WATCH: System for ballooning diversity program criticized; prisons wrestle mail scanning
November 5, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop talks live with The Center Square investigative reporter Jared Strong about his series of stories covering the cost, effectiveness and criticism of the state’s diversity contracting program. Read Strong’s latest here.
Bishop also shares some of the latest debate about operations of the Illinois Department of Corrections with coverage of the agency’s director being confirmed by the Illinois Senate despite criticism and the emergency rules to scan inmate mail as a way to divert illicit substances harming prisoners and staff.
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 13
71° 51°
Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
Latest News Stories
House Dems pass redistricting amendment GOP says will lead to more gerrymandering
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Democrat state legislators say they are one step closer to standing against attacks on voting rights after...
TCS exclusive leads to revised legal arguments in income tax referendum lawsuit
By TJ MartinellThe Center Square Let's Go Washington filed a supplemental brief to the state Supreme Court for its lawsuit to force a referendum on the millionaire's tax that cited...
Republican lawmakers press Trump trade rep on tariff relief
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Republican lawmakers pushed back Wednesday against the Trump administration's tariff policies during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing. They raised concerns about the impact...
WATCH: WA GOP leader calls AG’s income tax emails ‘certainly improper’
By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square Washington Senate Minority Leader John Braun says documents obtained by The Center Square that reveal months of communication between the office of Attorney General Nick...
WAGOP calls on justice to recuse herself in income tax ruling over alleged conflict
By Tim ClouserThe Center Square The Washington State Republican Party wants a state Supreme Court justice to recuse herself from ruling in a legal challenge to a millionaire's tax, citing...
Georgia candidates mourn Scott, celebrate accomplishments
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Candidates in Georgia’s 13th congressional district and other state leaders mourned the death of Rep. David Scott, D-Ga. Scott was first elected to Congress in...
Congress considers national citizen-only voting amendment
By Chris Dickerson | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A Florida Congresswoman has introduced a constitutional amendment that would establish a clear requirement that only United States citizens can vote in...
Fragile ceasefire with Iran being tested
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square After extending the ceasefire with Iran, President Donald Trump is reportedly giving the Islamic Republic a shorter deadline to present a unified proposal for a...
Faith leaders urge SEC to expand retirement options for nonprofit workers
By Tom JoyceThe Center Square Faith leaders and conservative groups want the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to change retirement rules they say hurt nonprofit and church workers. In a...
Trump attacks Supreme Court over tariffs, frets about birthright case
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump lashed out at U.S. Supreme Court justices Wednesday, calling some Republican-appointed members "weak, stupid, and bad" over a February ruling that struck...
Senate Democrats vow to make budget resolution vote painful for Republicans
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Senate Republicans will kick off a vote-a-rama as soon as Wednesday evening on a budget resolution, unlocking a filibuster-proof way to fund ICE and Border...
Lawmakers question Omar’s role in fraud scandal as she skips hearing
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Minnesota lawmakers are questioning U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar’s role in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme as investigations and prosecutions continue. On Tuesday, the state...
Illinois Quick Hits: Governor announces green tax credits for film and TV
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has announced a new 5% tax credit to incentivize green film and television production....
