Illinois in Focus

A downstate Republican farmer who sued Gov. J.B. Pritzker over COVID-19 mandates will take on the billionaire Democratic incumbent this November. 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.

President Donald Trump is coming to Illinois Saturday evening for a rally in Mendon. He’s making at least one endorsement, and maybe another. In an interview with The Center Square Thursday, the former Republican president said he is endorsing U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Oakland, in the newly drawn 15th Congressional District. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-...

Add Illinois-based heavy machinery manufacturer Caterpillar to the list of employers that are sending their corporate headquarters out of state. Caterpillar will soon have its headquarters in Texas rather than the Land of Lincoln. It's the second major employer moving out of the state in a month. Boeing announced in May it was relocating its headquarters from Chicago to Arlington, Virginia. Suppor...

Illinois' five taxpayer-funded state pension systems are second worst in the nation when it comes to debt. The American Legislative Exchange Council, (ALEC) released “ Unaccountable and Unaffordable ”, which puts the total unfunded pension liability at $8.2 trillion nationwide. Illinois' liability was second worst at $533 billion. Only California, with a much larger population than Illinois, was w...

A new report shows that Illinois continues to struggle with higher unemployment rates, ranking near the bottom of states most recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. The report was done by WalletHub, which ranked the 50 states from best to worst in terms of which unemployment rates are bouncing back the best. Illinois ranked 42nd out of 50 on the WalletHub list, with its unemployment rate at 4.6% in...

Cities and towns in Illinois lost more than 104,000 people in the 12 months up to July 1, 2021, according to new U.S. Census data released Thursday. Nearly half of Illinois’ losses were from Chicago. The updated report also shows Illinois’ nearly 1,300 cities and towns combined lost 104,375 people from July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2021. By total population, the top 10 gains in Illinois were in Yorkvil...

Illinois gas prices have steadily climbed month by month, with last month seeing a 60-cent increase in the average cost of a gallon of regular gas. These high costs have forced many residents to pay more at the pump. On top of the state's high fuel prices, Illinois has the third-highest gas tax in the nation behind only Pennsylvania and California. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify....

As families deal with rising prices on groceries and other household items, prices at the pump are once again flirting with record highs. According to GasBuddy, gas prices in Illinois have increased nearly 20 cents a gallon in the past week. The average price in Illinois is $4.60 a gallon, but many stations in the Chicago area are well over $5 a gallon. In the latest report, the cheapest gas was p...

A new report on the LaSalle Veterans' Home COVID-19 outbreak, pension buyouts and the state’s rankings among CEOs with commentary about abortion, disinformation, possible rolling borwnounts and more. 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 pe...

The Central Illinois Gubernatorial Candidate Forum was hosted by the Tazewell County Republicans in partnership with the Peoria County and Woodford County GOP Monday night. Five of the six candidates certified for the Republican ballot attended. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for...

The Illinois Fuel and Retail Association plans to challenge the constitutionality of the requirement that gas stations promote a delay in the gas tax increase that Gov. J.B. Pritkzer signed into law Tuesday. 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 u...

Some question whether taxpayer-funded guaranteed income programs set to start across the state will be successful. Chicago is accepting applications later this month for the city’s $31.5 million program meant to give $500 a month to 5,000 eligible residents. The income threshold is under $57,000 a year for a family of three. As part of the state budget approved by lawmakers, there also is a $3.6 m...

With the final day of session scheduled Friday, Democratic lawmakers are set to approve a $45.6 billion spending plan that’s been in bill form for just a couple of days. Taxpayers still don't know how their money was spent from a state budget year that ended more than 280 days ago. Republicans in the House committee reviewing the budget Wednesday reflected on how years ago, lawmakers would be able...

As Democrats continue negotiating how to spend taxpayer dollars for the coming fiscal year, Republicans say millions of their constituents across Illinois are being snubbed. Spring session of the Illinois Legislature ends April 8. It’s expected a plan to spend taxpayer dollars for the fiscal year that starts July 1 will be approved before then. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/...

In the final weeks of session at the Illinois statehouse, there are growing demands on how to pay out tax dollars, including billions left over from federal COVID-19 relief. Both the Illinois House and Senate return Tuesday with a scheduled adjournment of April 8. It’s expected they’ll finish up business, including passing a more than $42 billion state spending plan by then. There are other issues...

Not only does Illinois have the second highest gas taxes in the nation, Illinois is also an outlier for tacking on a sales tax on top of the state, federal and sometimes local gas taxes. Republican state senators unveiled their plan to cap the sales tax on gas to 18 cents a gallon. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsW...

Not guilty pleas were entered Wednesday by former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and co-defendant Michael McClain. Madigan, 79, faces 22 counts of corruption, including bribery, fraud and racketeering charges in connection to an investigation into utility giant ComEd and its attempts to gain favor with the former speaker in exchange for favorable legislation. Support this podcast: https://...

Prosecutors indicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan on 22 counts of corruption Tuesday. U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch Jr. announced the charges Tuesday afternoon, connecting Madigan to the nearly decade-long bribery scheme utility Commonwealth Edison admitted to in the summer of 2020. The indictment alleges the “Madigan Enterprise” engaged in interstate commerce and constituted an “o...

According to the Fourth District Court of Appeals, Pritzker’s emergency rules for schools to require masks, exclude “close contacts,” and require vaccine or testing for staff, aren't in effect after being blocked by a bipartisan legislative panel last week. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adsw...

The temporary restraining order blocking Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s COVID-19 mask and exclusion policies in schools remains in place as the Fourth District Court of Appeals dismissed the governor’s appeal as moot.1 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...

Masks mandates for most indoor activities in Illinois will be lifted Feb. 28. Gov. J.B. Pritzker is keeping his mandate for masks in schools in place, despite a judge ruling the policy null and void. 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 pe...

The governor’s proposed budget seeks to spend nearly $4 billion more in the coming fiscal year than he proposed the year before. He laid out his priorities Wednesday at the Old State Capitol in Springfield. Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, said he’s not accustomed to hearing good news in a budget speech. Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorn Woods, said the governor and Democrat...

Candidates for Illinois governor are making law and order a focal point in this election year. 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.

The field for Illinois Republicans seeking their party’s gubernatorial nomination just grew. The amount of money in this election cycle is also expected to grow. Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker Friday gave his reelection campaign $90 million. IllinoisSunshine.org compiles campaign finance reports and shows the billionaire Democratic incumbent has more than $114 million on hand. That far exceeds any...

Lawmakers were scheduled to be in this week, but canceled. They also canceled two of three scheduled days last week, marking eight of nine days scheduled this year that have been canceled. Some speculate they won't return until March. 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...