WATCH: Expect tax and fee increases for veto; Democrats want more sanctuary policies
October 29, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop reviews the prospects of increased taxes and fees expected to come from Illinois legislators in the final days of fall veto session. Democrats are looking to increase taxes to pay for mass transit and an energy bill to support battery storage. Republicans say both policies are bad for Illinois families and businesses.
Bishop also airs some of the latest debate between Republicans and Democrats over public safety and immigration reform. Democrats are looking to expand the state’s migrant sanctuary policies as Republicans blame such laws for a recent fatal crash involving a county board member, his wife and two illegal immigrants.
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 11 at 12:39PM CDT until June 11 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Today Jun 10
85° 58°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Latest News Stories
Parents could gain access to school discipline evidence under proposed bill
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are weighing legislation that would require public schools to share all evidence used to...
State of the Union highlighted political fracture between Democrats, Trump
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The State of the Union proved to be anything but unifying between President Donald Trump and Democrats, with many Democrats making their disdain for the...
Illinois Democrats dispute Trump statements during State of the Union
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says President Donald Trump spewed lies and attempted to gaslight the American people during...
Illinois Quick Hits: State taxpayers to help restore historic Chicago hotel
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says $21 million in state capital funds will unlock more than $83 million...
Trump moves ahead with tariff plans after Supreme Court ruling
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled his tariffs illegal, President Donald Trump vowed to rebuild the protectionist measures and restore some of the highest import...
Illinois racial wealth gap among largest in country
By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – With Illinois ranked the eighth-worst state in the country for its racial wealth gap, Democratic State...
Trump to award Medal of Freedom to Michigan native, Olympic goalie Connor Hellebuyck
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square President Donald Trump announced during the State of the Union on Tuesday night that he will award the nation’s highest civilian honor to Michigan native...
Supreme Court appears skeptical of Michigan family’s foreclosure case
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court appeared skeptical on Wednesday of a Michigan family’s challenge to the foreclosure of their home due to unpaid taxes. Justices on...
Judge: Right to sue under IL biometrics law too important to end suit vs Meta
By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, can't use its user agreement to escape yet another potentially massive payout from a...
McCuskey leads group fighting to keep natural gas appliances
By Chris Dickerson | Legal NewslineThe Center Square West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey is leading a group of 21 state AGs asking the United States Supreme Court to reverse...
From Mexico to the northern border, federal agents nab forced labor, visa fraud
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Federal agents continue to pursue visa fraud and forced labor crimes across the U.S. perpetrated by Americans and noncitizens who exploited a border crisis and...
Mexican citizens charged with agricultural visa fraud
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Mexican citizens exploiting a U.S. federal agricultural visa program have been indicted for operating forced labor operations in Florida, North Carolina and Virginia, as the...
Dalilah Law a step toward core elements of roadway safety
By Alan WootenThe Center Square Roadway safety across all 50 states through core elements of legal compliance, attentiveness and defensive techniques coupled with American border security were spotlighted in the...
Celebrating gold, unity: Jewish athletes among those honored at State of the Union
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Despite ongoing antisemitism in the U.S., including on college campuses, Jewish athletes helped propel the U.S. men and women’s hockey teams to win gold medals...
New Lenox Finalizes Commercial Land Sales Adjacent to Crossroads Sports Complex, Sparking Major Regional Development
New Lenox Village Board of Trustees Meeting | February 23, 2026 Article Summary: The New Lenox Village Board formally approved amended purchase agreements and plat ordinances to finalize the sale...