WATCH: HHS tells Pritzker ‘show receipts’ on welfare spending; Energy bill to be signed
January 8, 2026/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares conversations about fighting welfare fraud with Truth In Accounting founder and CEO Sheila Weinberg and HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill and how Illinois could be impacted and how the state can rectify a funding freeze.
Bishop also revisits debate over energy legislation Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to sign Thursday in Joliet. Supporters of Senate Bill 25 say it will help keep down rates with a continued focus on renewable energy. Opponents say they’ve heard that before with previous energy policies Illinois approved that they say has only led to higher utility rates.
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 14
74° 56°
Mostly Sunny
Latest News Stories
Lawyers call legal immigration crackdown harmful
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Immigration lawyers are concerned about recent proposals to eliminate work-based visa programs. On Nov. 13, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said she planned to...
WATCH: Illinois continues work to reduce state’s high SNAP error rate
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State agency officials continue to address the error rate with Illinois’ handling of federal food subsidies. During...
Border Patrol agents arrest illegal CDL drivers in upstate New York
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Despite the sanctuary policies of New York, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol officers are cracking down on commercial truck drivers to ensure...
ACA premiums projected to rise 26% in 2026, far above U.S. inflation
By Tom JoyceThe Center Square Affordable Care Act health insurance premiums are expected to rise about 26% in 2026, the biggest increase in eight years and much higher than overall...
Michigan law firm sued over alleged racial bias in diversity scholarships
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Two groups have sued a Michigan law firm for operating scholarships they allege are “racially discriminatory.” Do No Harm, a national anti-DEI policy advocacy group,...
WATCH: Libertarian concerns persist as IL Sec of State announces IDs for Apple Wallet
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Digital IDs have gone live in Illinois, but libertarians say the move makes it easier for governments...
Illinois quick hits: Pritzkers meets the Pope; Broadview to close street outside ICE facility
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Pritzkers meets the Pope Gov. J.B. Pritzker says it was an honor for he and the first lady to meet with...
DHS launches new initiative to crack down on student visa fraud
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has launched a new initiative to crack down on student visa fraud. It’s launched a new online tool through...
‘Ghost projects’ haunt power grid planners and taxpayers
By Lauren Jessop | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As the country braces for a surge in electricity demand driven by large energy users like...
WATCH: $10M campaign finance fine dropped; Digital ID unveiled, Chicagoans speak up
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop reviews actions taken...
ICE, Border Patrol agents experience historic surge of vehicular attacks this year
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square A surge in targeted vehicular attacks against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol officers have occurred this year “driven by hateful rhetoric from...
Will County Executive Committee Delays Vote on School Choice Referendum
Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | November 13, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board’s Executive Committee on Thursday, November 13, 2025, postponed a decision on whether to place an...
Poll: Americans support eliminating Department of Education
By Esther WickhamThe Center Square A new national poll reveals strong American voter support for eliminating the U.S. Department of Education. The survey by the nonprofit Yes. Every Kid Foundation,...
