WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Tuesday Aug. 12th, 2025
August 12, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop delves into the back and forth between President Donald Trump and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker over public safety, presidential politics and no-cash bail.
Bishop also shares concerns raised by the National Federation of Independent Business Illinois State Director Noah Finley about Senate Bill 1976 now on the governor’s desk. Finley says if the measure becomes law, Illinois could fall further behind the rest of the nation in economic growth.
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.
Latest News Stories
ICE agents shoot armed woman in suburban Chicago during attack
By Dan McCaleb | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Border Patrol agents near Chicago shot an armed woman Saturday who was part of a group of...
Pritzker: Trump to federalize Illinois National Guard
By Dan McCaleb | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – President Donald Trump will federalize 300 Illinois National Guard troops, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a statement...
Trump says U.S. in ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels in Caribbean
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump told Congress that the U.S. is engaged in "armed conflict" with drug cartels in the Caribbean shortly after ordering four military strikes...
Policy experts unimpressed with SBA’s ‘record’ capital delivered to small businesses
By Tate MillerThe Center Square The Small Business Administration announced it will close Fiscal Year 2025 with record-breaking capital delivered to small businesses, but policy experts are unimpressed by the...
City taxpayer burden swells, as Chicago pension debt rises
By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago taxpayers now face unfunded debt from its municipal, laborers, police, fire and teachers’ pensions that...
Poll: Voters like candidates supporting war on Alzheimer’s
By Dave MasonThe Center Square Republican congressional candidates are more likely to win competitive districts if they support the war on Alzheimer’s, according to a new poll in California, Arizona,...
U.S. LNG exports at new record in September on strong Louisiana shipments
By Alton WallaceThe Center Square U.S. LNG exports hit a record high in September at 9.4 million metric tons, up from a previous record 9.3 million metric tons in August,...
Conservatives push Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger
By Tom JoyceThe Center Square A coalition of conservative and free-market groups is urging federal regulators to approve the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, saying the deal...
Hamas agrees to release hostages; demands further negotiations
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square After an ominous warning from President Donald Trump, Hamas has reportedly agreed to release the remaining Israeli hostages; however, they have yet to agree to...
Report: Bipartisan support for K-12 open enrollment policy
By Esther WickhamThe Center Square A new study reveals strong bipartisan support for K-12 open enrollment, yet only 16 states have strong laws enabling it. The report by Reason Foundation,...
‘End the political idiocy’: Republicans lambast Dems for tanking funding bill again
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The ongoing government shutdown will span at least five days as U.S. senators depart for the weekend after voting down both short-term funding options for...
WATCH: U.S. military strikes another suspected drug boat, killing four
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump said the U.S. military destroyed a fourth suspected drug boat on Friday carrying enough drugs to kill tens of thousands of Americans....
Des Moines Public School system hired superintendent with extensive criminal history
By Bethany Blankley reporterThe Center Square The Des Moines Public School Board hired a Guyanan national who had been living in the U.S. illegally for years and has an extensive...
