WATCH: Chicago committee rejects proposed tax hikes; Hemp industry wants regulation
November 18, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares comments from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson after a city council committee rejected a slew of proposed tax increases he says are needed to prevent layoffs in city government. Johnson vowed to veto a budget with a property tax increase, but dodged whether he’d veto a budget that didn’t include a head tax on employers.
Bishop also discusses the current status of regulations on the hemp industry after the federal government approved regulating intoxicating hemp products. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he’s looking to work with the industry on how Illinois can further regulate the industry.
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.
Today Jun 13
71° 51°
Partly Sunny
Latest News Stories
County Approves $22 Million in Road Projects for Lorenzo Road and Mills Road
Will County Board Meeting | January 15, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board approved major infrastructure contracts, including an $18.8 million bridge replacement on Lorenzo Road and a $3.2...
Landfill Committee Advances Plan to Purchase Fourth Compressor for RNG Plant
Will County Landfill Committee Meeting | Jan. 13, 2026 Article Summary: The Landfill Committee voted to move forward with engineering estimates for a fourth compressor at the Prairie View Renewable...
Fifth Graders Honored for DARE Essays on Decision Making
Mokena School District 159 Meeting | January 21, 2026 Article Summary: Two fifth-grade students were spotlighted at the Mokena School District 159 Board meeting for their winning essays on the...
Ad-Hoc Committee Retains Noise Ordinance Despite Enforcement Frustrations
Will County Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee Meeting | Jan. 13, 2026 Article Summary: The Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee voted to retain the county’s public nuisance noise ordinance despite members describing...
Will County Commits $15M to Transfer Sanitary District Operations to City of Joliet
Will County Board Meeting | January 15, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board has authorized an intergovernmental agreement to dissolve the Southeast Joliet Sanitary District and transfer its water...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Lincoln-Way 210 Board of Education for Jan. 15, 2026
Lincoln-Way 210 Board of Education Meeting | Jan. 15, 2026 Overall Meeting SummaryThe Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Board of Education met on Thursday, January 15, 2026, covering a...
Board Approves Window Blind Contract and Financial Abatement for IMRF
Mokena School District 159 Meeting | January 21, 2026 Article Summary: The Mokena School District 159 Board awarded a $136,400 contract for window blind replacements and approved a $50,000 abatement...
Prairie View Landfill Expansion Plans Take Shape as Consultants Navigate Design Challenges
Will County Landfill Committee Meeting | Jan. 13, 2026 Article Summary: Geologic Associates presented a detailed status update on the proposed expansion of the Prairie View Landfill, outlining a dual...
County Committee Proposes Federal Study on “Legacy Pollution” Near Joliet and Romeoville Refineries
Article Summary: In a draft lobbying platform presented to the Will County Board, the Legislative Committee outlined a request for a federal study to identify and mitigate health risks in...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Mokena Fire Protection District for December 9, 2025
Mokena Fire Protection District Meeting | December 9, 2025 The Mokena Fire Protection District Board of Trustees met on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, to handle year-end business, including the approval...
Mokena Board Hires Project Engineer to Fill Department Vacancy
Mokena Village Board Special Meeting Meeting | December 19, 2025 Article Summary: The Mokena Village Board convened a special meeting on December 19 to approve the hiring of William Berland...
Board Member Pushes for Increased Transparency on Minutes, Policy Implementation
Mokena School District 159 Meeting | January 21, 2026 Article Summary: During the January 21 meeting, Board Member Kelli MacMillan cast dissenting votes on meeting minutes and policy updates, citing...
County Authorizes Condemnation to Advance Francis and Marley Road Improvements
Will County Board Meeting | January 15, 2026 Article Summary: To facilitate safety improvements at the intersection of Francis Road and Marley Road in New Lenox Township, the Will County...
