WATCH: IL child welfare interns debate heats up; state financial audit released
August 22, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop talks live with state Rep. Jed Davis about his continued concerns about the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services’ use of interns. He says he’s seeking legislative solutions but worries the issue could get buried heading into an election year.
Bishop also shares reaction to the state of Illinois’ fiscal year 2023 audit being released more than two years after the fiscal year concluded. Comptroller Susana Mendoza says future audits will be released quicker. Truth in Accounting’s Sheila Weinberg reacts.
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 2:44AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Today Jun 15
72° 54°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Trump says Europe will face tariffs until Denmark gives up Greenland
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump said Saturday that he will impose fresh tariffs on European countries until the U.S. reaches a deal to annex Greenland. Trump said...
Senate takes recess, leaving only five days to pass six govt funding bills
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square U.S. senators have left town for a week-long recess, leaving themselves only five days to pass the six remaining federal government funding bills. Congress is...
011926 CLEAN SLATE (copy)
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Pritzker signs Clean Slate Act to automatically seal some criminal convictions 011926 CLEAN SLATE IRN JIM TALAMONTI CLEAN SLATE VERSION 1...
Trump’s Great Healthcare Plan ‘central’ to long-term policy solutions, health sharing ministry says
By Tate MillerThe Center Square A health sharing ministry is expressing its support for President Donald Trump’s newly announced “Great Healthcare Plan,” stating the plan’s promise of transparency and affordability...
Freight Clusters Drive Push for Overhaul of Wilmington-Peotone Road; County Advances Broader 2050 Plan
Will County Board Meeting | January 15, 2026 Article Summary: Citing the emergence of "new freight clusters," Will County is seeking federal support for a massive study to redesign 22...
Board Weighs Township Takeover of Historic Union Cemetery
Green Garden Township Board Meeting | January 12, 2026 Article Summary: The Green Garden Township Board is considering assuming official management of the historic Union Cemetery, which is currently maintained...
Sunny Hill Administrator Defends Private Room Model Amidst Capacity Discussions
Will County Board Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting | January 7, 2026 Article Summary: During the January 7, 2026, meeting, Sunny Hill Nursing Home Administrator Maggie McDowell reported a...
Utah County’s chief prosecutor testifies at Tyler Robinson’s hearing
By Dave MasonThe Center Square The second in-person pretrial hearing for Tyler James Robinson, charged with the murder of conservative leader and Arizona resident Charlie Kirk, took an extraordinary turn...
Elite private colleges can’t cap off price-fixing collusion class action
By Scott Holland | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A federal judge in Chicago has refused to end an antitrust class action complaint accusing elite universities of colluding in the financial...
WATCH: San Francisco gets $40M to address homelessness
By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square San Francisco is getting new state funding for homelessness and mental health services. Speaking Friday at a San Francisco event titled "Treatments, Not Tents," Gov....
Education dept. launches 18 Title IX probes as Supreme Court hears cases
By Esther WickhamThe Center Square The Trump administration has launched a series of investigations into various public schools and state departments of education across the country over Title IX allegations...
Tyler Robinson’s defense seeks to disqualify prosecutors
By Dave MasonThe Center Square Attorneys representing Tyler James Robinson, charged with the murder of conservative leader and Arizona resident Charlie Kirk, are trying to disqualify the team of prosecutors....
Illinois Quick Hits: GOP gubernatorial forum set for Monday
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – All four Republican gubernatorial candidates are scheduled to participate in a forum in East Dundee on Monday....
