WATCH: Officials shift shutdown blame; agreed-bill process upended; GOP offers solutions
October 2, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares reaction to the partial federal government shutdown with Vice President J.D. Vance blaming Democrats and Gov. J.B. Pritzker blaming President Donald Trump.
Bishop also shares information about two measures filed by statehouse Republicans, one to reverse the state’s laws that prohibit state and local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement and another distancing protesters for police.
Finally, Bishop shares reaction to the agreed-bill legislative process between labor and business being upended with labor reportedly walking way from the table. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Republican state Rep. Dan Ugaste share their thoughts.
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 15 at 3:11PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
⚠️ Hydrologic Outlook issued June 15 at 3:10PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Mon Jun 15
74° 52°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Latest News Stories
Land Use Committee: Monee Solar Projects Granted Extensions; Battery Storage Plans Dropped
Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | December 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Land Use and Development Committee granted time extensions for two separate solar farm projects...
P&Z Commission: New Women’s Recovery Center Proposed for Patterson Road Receives Support
Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | December 2, 2025 Article Summary: The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval for a new inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility...
WATCH: ‘Unfortunate accident’: Miss. senator blasted for comment on Guard troop shootings
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., faced heavy criticism Thursday after characterizing the recent shooting of two National Guard members blocks from the White House, killing...
Judge rules against Trump’s freeze on wind energy
By Dave MasonThe Center Square Democratic attorneys general applauded a federal judge’s ruling this week that the Trump administration can’t halt development of all wind energy projects. Proponents have long...
WATCH: House Homeland Security hearing filled with tense exchanges
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square A U.S. House hearing on homeland security wasn’t void of drama Thursday as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem engaged in several tense exchanges with Democrats,...
Illinois’ new paint fee takes effect, with critics calling it another burden on taxpayers
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A new statewide fee on paint products adds a small charge to each container sold as...
Pritzker decision looms for energy bill ‘on ratepayers’ backs’
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has indicated support for energy legislation awaiting his signature, but small business owners are...
WATCH: Use of National Guard debated in U.S. Senate as Illinois case lingers
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – While the use of the National Guard remains on hold in Illinois, pending a legal challenge, the...
Illinois quick hits: Senator’s deferred prosecution deal approved; Indiana Senate votes against new maps
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Senator's deferred prosecution deal approved U.S. District Court Judge Andrea Wood has approved a deferred prosecution agreement to resolve the bribery...
Suspect in Charlie Kirk assassination makes first in-person appearance in court
By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The Utah man charged with assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk appeared in person before a Utah court Thursday for the first time since his arrest....
Pro-life orgs call out FDA, Makary for not fulfilling promise to review abortion drug
By Tate MillerThe Center Square Pro-life groups are holding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and its commissioner Marty Makary accountable for leaving its promise to review the “dangerous” abortion...
Bill to extend enhanced Obamacare subsidies dies in Senate
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square As expected, lawmakers failed to pass either of the competing partisan health care bills in the Senate on Thursday. The result all but ensures that...
Judge: CHA lawyers must pay $59K for citing ChatGPT-created cases
By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Lawyers who defended the Chicago Housing Authority in a case that resulted in more than $32 million in judgments to two families...
