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.
Wed Jun 17
71° 54°
Partly Sunny
Latest News Stories
Health & Safety Committee: District 3 Board Member Pushes for Expanded Animal Control Services in Monee, Crete
Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting | February 5, 2026 Article Summary: Will County Board Member Daniel J. Butler (District 3) urged Animal Protection Services to establish intergovernmental agreements with...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee for Jan. 6, 2026
Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting | Jan. 6, 2026 The Will County Board Capital Improvements and IT Committee met Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, to discuss the county's...
Legislative Committee: Lobbyists Report on Federal Shutdown and Legislative Outlook
Legislative Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026 Article Summary: Federal lobbyists provided the Legislative Committee with an update on the partial government shutdown and the status of appropriations bills. While...
Illinois proposal makes businesses financially liable for climate change
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A proposal to create an Illinois Climate Change Superfund is drawing sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers...
Illinois unemployment rate tops national average; state ends 2025 with fewer jobs
By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois State Rep. Chris Miller argues numbers tell the story as new U.S. Bureau of Labor...
Dozens arrested during ongoing unrest in Minneapolis
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Anti-ICE protests continued in Minneapolis over the weekend, resulting in dozens of arrests by local law enforcement. Protesters gathered at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal...
Illinois Quick Hits: Iowa wants Illinois’ counties
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Iowa state lawmaker has introduced legislation that would establish a committee to study the potential transfer...
Despite vast elderly population, Florida lags other states in stopping Medicaid fraud
By Mark StricherzThe Center Square (The Center Square)—In Florida, a state with more elderly people than any other, state government officials lag their peers in deterring fraud in a popular...
County Authorizes Financial Study of Homer Glen Law Enforcement Contract
Finance Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026 Article Summary: The Finance Committee voted to authorize a professional study to evaluate the true cost of providing law enforcement services to the...
Land Dedicated for Future Road and Bike Path Improvements on Pfeiffer Road
Frankfort Village Board Meeting | February 2, 2026 Article Summary: The Village Board accepted a plat of dedication from Laraway Homes, LLC, securing a strip of land along Pfeiffer Road...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Workshop for January 28, 2026
JJC Trustees Workshop Meeting | January 28, 2026 The Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees convened for a workshop session on Wednesday to discuss the institution's long-term financial health and...
Will County Public Works Debates Future Bridge Needs as 159th Street Closure Looms
Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026 Article Summary: A discussion regarding the future deck repair of the 159th Street bridge in Lockport sparked a debate about...
Everyday Economics: Cooling jobs, a cautious Fed, and a housing recovery that needs confidence
By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square The week ahead is framed by three macro threads that are increasingly pulling against each other: a Federal Reserve that is debating how restrictive policy...
