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.
⚠️ Flood Watch issued June 17 at 12:53PM CDT until June 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Today Jun 16
72° 59°
Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Op-Ed: If Illinois wants clean energy, it needs data centers
By LyLena Estabine | Illinois Policy InstituteThe Center Square If Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker wants to reach his environmental and economic goals, data centers will need to be central to...
Illinois senator’s bill on transgender ‘mental illness’ sparks debate
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State Sen. Andrew Chesney, R–Freeport, is pushing legislation that would classify transgenderism as a mental illness...
Lawmaker says Illinois behind 44 states in legislative transparency
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois House Minority Leader Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, is renewing her bid to increase transparency in...
Illinois Quick Hits: Foreign national faces harboring, forced labor charges
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A Honduran citizen residing in Waukegan has been indicted for allegedly bringing illegal aliens into the United...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Legislative Committee for February 3, 2026
Legislative Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026 The Will County Legislative Committee convened on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, to finalize its federal priorities and receive updates on state and national...
Health & Safety Committee: Opioid Overdose Deaths Drop to Zero in January as Behavioral Health Department Expands Role
Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting | February 5, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Health Department reported a significant decline in opioid overdose deaths, recording zero fatalities in January...
Illinois GOP state reps call on Dems to stop taxing s’mores, other goods
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois House Republicans are calling on Democrats to oppose new tax proposals. State Rep. Dave Severin, R-Benton,...
Illinois Quick Hits: Tangent to expand in Montgomery
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced on Wednesday that a...
Retail advocate: Swipe fees ruling is largest Main St. ‘relief package’ in Illinois
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A retail business advocate says a federal judge’s ruling to uphold the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act paves...
Smith & Wesson wins appeal chance in Highland Park lawsuits
By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Gunmaker Smith & Wesson will get a chance to appeal a Lake County judge's decision clearing the way for the families of...
Illinois Republicans say federal student data probe may reach Illinois State after Tufts review
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The McLean County Republican Party says a newly announced federal investigation into Tufts University could have...
Violence Interrupters, local activists lead CTA safety push
By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Violence Interrupters founder Tio Hardiman has joined with faith-based leaders and community activists across the city...
Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago man sentenced for sex trafficking
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A Chicago man has been sentenced to 28 years in federal prison for sex trafficking and kidnapping....
