WATCH: Child care funding freeze; Trump rebuts Jan. 6 testimony from Kinzinger, Pelosi
January 7, 2026/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop airs highlights from a Democrat-led committee in the U.S. Congress about the Jan. 6 Capitol riots and President Donald Trump’s reaction to some of the criticism.
Bishop also talks live with Lawrence Ligas, a Jan. 6 criminal defendant from Illinois who is now suing the federal government over his prosecution. He says he was unjustly prosecuted with excessive force.
Finally, Bishop delves into the news that the Trump administration is freezing $10 billion in federal funds to five different states including approximately $1 billion to Illinois as concerns continue about potential fraud in the welfare system stemming from findings in Minnesota.
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
Latest News Stories
New Lenox Garage Variance Denied After Neighbor Cites ‘Massive’ Scale and Neighborhood Impact
Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | November 4, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously denied a New Lenox Township homeowner's request for a variance...
JJC Celebrates “Future Wolves” Partnerships with Joliet and Troy School Districts
Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Meeting | October 15, 2025 Article SummaryJoliet Junior College celebrated its "Future Wolves" initiative by issuing proclamations honoring its inaugural partnerships with Joliet Public...
State Veto Session Passes Energy Bill Limiting County Zoning, Approves Toll Hike for Mass Transit
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Legislative Committee for November 4, 2025 Article Summary: A state lobbyist reported to Will County that the Illinois General Assembly passed a major energy bill...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Peotone School Board Committee of the Whole October 27, 2025
Peotone School Board Committee of the Whole Meeting | October 27, 2025 The Peotone School District 207-U Board of Education's committee meeting on October 27 was dominated by discussions of...
Commission Approves Peotone-Area Farmhouse Split, Overruling Staff’s “Spot Zoning” Concerns
Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | November 4, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission approved a request to rezone a 1.75-acre portion of a larger...
Will County Finance Committee Hits Impasse on 2025 Tax Levy, Postpones Budget Votes
Will County Finance Committee Meeting | November 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Finance Committee postponed votes on the 2025 tax levy and the 2026 budget after a contentious debate...
Federal Lobbyists Brief Will County on Government Shutdown, Warn of SNAP and TSA Disruptions
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Legislative Committee for November 4, 2025 Article Summary: Will County’s federal lobbyists reported that the ongoing government shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history, is...
Will County Committee Advances Gougar Road Bridge Project with Over $540,000 in Agreements
Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | November 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board approved two key agreements for the Gougar Road bridge project in New Lenox,...
Commission Approves Mokena-Area Garage Variance Over Village’s Objection
Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | November 4, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission approved a variance for a new garage in unincorporated Frankfort Township...
Residents Clash on School Funding, Citing Low Tax Rate vs. “Wasteful” Spending at Committee Meeting
Peotone School Board Committee of the Whole Meeting | October 27, 2025 Article SummaryThe Peotone School Board heard conflicting public perspectives on its long-standing financial crisis, with one resident presenting...
JJC Receives Surprise $1.9 Million from IRS Employee Retention Credit
Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Meeting | October 15, 2025 Article SummaryJoliet Junior College has received an unexpected $1.9 million windfall from the federal Employee Retention Credit (ERC), a...
JJC Advances ERP Modernization with New Vendor and Two-Year Budget
Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Meeting | October 15, 2025 Article SummaryJoliet Junior College is entering the next phase of its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system overhaul, with the...
Will County Committee Shapes 2026 Legislative Agendas on Housing, Energy, and Health
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Legislative Committee for November 4, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Legislative Committee advanced key priorities for its 2026 state and federal legislative agendas, focusing...
