WATCH: Tax increase talk at Statehouse; Bost’s election lawsuit against Illinois wins standing
January 15, 2026/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square’s Greg Bishop discusses the status of Illinois’ budget, and shares comments from Gov. J.B. Pritzker about the impacts to state spending if federal taxpayer funds are frozen. Legislators discuss the prospect of tax increases with a proposal being floated to have a surcharge on millionaires.
Bishop also discusses the status of mail-in voting in Illinois. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Illinois Congressman Mike Bost has standing to sue the Illinois State Board of Elections over the state’s policy of counting mail-in ballots up to two weeks after election day.
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.
Today Jul 22
78° 58°
Mostly Sunny
Latest News Stories
Administration presses law school accreditor over DEI policies
By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square A U.S. House task force questioned the president of the American Bar Association in a hearing Wednesday about the organization’s commitment to diversity, equity and...
Speaker’s response to staffer assault complaint draws questions on his own conduct
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – After reporting about a now-resigned state representative and allegations that Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch may...
Republicans’ $95B budget resolution passes House
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Republicans’ blueprint for a third party-line bill passed the U.S. House on a slim two-vote margin Wednesday, despite grumblings from fiscal hawks over the bill’s...
$1.15T Pentagon funding authorization bill passes U.S. House
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square A $1.15 trillion annual defense funding bill finally passed the U.S. House Wednesday after weeks of delay. Six Democrats joined all but seven Republicans in...
Lawmakers debate GLP-1 regulation, expansion
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Lawmakers pushed for more regulations and safety standards on popular weight loss medications, including GLP-1 prescriptions, at an event in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Rep....
Illinois news in brief: Ex-Big Ten Network staffer gets 2 years in embezzlement case
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Ex-Big Ten Network staffer gets 2 years in embezzlement case A former Big Ten Network employee has been sentenced to 28...
New quantum tenant gets $1.8 million in tax credits
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Another quantum technology company is coming to Illinois, and tax credits are part of the deal. Gov....
Proposal would term-limit Supreme Court justices without amendment
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Senate Democrats introduced legislation Wednesday to impose 18-year term limits on U.S. Supreme Court justices by statute, a route that would sidestep the constitutional amendment...
Pritzker says felon was unlucky to land in his back yard
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says electronic monitoring of a suspect on pretrial release did not work in the...
Chicago council approves ballot question to recoup costs from ICE operations
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Chicago City Council considered multiple ballot referendums during its regular meeting Wednesday morning, including some which...
Anti-ICE ‘extremist’ charged with arson in attack outside NYC federal building
By Chris WadeThe Center Square A 43-year-old Army vet and "anti-ICE" demonstrator is facing arson charges after Monday's fiery attack outside of a federal immigration court in New York City....
World Cup events safe; terrorism, antisemitism concerns don’t materialize
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Ahead of the World Cup, several groups expressed concerns about terrorism and national security threats posed by the international tournament that brought millions of people...
Senators advance healthcare price transparency bill
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square A bipartisan committee of senators advanced legislation on Wednesday that would require hospitals and insurance companies to display prices for provided services. Senators on the...
