some foreign nations, disarmament groups and Democrats. Trump broke with decades of...
Illinois quick hits: Corrections director appointment approved; Clean Slate Act passes
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Corrections director appointment approved After more than two years of being appointed, Latoya Hughes was approved by the Illinois Senate to...
Tyler Robinson’s in-person hearing delayed to January
By Dave MasonThe Center Square The Utah County in-person hearing scheduled Thursday for Tyler James Robinson, 22 - charged with aggravated murder in the death of conservative leader Charlie Kirk...
WATCH: GOP may have to rewrite govt funding bill as shutdown hits 1 month mark
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The ongoing government shutdown has dragged on for a month as Senate Democrats have blocked Republicans’ temporary funding bill more than a dozen times. With...
WATCH: Clean Slate Act passes Illinois legislature despite opposition
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois House has approved a Senate bill that modifies the Clean Slate Act to seal certain...
IL tax on billionaires’ ‘unrealized gains’ would face stiff constitutional test
By Jonathan BilykThe Center Square While the provision may not ultimately be included in final legislation that Illinois Democrats ultimately enact to send hundreds of millions of dollars or more...
Illinois trucker: Deadly California crash exposes lawbreaking in trucking industry
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois trucking company owner says the deadly California semi-truck crash involving an illegal immigrant driver...
Massive AI supercomputing systems being built in Illinois, Tennessee
By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – While the state of Texas and private investors are advancing artificial intelligence developments in partnership with...
Advocates slam Vance’s call for less legal immigration
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Legal immigration advocates on Thursday U.S. Vice President JD Vance's call for a reduction in legal immigration Wednesday night while speaking at an event hosted...
Prolonged shutdown hits pain points for some veterans, VA employees
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Nearly 37,000 Department of Veterans Affairs employees have been furloughed or are working without pay as the prolonged government shutdown continues and some VA services...
