WATCH: DCFS updates missing children numbers; Budget cuts EO transparency criticized
November 17, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares the latest numbers on youth in care missing provided by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and gets reaction from Statehouse candidate Bailey Templeton, who is also seeking more transparency on the management of the child welfare agency.
Bishop also shares recent criticism from Illinois House Republicans to what they say is the lack of transparency around Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s recent executive order calling for state agencies to find efficiencies in their annual spending plan.
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
Green Garden Township Buried Under 12.5 Inches of Snow; Sub-Zero Cold Snap Approaching Friday
Article Summary: Green Garden Township residents are digging out from a major winter storm that dropped more than a foot of snow over the weekend. The active weather pattern is...
All Peotone Schools Earn ‘Commendable’ Rating on State Report Card
Peotone School Board Meeting | November 17, 2025 Article Summary:All four main schools in Peotone School District 207-U have received a "Commendable" rating on the 2025 Illinois School Report Card,...
Frankfort Turns to County for Wildlife & Dangerous Animal Control
Will County Board Meeting | November 2025 Article Summary: The Village of Frankfort has entered into a two-year agreement with Will County Animal Protection Services to handle calls regarding bats...
JJC Foundation Director Kristin Mulvey to Retire After 25 Years of Transformative Leadership
Joliet Junior College Meeting | November 12, 2025 Article Summary:Kristin Mulvey, the longtime Executive Director of Institutional Advancement and the JJC Foundation, was honored by the Board of Trustees as...
Lincoln-Way 210 Switches to Under Armour for Athletic Apparel
Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Meeting | November 20, 2025 Article Summary: The Lincoln-Way District 210 Board of Education has approved a new 3.5-year agreement with BSN and Under Armour...
Crete “Group Care” Home Approved for Senior Living
Will County Board Meeting | November 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board unanimously approved a special use permit for a senior group care home in Crete Township. The facility...
Peotone School District Honors Nearly 90 Students for High Achievement on State Exams
Peotone School Board Meeting | November 17, 2025 Article Summary:The Peotone Board of Education on Monday, November 17, 2025, recognized approximately 90 students from fourth to ninth grade for scoring...
New Bar Approved in Frankfort Despite Board Opposition
Will County Board Meeting | November 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board narrowly approved a special use permit for a new bar in Frankfort Township, paving the way for...
JJC Board Approves Grundy County Land Purchase Amid Heated Debate
Joliet Junior College Meeting | November 12, 2025 Article Summary:The Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees voted 6-2 to approve a real estate contract for a new campus in Grundy...
‘Trouble in Toyland’ report sounds alarm on AI toys
By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Parents should take precaution this holiday season when it comes to artificial intelligence toys after researchers...
Support Staff Urge Lincoln-Way 210 Board for ‘Fair Contract’ During Public Comment
Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Meeting | November 20, 2025 Article Summary: Three members of Lincoln-Way District 210's support staff addressed the Board of Education, voicing frustrations over working without...
When was the first Thanksgiving? It’s actually up for debate
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square As Americans celebrate Thanksgiving this year, many believe the first thanksgiving was held in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1621. However, the first Thanksgiving celebration was held...
Spirit of Thanksgiving in Galveston: Resilience, rebirth, renewal out of rubble
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Thanksgiving, and the holiday season in general, can be a sorrowful and lonely time for many, but artists in Galveston and a faith community have...
