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 Jun 17
72° 55°
Partly Sunny
Latest News Stories
Health & Safety Committee: Monee Church Kitchen Project Highlighted in County Health Impact Report
Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting | February 5, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County MAPP Collaborative presented its impact report, highlighting ARPA-funded community kitchen projects in Monee and Joliet...
U.S. Ed Dept. investigates Puyallup wrestler’s sexual assault allegation by trans athlete
By Brett DavisThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Education is investigating the Puyallup School District for how it handled an alleged sexual assault of a female wrestler late last...
FRESH program would provide one-time SNAP cash; critics question cost
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As new federal work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program take effect this month, Illinois...
Partial government shutdown imminent as Congress leaves town
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Lawmakers have left town after failing to pass the Homeland Security full-year funding bill, ensuring a partial shutdown of DHS beginning Saturday. This is the...
Illinois Quick Hits: Man sentenced for robbing postal worker
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A federal judge has sentenced a Chicago man to four years and three months in prison for...
Sultan in Epstein files resigns, global turmoil continues
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square An executive of a Dubai-based company resigned on Friday after documents released by the Justice Department tied him to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Sultan...
Temporary protected status terminated for Yemen nationals
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Yemeni nationals in the U.S. on temporary protective status will have 60 days to leave the country. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced...
Advocates argue new data center restrictions might close Illinois market
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers have proposed stricter regulations on data centers in the state, but an industry advocate says...
Illinois advocates urge senate action on SAVE Act
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois election-integrity advocates are pushing the U.S. Senate to agree with a recent House move and...
Ford returning to the Middle East as tensions rise with Iran
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square A second aircraft carrier is en route to the Middle East as tensions build with Iran, according to multiple reports. The USS Gerald Ford, the...
Lemon faces federal arraignment today in St. Paul church protest case
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Journalist Don Lemon is scheduled to appear in a Minnesota courtroom today to be arraigned on federal charges related to a protest that disrupted a...
Senate GOP wants companies funding lawsuits to be revealed
By John O’Brien | Legal NewslineThe Center Square U.S. Senate Republicans have introduced a bill targeting companies that invest in lawsuits, proposing rules that would force them to identify themselves...
Election 2026: Cooper social post is now you see it, now you don’t
By Alan WootenThe Center Square Roy Cooper vetoed mandatory requirement of photo identification in 2018. Thursday, the U.S. Senate candidate vetoed a photo of himself presenting photo ID to cast...
