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.
⚠️ Flood Watch issued June 17 at 12:53PM CDT until June 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Today Jun 16
72° 59°
Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Illinois Quick Hits: GOP gubernatorial forum set for Monday
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – All four Republican gubernatorial candidates are scheduled to participate in a forum in East Dundee on Monday....
Lincoln-Way Board Approves Girls Flag Football for 2026-2027 Season
Lincoln-Way 210 Board of Education Meeting | Jan. 15, 2026 Article Summary: The Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Board of Education unanimously approved the addition of girls flag football...
WATCH: Ives investigates tax dollars for NGOs; Republicans say Pritzker raising energy prices
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square's Greg Bishop talks live with Jeanne...
ICE hiring ban bill reignites SAFE-T Act fight at Illinois Capitol
By Catrina Baker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A newly introduced bill that would bar former Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from working in...
Executive Committee Advances Dissolution of Southeast Joliet Sanitary District
Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | January 8, 2026 Article Summary: The Executive Committee moved forward with two resolutions to facilitate the dissolution of the Southeast Joliet Sanitary District...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Legislative Committee for January 6, 2026
Will County Board Legislative Committee Meeting | January 6, 2026 Overall Meeting SummaryThe Will County Board Legislative Committee met on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, to finalize the county’s state and...
Medical device manufacturer invests $110M to expand Nebraska plant, boost drug supply
By Tom JoyceThe Center Square A major American medical device manufacturer is investing $110 million to expand production in Nebraska as part of an effort to restore pharmaceutical manufacturing and...
WATCH: U.S.ambassadors stress Greenland’s importance
By Dave MasonThe Center Square America is crucial to the defense of Greenland, which in turn is vital to protecting NATO, according to four U.S. ambassadors who expressed optimism about...
Chicago council considers ‘not a tax’ surcharge on hotels
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago’s city council is considering a new assessment on hotel stays that supporters say would raise about...
Govt. funding process advances as three more bills to become law; six remain
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square With the U.S. Senate sending a roughly $180 billion funding package to the president’s desk Thursday, Congress has now knocked out half of the annual...
Bankers push back on Trump’s plan to reduce swipe fees, cap interest rates
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Banks are pushing back against renewed efforts to cap interest rates for consumers, after President Donald Trump endorsed the move as he seeks to show...
State lawmaker calls for hearings on banning Sharia law in Texas
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square A Texas lawmaker is calling for the state legislature to hold hearings on actions the legislature can take to ban Sharia law in the state....
U.S. to build nuclear reactor on Moon by 2030, cost unknown
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The U.S. plans to build a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030 to prepare for future missions to Mars. The National Aeronautics and Space...
