Illinois in Focus

Join The Center Square’s Executive Editor Dan McCaleb & Publisher Chris Krug as they discuss the Illinois Census update. Civil disobedience? Enforcement of proposed Illinois gun ban questioned. Judge to determine what happens next with Illinois' SAFE-T Act. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adsw...

Join The Center Square’s Executive Editor Dan McCaleb & Illinois Reporter Greg Bishop as they discuss the testifying of opponents of proposed Illinois gun ban with more hearings expected. Financial impact from Illinois' no cash bail discussed. Illinois again leads nation in gun background checks. Illinois drivers can expect two gas tax increases in 2023. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.sp...

Join The Center Square’s Publisher Chris Krug and Executive Editor Dan McCaleb as they discuss: Gun Rights Groups Plan Lawsuits if Illinois Lawmakers Pass New Restrictions. Gun store owner: Proposed gun and magazine ban would make criminals of ordinary Illinoisans. Pritzker signs amendments to SAFE-T Act. Religious symbols from Christians, Jews, Satanists on display at Illinois State Capitol. Supp...

Join The Center Square’s Publisher Chris Krug and Executive Editor Dan McCaleb as they discuss the Safe-T Act Amendments Include Denying Pretrial Release for Serious Crimes. Changes to issuing warrants for failing to appear in court also concerns opponents of SAFE-T Act. Amendment 1 could force changes to Illinois' SAFE-T Act police regulations. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com...

Join The Center Square’s Publisher Chris Krug and Executive Editor Dan McCaleb as they discuss the increase in cost of a Thanksgiving meal in Illinois. Record number of shoppers expected for Thanksgiving weekend. Three legislative session days remain before Illinois' no-cash bail enacts Jan. 1. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support Hosted by Simple...

Join The Center Square’s Publisher Chris Krug and Executive Editor Dan McCaleb as they discuss how some state lawmakers are urging action to address the scourge of fentanyl. Only ‘technical’ fixes to SAFE-T Act expected as Illinois lawmakers close first week of veto session. Illinois Amendment 1: Some waiting for certified tally while supporters claim victory. Support this podcast: https://podcast...

Join The Center Square’s Publisher Chris Krug and Executive Editor Dan McCaleb as they discuss Illinois Democrats maintaining a supermajority in Illinois legislature. Pritzker wins second term as Illinois governor as Bailey concedes. Democrats sweep Illinois statewide offices. Illinois lawmakers could address SAFE-T Act concerns as early as next week. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spoti...

Join The Center Square's Publisher Chris Krug and Associate Editor Greg Bishop as they discuss: Threats of violence, controversial ads mark final days of Illinois’ gubernatorial race. Illinois candidates continue push for more votes ahead of next weeks' election. Madigan, McClain enter not guilty pleas to latest corruption charges. After Madigan’s not guilty plea, Republicans warn more corruption...

Truth in Accounting’s 13th annual Financial State of the States ranked Illinois 48th in the country, the same rank as last year. Only two other states, New Jersey and Connecticut, graded worse than Illinois for fiscal health. The review is of the states' fiscal year that ended June 30, 2021. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecas...

The candidates discussed several topics, including crime, Chicago, and the performance of the Department of Child and Family Services and its director Marc Smith. The department has had significant issues despite budget increases in the past three years. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz...

A recent donation of nearly $14 million to a political action committee signals voters will be getting a barrage of political ads heading into the final few weeks before the Nov. 8 election. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal da...

Incumbent Gov. JB Pritzker faced off with Republican challenger Darren Bailey in the first of two televised debates in Bloomington on Thursday over issues like the SAFE-T act, abortion, education and the state's budget. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our coll...

Voters, candidates and lawmakers alike are speaking out in support or opposition of the controversial SAFE-T Act and proposed constitutional amendment as early voting has already begun in Illinois. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of pers...

Another Illinois state lawmaker faces bribery charges related to the red-light camera industry. The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois released a three-charge indictment of state Sen. Emil Jones III, D-Chicago, Tuesday. The first charge states Jones accepted benefits in exchange for “opposing legislation that required the study of automated traffic enforcement systems located outs...

In the wake of more migrants arriving in Illinois on buses from Texas, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has issued another disaster proclamation. Pritzker also activated 75 members of the Illinois National Guard to assist with the busloads of asylum seekers sent to Chicago by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an...

Voters can expect more political ads. The most recent ones in the race for Illinois governor seem to spell out the top issues before voters. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Expect more foreign nationals to be bused from Texas to Chicago as the city’s “sanctuary” status is being used by Texas’ governor to highlight the nation’s porous border with Mexico. Chicago is now on Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s list of bus stops for undocumented foreign nationals after flooding into the Lone Star State. Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/abbott-expect-more-foreign-n...

Illinois has the 7th highest student loan debt in the nation, standing at $61.6 billion for 1.6 million borrowers. President Biden on Wednesday announced taxpayers will cover up to $10,000 in student loan debt for individuals making $125,000 or less and families making $250,000 or less. An additional $10,000 will be paid for by taxpayers for those who received Pell Grants. Read more: https://www.t...

Marking the unofficial beginning of election season, Illinois Democrats pushed for their agenda while Illinois Republicans downplayed the Pritzker administration in hopes of garnering more support in November. The Illinois gubernatorial election will be held on Nov. 8. Read More: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/illinois-republicans-rally-at-state-fair-downplay-democrats-accomplishments/ar...

Illinois schools employed more teachers in 2021 than it had at any point over the past decade while student enrollment declined over the same period. Despite this, lawmakers say the state is experiencing a teacher shortage and they continue to look for solutions to the perceived problem. The most recent report from the Illinois State Board of Education on teacher supply and demand found that 99% o...

Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he doesn’t know anything other than what’s been reported by the media in the allegations of worker's compensation fraud against a former state employee that touches his office. This, as a lawsuit alleging Pritzker’s administration was complicit continues on appeal. Documents from early 2020 show former Illinois State Police Merit Board employee Jenny Thornley listed the gov...

Battle lines are being drawn over the argument on the effects of ending cash bail in Illinois. No other measure as part of the controversial criminal justice reform SAFE-T Act has drawn more attention than the Pretrial Fairness Act, which abolishes cash bail on Jan. 1. State’s attorneys contend the provision will allow violent offenders to be released with a higher burden of proof required to hold...

Illinois continues to be in a state of emergency, according to Gov. J.B. Pritzker's continued COVID-19 declarations. Since the beginning of the pandemic over two years ago, Pritzker has exercised powers granted to him by state law to enact policies during states of emergency. The governor has issued 116 orders and declared a statewide disaster dozens of times to extend those powers. Support this p...

An economic storm is coming and the state of Illinois could do more to be better prepared. That’s the warning from the Illinois Chamber of Commerce after sustained historic inflation. Inflation set another 40-year record Wednesday with the consumer price index up 9.1% over the past 12 months. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support Hosted by Simpleca...

Six were killed Monday and dozens of others were injured after a man perched on the roof of a nearby building opened fire on the crowd watching the Independence Day parade in Highland Park. The seventh person died Tuesday at Evanston Hospital. The city of Chicago experienced a violent Independence Day weekend in which at least eight people were killed and 29 were injured. Mayor Lori Lightfoot says...