WATCH: Pritzker says Trump’s first year a failure; Raoul discusses prosecuting fraud
January 21, 2026/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square’s Greg Bishop discusses some of the highlights President Donald Trump provided from his first year in office of his second non-consecutive term. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Trump’s first year has been a “failure,” while Republicans in Illinois say Pritzker’s policy are not making the state safe or affordable.
Bishop also delves into the start of an investigation into overpayments in the state’s child care funding operations, with reaction from Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul saying fraud should be prosecuted.
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 17 at 2:20AM CDT until June 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Today Jun 16
73° 59°
Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Meeting Summary and Briefs: New Lenox School District 122 Board for Nov. 2025
New Lenox School District 122 Board Meeting | Nov. 2025 The New Lenox School District 122 Board of Education met on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the Haven Administration Center....
County Board Approves Women’s Residential Treatment Center in Joliet
Will County Board Meeting | December 18, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board unanimously approved zoning changes to allow the Existential Counselor Society to open a women’s residential treatment...
White business owners are biggest share of Illinois’ diversity-preferred contract group
By Jared Strong | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois' initiative to boost the amount of state contract money it awards to businesses owned by racial...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: New Lenox Village Board for December 15, 2025
New Lenox Village Board Meeting | December 15, 2025 The New Lenox Village Board on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, met for a regular session focused on infrastructure upgrades, public safety...
Township Abates $285,000 in Taxes for Senior Housing Bonds
New Lenox Township Board Meeting | Nov. 13, 2025 Article Summary: The Board of Trustees passed a resolution to abate taxes related to the 2002 Senior Housing Bond payment. The...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board for December 18, 2025
Will County Board Meeting | December 18, 2025 The Will County Board held its regular meeting on Thursday, December 18, 2025, focusing heavily on land use, transportation infrastructure, and public...
2025 illegal entries in Texas: Nearly half the gotaways reported in previous years
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square In President Donald Trump’s first year in office, illegal border crossers in one year in Texas totaled nearly half of gotaways reported in previous years...
Nashville speaker maker plans to move overseas to avoid tariffs
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The owner of a storied Nashville speaker company says he'll pay lower taxes by moving overseas, rather than trying to build in the U.S. It's...
Supreme Court could redefine 14th Amendment application
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court will decide a case in 2026 challenging President Donald Trump’s authority to end birthright citizenship. Trump v. Barbara challenges Trump’s executive...
Missouri year in review: capital gains eliminated, Medicaid increased
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square In 2025, Missouri lawmakers passed legislation to eliminate its capital gains tax, phase out the state income tax and expand Medicaid legislation. The Club for...
2025 in review: Historic border security actions taken by Trump
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square On the first day of his second term in office, President Donald Trump issued multiple executive orders, followed by multiple policy changes, that in one...
Free speech under fire nearly 300 times in 2025 on campus
By Tate MillerThe Center Square Two hundred seventy-four incidents involving interference to free speech have taken place so far on college campuses in 2025, according to FIRE data, an increase...
IL rep: As if Bears ‘had a plan to rob the bank’ before considering Indiana
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois state rep whose district includes Soldier Field says the Chicago Bears are bluffing by suggesting...
