WATCH: Chicago committee rejects proposed tax hikes; Hemp industry wants regulation
November 18, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares comments from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson after a city council committee rejected a slew of proposed tax increases he says are needed to prevent layoffs in city government. Johnson vowed to veto a budget with a property tax increase, but dodged whether he’d veto a budget that didn’t include a head tax on employers.
Bishop also discusses the current status of regulations on the hemp industry after the federal government approved regulating intoxicating hemp products. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he’s looking to work with the industry on how Illinois can further regulate the industry.
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
Sen. Scott Wiener announces he’s running for Pelosi’s seat
By Dave MasonThe Center Square State Sen. Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat and vocal opponent of the Trump administration, announced Wednesday he’s running for U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s seat....
Poll: Majority of Americans favor voter ID requirement, split on mail-in voting ban
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square President Donald Trump’s plans to “restore election integrity” and prevent voter fraud include banning mail-in voting and requiring that voters present identification at the polls....
Federal shutdown sidelines 34,000 workers in Colorado
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square As the federal government enters its fourth week of a shutdown, an estimated 34,000 Coloradans are currently on furlough from their federal jobs. That's according...
Cities sue Trump administration for tying funds to DEI
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Denver has joined a coalition suing the Trump administration over funds it says have been "illegally" withheld. Joined on the lawsuit by other Democrat-run cities...
Op-Ed: Illinois becoming the lawsuit capital of America, and Springfield to blame
By Michelle SmithThe Center Square As someone who has spent decades building and rebuilding businesses in Illinois, I’ve grown accustomed to challenges that come with the territory: tight deadlines, rising...
Illinois treasurer promises to pass nonprofit legislation vetoed by Pritzker
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs says he will keep pushing nonprofit investment legislation that was vetoed by...
WATCH: Trump says he could attack drug cartels on land amid boat strikes
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump said the U.S. military could soon go after drug smuggling on land and would consider taking the matter to Congress, but said...
SpaceX launches record-breaking Falcon 9 flight
By Dave MasonThe Center Square SpaceX broke its record Wednesday morning for its number of Falcon 9 launches in a single year. This year’s 133rd Falcon launch took off, with...
Hochul blames congressional Republicans for delay in fuel assistance funding
By Chris WadeThe Center Square New York Gov. Kathy Hochul wants Congress to release federal funding to support New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program, which has been delayed by the...
Tribal nations ask U.S. Supreme Court to return lawsuit to state court
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Ten Native American tribal nations are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to send a legal challenge to the Great Lakes Tunnel Project back to the...
Illinois House backs controversial ‘Equality for Every Family’ bill after Pritzker changes
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois House concurs with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s amendatory veto to the Equality for Every Family...
WATCH: Trump admin asks SCOTUS to lift Guard restraints; Pritzker opposes ‘head tax’
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 reviews the latest...
Poll: Voters trust local governments more than feds to address crime, other issues
By Andrew Rice | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A majority of Americans say the federal government should not decide policing and crime policy in their...
