WATCH: Johnson responds to Trump; Migrant rental assistance urged; Credit card oversight
December 1, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares the latest comments from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson in response to President Donald Trump’s criticism of elected officials’ handling of public safety in Illinois.
Bishop also gives perspectives from both sides of the issue of immigration enforcement and rental assistance for noncitizen migrants that advocates say are too afraid to leave their homes.
Finally, Bishop shares comments from Illinois state Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights, about several pieces of legislation he filed to provide more oversight on local governments’ use of taxpayer funded credit cards and a prohibition of using taxpayer dollars for guaranteed income programs.
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
Temporary Rockford Courthouse fence sparks debate over security and costs
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A temporary fence surrounding the federal courthouse in downtown Rockford, Illinois is drawing sharp criticism and...
Illinois quick hits: Report: Suspect pictured with Pritzker; more immigration arrests
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Report: Suspect pictured with Pritzker Less than a week before a smash-and-grab burglary led to a fatal wreck on Chicago’s Magnificent...
Illinois quick hits: Suspect in custody after state senator’s home struck with gunfire
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Suspect in custody after state senator's home struck with gunfire A suspect is in custody after two homes were damaged by...
WATCH: Governor candidate: Low-cost districts shine while most IL schools spend, fail
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – According to a Republican candidate for Illinois governor, schools in the state can succeed without spending big....
WATCH: Pritzker threatens executive action regulating hemp if legislature won’t act
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) − After previous attempts were unsuccessful, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he may take executive action to address...
WATCH: Illinois congresswoman OK withholding federal tax funds to change state policy
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois congresswoman says she’s OK with plans of withholding federal tax dollars from Illinois if it...
Chicago mayor: ‘We do not have a spending problem’ as spending, deficit grows
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Mayor Brandon Johnson says Chicago does not have a spending problem, even as city government spending soars...
WATCH: Trump calls Pritzker ’nothing’ in public safety push; U.S. Rep. Mary Miller live
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop airs the latest...
Illinois quick hits: Three dead outside Berwyn school; steady economic conditions reported
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Three dead outside Berwyn school A Berwyn middle school is closed for instruction today after three people died in what authorities...
Joliet Junior College, City of Joliet to Explore Joint Public Safety Institute
Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Meeting | September 2025 Article SummaryThe Joliet Junior College (JJC) Board of Trustees approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Joliet to begin...
WATCH: Illinois prison mail scanning rule faces lawmaker scrutiny
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Emergency rules from the Illinois Department of Corrections to scan inmate mail are under review by...
Green Garden Township Confronts Massive 600-Megawatt Solar Project Proposal
Article Summary: A Virginia-based energy company is planning a 600-megawatt commercial solar facility that could cover over 5,000 acres of farmland across Green Garden, Wilton Center, and Manhattan Townships, sparking...
Green Garden Township Gets Green Light for New Town Hall Grant After Dramatic Reversal
Article Summary: After initially denying a request to transfer a $558,000 grant to a new building project, Will County has verbally reversed its decision, giving Green Garden Township the go-ahead...
