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.
Thu Jun 11
79° 60°
Sunny
Latest News Stories
Illinois Quick Hits: $42.6M UIS student library on schedule
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Capital Development Board says a $42.6 million state taxpayer-funded library project is on schedule at...
State Legislative Update: Housing Mandates, Mega Projects, and Data Centers Prompt Local Control Concerns
Will County Board Legislative Committee Meeting | May 5, 2026 Article SummaryState lobbyists from Mac Strategies briefed the Will County Board Legislative Committee on the final push of the spring...
Data center regs proposed as $20 billion, 795-acre Joliet project advances
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Opponents of a planned $20 billion data center project in Joliet say big tech money arrived before...
Labor stats offer mixed bag for Illinois
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Trump administration says the United States saw smashing job growth in April, but Illinois’ story is...
Lawsuit: IL state VRA unconstitutionally lets Dems divide voters by race
By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Days after the U.S. Supreme Court declared states cannot use race to decide how to draw legislative districts, a new lawsuit is...
Illinois Quick Hits: State grants offered to tackle ‘challenging’ properties
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Housing Development Authority is accepting grant funding applications from local governments to address abandoned and...
Officers mourn fallen Chicago cop as policy debate grows
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Hundreds of law enforcement officers from across the country gathered in Chicago to honor a fallen...
Trump accuses Schumer of election ‘interference’ with New York task force
By Chris WadeThe Center Square President Donald Trump is ripping Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for hiring former Obama-era Attorney General Eric Holder to help oversee New York's congressional redistricting...
Poll site gun ban proposal draws pushback
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State lawmakers want to ban Illinoisans from carrying a gun while at the polls, citing a rise...
Trump confirms gas tax suspension push as prices hit $4.52
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump confirmed Monday that he wants to temporarily suspend the 18.4-cent federal gas tax, with Republican lawmakers in both chambers announcing plans to...
Trump says Iranian ceasefire on ‘life support’
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The ceasefire with Iran is on “life support” and “very weak,” according to President Donald Trump. The president commented Monday during an event in the...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Finance Committee for May 5, 2026
Will County Board Finance Committee Meeting | May 5, 2026 The Will County Board Finance Committee dedicated nearly its entire May 5, 2026, meeting to a series of rapid-fire, preliminary...
Committee Advances Nearly $212,000 in Road and Facility Contracts for Jackson Township and Monee
Will County Board Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | May 5, 2026 Article SummaryThe Will County Public Works and Transportation Committee approved two infrastructure contracts totaling over $212,000 for...
Will County Committee Hits Brakes on License Plate Reader Agreements Awaiting Privacy Policy Review
Will County Board Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | May 5, 2026 Article SummaryThe Will County Public Works and Transportation Committee delayed votes on five intergovernmental agreements for Automated...