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.
Latest News Stories
Voting rights group warns CA redistricting push could undermine trust in IL
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (THE CENTer Square) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging states like Illinois to redraw congressional maps, but voting rights...
Chicago downtown office space vacancy rate jumps to record high levels
By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – With Chicago’s downtown office vacancy rate now at a record-high 28%, Illinois Policy Institute researcher LyLena...
Commission Approves Peotone-Area Farmhouse Split, Overruling Staff’s “Spot Zoning” Concerns
Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | November 4, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission approved a request to rezone a 1.75-acre portion of a larger...
Will County Finance Committee Hits Impasse on 2025 Tax Levy, Postpones Budget Votes
Will County Finance Committee Meeting | November 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Finance Committee postponed votes on the 2025 tax levy and the 2026 budget after a contentious debate...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: New Lenox Community Park District for September 2025
Meeting Summary and Briefs: New Lenox Community Park District Meeting | September 2025 The New Lenox Community Park District is planning for the future, with its Board of Commissioners taking...
Federal court backs union on feds’ partisan emails
By Esther WickhamThe Center Square A federal judge ruled Friday that the Trump administration violated employees’ First Amendment rights by allegedly hijacking their email accounts to send automated partisan messages...
Senate Democrats propose new govt. funding deal; Republicans reject it
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square After nearly six weeks of continuously blocking Republicans’ bill to end the ongoing government shutdown, Senate Democrats have modified their funding counterproposal. Instead of demanding...
Trump administration will fully fund SNAP despite appeal
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The Trump administration said Friday afternoon that it would fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for November, despite the funding lapse and government shutdown....
Report: Princeton ranked best university, best school overall
By Esther WickhamThe Center Square Princeton University claimed the nation's top spot for universities and best school overall in WalletHub's 2026 Best Colleges rankings. The WalletHub report analyzed 800 higher-education...
Trump blasts cost overruns at Obama Presidential Center in Chicago
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago is back in the mind of President Donald Trump, but this time the commander-in-chief’s focus is...
Illinois quick hits: Get Covered Illinois premiums to spike
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Get Covered Illinois premiums to spike The Get Covered Illinois division of the Illinois Department of Insurance says Illinoisans enrolling in...
Colorado boosts WIC, food pantries amid D.C. stalemate
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Editor's note: This story was updated Friday evening since its initial publication earlier in the day. Colorado is moving forward with stop-gap funding for food...
Aldermen oppose Chicago mayor’s ‘punishing’ head tax proposal
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (THE CENTer SQUAre) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says he wants corporations to pay more in taxes, but with some city...
