WATCH: Officials shift shutdown blame; agreed-bill process upended; GOP offers solutions
October 2, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares reaction to the partial federal government shutdown with Vice President J.D. Vance blaming Democrats and Gov. J.B. Pritzker blaming President Donald Trump.
Bishop also shares information about two measures filed by statehouse Republicans, one to reverse the state’s laws that prohibit state and local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement and another distancing protesters for police.
Finally, Bishop shares reaction to the agreed-bill legislative process between labor and business being upended with labor reportedly walking way from the table. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Republican state Rep. Dan Ugaste share their thoughts.
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.
Community Events
MondayDecember 8, 2025
TuesdayDecember 9, 2025
WednesdayDecember 10, 2025
Pajama Storytime with Santa (Session #1)12:30 amPajama Storytime with Santa (Session #2)1:00 amSensory-Friendly Pajama Storytime with Santa (Session #3)3:30 pm(Ages 0-2): Baby Storytime4:30 pm(Ages 0-2): Baby Storytime10:00 pmHigh School: Winter Reindeer Decoration10:15 pm(Gr. 3rd-5th) Bluestem Book Club - "Nell of Gumbling"
ThursdayDecember 11, 2025
Latest News Stories
Republicans divided over how to address rising health care costs
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. Senate will hold a doomed vote next week on Democrats’ bill to extend the enhanced Obamacare subsidies for three more years. Senate Republicans,...
Obama-era ‘Welcoming Cities’ program overlaps with illegal border crosser crimes
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square A program launched in partnership with the Obama administration more than a decade ago that certifies localities to “improve immigrant inclusion” overlaps with crimes being...
Expert blasts Illinois Congressman’s push to double H-1Bs as ‘tone-deaf’
By Catrina BarkerThe Center Square A renewed push to double H-1B visas is touted as a talent win, but critics warn it could reshape the tech market by driving down...
Safety Upgrades Planned for Wilmington-Peotone Road; Gas Line Proposal Rejected
Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | December 2, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Public Works Committee approved a $1.9 million engineering contract for improvements to a dangerous stretch...
Afghans arrested by ICE released into the country by the Biden administration
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Federal and local law enforcement officers have been arresting Afghan men since they were released into the country by the Biden administration in 2021. Key...
Library Board Rejects Costly Software and Donation Box Proposal
Mokena Community Public Library District Board Meeting | October 28, 2025 Article Summary: Mokena Library Trustees made several operational decisions Tuesday, opting to switch technology platforms to save money and...
Officials: Stockton stands together after fatal shooting
By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square In the days after the deadly Nov. 29 shooting in Stockton, the Northern California community is trying to pull together, local representatives told The Center...
Illinois quick hits: Armed sex offender sentenced; most are family farms
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Armed sex offender sentenced A Southern Illinois man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after he admitted to distributing...
HHS: Pritzker ‘eroded public trust’ in public health
By Jim TalamontiThe Center Square A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesman says Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker eroded public trust and is trying to reinvent public health. The...
WATCH: House passes bills to block CCP’s influence on schools
By Esther WickhamThe Center Square House representatives passed three bills this week aimed at protecting K-12 classrooms from the influence of the Chinese Communist Party. The bills - PROTECT Our...
U.S. Supreme Court to decide birthright citizenship case
By Dan McCalebThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to decide a case challenging President Donald Trump's plan to end birthright citizenship. On the first day of...
New fiscal year begins with lowest border apprehensions in recorded history
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Illegal border crossings continued an historic downward trajectory in October and November, representing the lowest numbers ever reported at the beginning of a fiscal year...
IL legislator credits Trump for U.S. Steel announcement
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois state legislator from the Metro East says it’s a Christmas miracle that U.S. Steel is...
