WATCH: Pritzker reacts to Trump’s address; Immigration enforcement continues
December 18, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares highlights from Wednesday evening primetime address to the nation from President Donald Trump and Gov. J.B. Pritzker‘s reaction.
Bishop also jumps into the latest 24 hours of continued immigration enforcement in the Chicagoland area, including an interaction between immigration enforcement official Gregory Bovino and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss. This comes as the Illinois Accountability Commission prepares to meet today to provide an avenue for people to provide testimony about the impacts immigration enforcement.
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.
Today Jul 23
78° 59°
Mostly Sunny
Latest News Stories
Group behind tariff challenge calls Pritzker’s refund check demand irrational
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As over $86 billion has begun making its way back to small businesses impacted by tariffs imposed...
Abbott: Flooding worse in Kerrville this year than in 2025
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The historic rainfall in central and south Texas that continues to cause significant flooding is worse this year than it was during the historic July...
House Oversight to examine Medicare fraud, Smithsonian, DEI policies
By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is set to host three hearings on issues that have been ongoing priorities for...
Judge delays merger between Paramount and Warner Bros.
By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square A federal judge Monday granted a temporary restraining order halting the $110 billion merger between Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. and Paramount Skydance Corp. A coalition...
Illinois news in brief: Ammons House investigation hearing set; IDOT requests public feedback; Duckworth reacts to service member’s death
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Ammons House investigation hearing set The Illinois House Special Investigative Committee appointed to look into alleged wrongdoings by Rep. Carol Ammons,...
Text messages aren’t ‘phone calls’ that can trigger class actions: Appeals panel
By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square (Legal Newsline) - Text messages aren't "phone calls," and can't be used to bring class action lawsuits against companies for allegedly violating...
Darline Graham will file for full term succeeding brother Lindsey
By Alan WootenThe Center Square U.S. Sen. Darline Graham, sworn in last Tuesday to fulfill the remainder of her brother Lindsey Graham’s term, said Monday she’ll file for the special...
Election 2026: Prisoners in historic release by Cooper consistent in pattern
By Alan WootenThe Center Square More than 700 prisoners released in addition to U.S. Senate candidate Roy Cooper’s historic settlement-based 3,500 have a pattern consistent with either homicide, sex offenses,...
Secretary of State says insurance reforms are not political
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias says he is offended by a state lawmaker’s suggestion that Giannoulias...
Details show speaker delayed lawmaker misconduct action
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – New investigative reporting revealed last week that Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch knew of misconduct by...
Man suspected of using ‘incendiary device’ arrested outside NYC immigration court
By Chris WadeThe Center Square A man is in custody after allegedly setting off an "incendiary device" outside a federal immigration court building in New York City Monday morning, authorities...
Gubernatorial candidate calls for leadership overhaul, prison reforms
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Independent Illinois gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett says persistent staffing shortages, aging equipment and what he describes...
U.S. Supreme Court to hear Alaska plane confiscation case
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case over whether an Alaskan pilot's plane can be seized after he transported alcohol into a town...
Illinois news in brief: Chicago police review Illinois Accountability Commission report; Granite City man sentenced for transporting minor in sex assault case; Report finds Illinois’ AI careers rank 34th in nation
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Chicago police review Illinois Accountability Commission report Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration is encouraging people whose experiences are described in the...
