Illinois quick hits: Pritzkers meets the Pope; Broadview to close street outside ICE facility

Illinois quick hits: Pritzkers meets the Pope; Broadview to close street outside ICE facility

November 19, 2025/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Pritzkers meets the Pope

Gov. J.B. Pritzker says it was an honor for he and the first lady to meet with Pope Leo XIV in Rome.

The governor posted photos of his audience with the Holy Father on social media Wednesday morning.

Pritzker said the pope’s message of hope, compassion, unity and peace resonates with Illinoisans of all faith traditions.

Broadview to close street outside ICE facility

Broadview officials are closing a street outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in the village just over a month after a federal judge ordered ICE to remove a fence blocking the same street.

The judge’s order followed Broadview’s motion saying ICE illegally constructed the fence.

Beach Street is scheduled to be temporarily closed as state and local law enforcement agencies expand the designated protest zone in the area.

ICC to rule on Ameren rates

The Illinois Commerce Commission is expected to rule Wednesday on Ameren Illinois’ proposed $128.8 million gas rate increase.

The Citizens Utility Board and other consumer advocates challenged the price hike, saying it would be a significant hardship for Ameren customers.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Illinois Quick Hits: Violent Crime down, arrest rates up in Chicago

Illinois Quick Hits: Violent Crime down, arrest rates up in Chicago

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – New research from the Illinois Policy Institute shows that violent crime declined in nearly 90% of Chicago’s...
Judicial manual pushes climate agenda, critics say

Judicial manual pushes climate agenda, critics say

By Emily Rodriguez and Andrew RiceThe Center Square The Federal Judicial Center, the judiciary’s research and education branch, provided a manual for judges based on policies preferential to climate activists,...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Planning and Zoning Commission for Jan. 20, 2026

Will County P&Z Commission Meeting | Jan. 20, 2026 The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission met on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, to adjudicate a series of zoning variances and...
Jail Fight

Three Charged After Pitcher Attack Sparks Fight at Will County Jail

Article Summary: A fight involving six inmates broke out at the Will County Adult Detention Facility on Sunday afternoon, requiring intervention by the Emergency Response Team. Authorities have charged three...
summit-hill-junior-high-school-frankfort-161

Deniz Aslan Named Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Summit Hill School District 161 Meeting | Jan. 21, 2026 Article Summary: After serving as the interim director, Deniz Aslan was officially hired as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction...
Palatine teacher fired over anti-BLM posts turns to SCOTUS

Palatine teacher fired over anti-BLM posts turns to SCOTUS

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A former Palatine High School teacher who was fired for posting anti-Black Lives Matter content to her personal Facebook page has asked...
Attorneys seek to remove prosecutors in Tyler Robinson trial

Attorneys seek to remove prosecutors in Tyler Robinson trial

By Dave MasonThe Center Square Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray stressed his decisions on defendant Tyler Robinson – including his intention to seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted...
Plastic surgeons recommend delaying gender surgery until 19

Plastic surgeons recommend delaying gender surgery until 19

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The American Society of Plastic Surgeons on Tuesday recommended delaying gender-related surgery for those 19 and younger, given low-quality data and emerging concerns about surgical...
Congress begins two-week battle over DHS funding bill

Congress begins two-week battle over DHS funding bill

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square U.S. lawmakers face a rocky path forward as they begin negotiations over the last remaining appropriations bill for fiscal year 2026. During the next two...
Chicago mayor defends ICE order, calls for progressive revenue from state taxpayers

Chicago mayor defends ICE order, calls for progressive revenue from state taxpayers

By Jim TalamontiThe Center Square Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has clarified his stance about the Cook County State’s Attorney’s support for his executive order directing police to refer federal immigration...
Unrealized Education Department cuts cost taxpayers up to $38 million

Unrealized Education Department cuts cost taxpayers up to $38 million

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A watchdog report found that an unrealized plan to cut U.S. Department of Education staff cost taxpayers up to $38 million, as many workers were...
Illinois Quick Hits: Illinois to join WHO's alert network

Illinois Quick Hits: Illinois to join WHO’s alert network

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says Illinois is joining the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network....
GOP candidates for Illinois governor challenge Pritzker on state finances

GOP candidates for Illinois governor challenge Pritzker on state finances

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has proposed ways for Illinois to better fund pensions, but one of the governor’s...
Date set for Clintons to appear before House committee

Date set for Clintons to appear before House committee

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will appear before the House Oversight Committee later this month, after being threatened with...
Lawmaker says adopting federal ‘no tax on tips’ would help workers

Lawmaker says adopting federal ‘no tax on tips’ would help workers

By Catrina BarkerThe Center Square A growing debate over how tipped income is taxed in Illinois has resurfaced as state Rep. Regan Deering, R-Decatur, introduced legislation aiming to align Illinois...