WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Friday Aug. 8th, 2025
August 8, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop covers the latest in the fight over redistricting with an Illinois state senator joining Texas House Republicans to have warrants from the Lone Star State to be recognized in Illinois and Gov. J.B. Pritzker responding to the FBI getting involved.
Bishop also shares the latest polling data from Illinois Policy that shows Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker underwater in favorability for the first time as he heads into a bid for a third term as governor. Republican state Rep. Chris Miller says Pritzker is vulnerable.
Finally, Bishop shares some highlights from the ribbon cutting for the 2025 Illinois State Fair, which features $140 million in upgrades and taxpayer investments for the fairgrounds.
Watch the full program below. 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.
⚠️ Hydrologic Outlook issued June 16 at 2:13PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
⚠️ Hydrologic Outlook issued June 16 at 2:12PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
⚠️ Hydrologic Outlook issued June 16 at 2:44AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Today Jun 15
74° 54°
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Ex-Illinois candidate sides with Vance after Duckworth–Rubio clash
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, is facing fresh criticism after Vice President J.D. Vance likened her...
Illinois Quick Hits: Judge rules Cook County misspent $243M
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A circuit court judge has ruled that Cook County spent $243 million in violation of the Illinois...
Will County P&Z Forwards Monee and Manhattan Residential Projects
Will County P&Z Commission Meeting | Jan. 20, 2026 Article Summary: The PZC approved zoning requests facilitating residential improvements in Monee and Manhattan. The approvals allow for the construction of...
Will County P&Z: Wilton Township Wedding Venue Secured for 2026 Season
Will County P&Z Commission Meeting | Jan. 20, 2026 Article Summary: For the third consecutive year, the Will County Planning and Zoning Commission has approved a temporary use permit for...
Chicago FOP boss: Mayor’s ICE on Notice order is ‘piece of toilet paper’
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order directing members of the city’s police department to...
WATCH: Supreme Court case could add to $10.8B midterm spending projection
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court could issue a decision by July that could unleash billions more dollars into political campaigns ahead of the 2026 midterm elections....
Lawmaker, officer: ‘Blue Envelope” could help navigate autism during stops
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois lawmaker who also serves in law enforcement says proposed legislation creating a “Blue Envelope”...
Will County P&Z Grants Variances for Unpermitted Structures in Crete and Manhattan
Will County P&Z Commission Meeting | Jan. 20, 2026 Article Summary: The Planning and Zoning Commission approved variances for property owners in Crete and Manhattan who built agricultural structures without...
Senate GOP fails to halt welfare funding for non-citizens
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square U.S. Senate Republicans failed to halt over $5 billion in funding for refugees, with 20 GOP senators joining every Senate Democrat to continue providing costly...
Senate passes funding deal, sends to House for final approval
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. Senate sent a $1.2 trillion government funding package back to the House for approval Friday night, ensuring a partial government shutdown over the...
California group opposes property tax hike, billionaires’ tax
By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square Officials with the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association are concerned about efforts to raise property taxes on California’s homeowners, a representative of the organization told The...
Illinois quick hits: New Illinois Supreme Court justice installed
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square New Illinois Supreme Court justice installed The newest member of the Illinois Supreme Court has been installed. Former appellate court justice...
High schools throughout California stage walkouts over ICE
By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square Hundreds of students at high schools throughout California held walkouts Friday over immigration raids and the law enforcement-involved deaths of two people in Minneapolis. Schools...
Pritzker celebrates expansion of French cheese maker in GOP leader’s district
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker is celebrating the expansion of a French cheese-making facility in Illinois House Republican Leader...
WATCH: WA GOP lawmaker asking Trump administration to investigate fraud allegations
By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square A Washington state lawmaker is asking President Donald Trump and the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate potential self-dealing and fraud within taxpayer subsidized programs...