WATCH: $10M campaign finance fine dropped; Digital ID unveiled, Chicagoans speak up
November 19, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop reviews actions taken by the Illinois State Board of Elections in regards to a nearly $10 million fine for campaign finance violations with Illinois Senate President Don Harmon’s campaign committee.
Bishop also shares recent public comments from residents of the city of Chicago about the city’s finances and immigration policies ahead of a new budget year with the prospect of a slew of tax increases to pay for a more than billion dollar budget deficit.
Finally, Bishop shares an announcement from the Illinois Secretary of State about the launch of digital ID for Apple devices.
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: Pritzker continues encouraging ICE protests after Guard blocked
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – With the National Guard’s deployment in Illinois for public safety blocked by a federal judge, Gov. J.B....
Illinois quick hits: Ag incentives announced; Cook County announces increased budget
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Ag incentives announced The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Department of Agriculture have announced $67 million in funding to...
Senator urges Rubio to move forward designating Antifa a foreign terror organization
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square President Donald Trump expressed a desire to designate Antifa a foreign terror organization; now, a U.S. senator is urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to...
Divided Will County Board Authorizes Condemnation for 143rd Street Widening
Article Summary: Following intense debate and emotional public testimony, the Will County Board narrowly approved a resolution to begin condemnation proceedings for the controversial widening of 143rd Street in Homer...
Former board member expressed concerns about indicted DeKalb superintendent
By Kim Jarrett | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A former DeKalb County School Board member told The Center Square in 2023 she had concerns about...
Trump administration begins axing positions of furloughed federal workers
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The Office of Management and Budget will begin eliminating thousands of civilian positions across the federal government, fulfilling the Trump administration’s plan to use the...
Fiscal Fallout: Illinois has among highest-paid state employees
By Jared Strong | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The average wages for Illinois state employees are among the highest in the nation and belie the...
Report: State reliance on federal funds up significantly since 1990s
By Tate MillerThe Center Square States rely on federal dollars more than they have in modern history, according to a new report, with one of the report’s authors saying such...
Southwest low on list of safest states; Northeast at the top
By Dave MasonThe Center Square The Northeast corner is the safest part of the U.S., according to a new WalletHub study. The Southwest? Not so much. Issues such as high...
Washington state attorney general agrees to protect seal of confession
By Tim ClouserThe Center Square The Washington State Attorney General's Office reported on Friday that it has reached an agreement with the Catholic Church over a new abuse reporting law....
Pacific Northwest journalists sound off on Antifa at President Trump’s roundtable
By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square Journalists from the Pacific Northwest took part in President Donald Trump’s Wednesday roundtable discussion on Antifa that included top cabinet officials and other independent members...
Nvidia will pay 100k visa fees, others unsure
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said his company would pay $100,000 fees for H-1B visas imposed by the Trump administration. On Sept. 19, President Donald Trump...
‘Shameful:’ GOP leaders frustrated with Dems on tenth day of shutdown
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square U.S. senators have left town for the weekend and will not vote again on a federal funding bill until Tuesday, meaning the ongoing government shutdown...
Trump snubbed by Nobel Committee, praised by winner
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square After being credited for ending seven wars, President Donald Trump was snubbed for the Nobel Peace Prize. Trump, who accumulated several high-profile nominations for the...
Will County Committee Approves Preliminary $161.6M Tax Levy on Split Vote Amid Heated Debate Over Spending
Will County Finance Committee Meeting October 7, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Finance Committee on Tuesday narrowly approved a preliminary $161.6 million property tax levy for 2025, which projects...