Illinois in Focus

Illinois political leaders are reacting to President Joe Biden announcing he won’t run for president and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic party’s nominee. Biden made the announcement Sunday afternoon, saying the move is in the “best interest of my party and the country.” Biden’s announcement throws the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month into uncertainty...

Illinois Republicans are making the case for more public safety in the Land of Lincoln while attending the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Tuesday’s theme at the RNC was “Make America Safe Again.” Earlier in the day, Illinois Republicans gathered for their breakfast off site. U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Hindsboro, said the Biden administration’s open border is allowing crime, drugs, huma...

Outgoing Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy, U.S. Rep. Darin Lahood and other state GOP leaders answered questions about election integrity, the Secret Service's handling of the security detail at the campaign event Saturday where former President Donald Trump was grazed by a bullet and another man was killed, and other issues Thursday at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee....

Some Black leaders from the Chicago area are urging others to ditch Democrats and vote Republican. After Wednesday’s GOP breakfast outside the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee Wednesday, Republican Cook County State’s Attorney candidate Bob Fioretti made his case to the media that he will bring back law and order. Pastor David Lowery Jr., a pastor with Universal Baptist Church in Harvey...

Illinois elected members of Congress and the state legislature answered questions from the media Tuesday during a gaggle at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collectio...

Politics continue in the aftermath of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump with both sides in Illinois taking stock of the temperature of the rhetoric this election cycle. In Pennsylvania Saturday, a Trump rally attendee was shot and killed and Trump was injured after a would-be assassin opened fire minutes into the former president’s speech to a crowd in an open air field....

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is responding to questions about a hot mic comment this week where he said of the presidential race, “I don't like where we are.” Every appearance Pritzker has in front of the media this week, he’s been peppered with questions about President Joe Biden’s physical and mental fitness to serve. Biden’s fitness to serve as president has been the major national political sto...

Greg Bishop reviews a few moments of President Joe Biden's performance at separate events Thursday and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's continued questioning about Biden's fitness to be the Democrats' candidate for the November election. Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz co...

Greg Bishop reviews recent comments from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker about their support for President Joe Biden, despite concerns of his fitness to serve. Pritzker was caught in a hot mic moment saying "I don't like where we are." Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Host...

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker remains steadfast in his support of President Joe Biden despite concerns about the president’s fitness. Pritzker was in front of the media for the first time Tuesday since he met with other governors and Biden last week at the White House. He shared what his message to Biden was. “I said, ‘you need to go out there and talk to the American public more,’” Pritzker said. “...

Greg Bishop reviews the recent headlines about Democrats saying President Joe Biden should step down ahead of the party's convention this August. Illinois state Rep. La Shawn Ford, a Biden delegate, provides some insight. Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pc...

Amid concerns of President Joe Biden’s fitness to serve another four years in office, an Illinois congressman says he should step down. But a delegate says the party must unite ahead of the convention. Speaking with MSNBC Friday, Illinois U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley said Biden should secure his legacy. “The only thing that you can do now to cement that for all time and to prevent utter catastrophe is t...

Greg Bishop reviews some of the headlines and comments after Democratic governors met privately with the Biden administration Wednesday and reviews the many times Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker was asked about his presidential aspirations. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz c...

The U.S. Supreme Court declined taking up the cases challenging Illinois' gun ban, saying they aren’t ready yet but also criticizing an appeals court’s rationale for denying a preliminary injunction. Tuesday, Justice Clarence Thomas denied writs of certiorari for the six cases challenging gun bans in Illinois. “Petitioners sought a preliminary injunction against the enforcement of the law, arguing...

Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has said it won’t take unfinished cases challenging Illinois’ gun ban without final judgment from the appeals court, it’s back to the lower courts. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas declined to hear cases from Illinoisans suing over gun bans. The opposing sides of the debate see Tuesday’s outcome differently. Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted Illinois’ ban on the...

Reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court granting "absolute immunity" to the president of the United States when acting in his core constitutional duty is getting reaction from Illinois elected officials. Monday’s ruling comes in response to former President Donald Trump's claim that he has presidential immunity against the charges brought against him over actions he took as president. He is the first f...

An annual rite of summer in Illinois is approaching soon with another increase in the state’s gas tax along with a slew of other tax increases. In total, Illinois will see $1.1 billion in tax hikes over the next year. They will support a record-high $53.1 billion state budget. Taxes for gasoline will be 47 cents per gallon and 54 cents per gallon for diesel. Support this podcast: https://secure.an...

Recent rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court impacting firearms has those in Illinois’ gun control debate declaring their sides are bolstered. In the case Garland v. Cargill, the majority opinion said federal government agencies cannot create laws through rulemaking, as was done with the ATF banning devices that can connect to a semi-automatic rifle to increase the rate of fire. Hosted by Simplecast...

Greg Bishop reviews some of the reaction from Illinois Democrats and Republicans to Thursday evening's presidential debate between incumbent President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for informati...

A ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court about a federal bribery statute is expected to impact the high profile trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan as a defense attorney for the ComEd Four found guilty last year expects a retrial. Madigan was charged with 22 counts of corruption in 2022 in a case federal authorities called “Madigan Enterprise.” They alleged over nearly a decade, Mad...

Beginning July 1, Illinois will have a new state agency set to roll out over the next three years to handle all things early childhood development. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1 Tuesday in Chicago. He said transferring early childhood services from three different state agencies to a new one will streamline things for parents. “The Department of Early Childhood, our first ever unified st...

Former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke was sentenced to prison on corruption charges Monday. The judge gave the 80-year-old a two-year sentence and $2 million dollar fine. Federal prosecutors said Burke corruptly sought to steer tax-appeals work to his private law firm by pressuring developers of the Old Post Office, the owner of a Binny’s Beverage Depot, and a Burger King in his district. Hosted by Sim...

More than 140,000 Illinois government-sector workers and retirees received more than $100,000 in annual compensation in 2023, according to a new report from Wirepoints. Wirepoints President Ted Dabrowski said Illinois residents are forced to pay among the nation’s highest property taxes, and one of the highest tax burdens overall, to fund the $100,000-plus government salaries and pensions of the p...

The state is moving ahead with plans to tear down and reconstruct Stateville Correctional Center in Will County. The facility was built in 1925, but conditions were described as “decrepit, unsafe and inhumane” by the prison watchdog group John Howard Association. During a Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability meeting Tuesday night in Joliet, Department of Corrections Acting Direc...

A Sangamon County Circuit Court judge made a temporary injunction permanent, finding that enforcing a recently signed law that eliminates “slating” for General Assembly races in the 2024 election is unconstitutional. Last month, the Illinois General Assembly gutted and replaced a child welfare bill with changes to election law. They prohibited the slating of candidates for the November general ele...