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.
Community Events
MondayDecember 1, 2025
6:00 amChildren's Scavenger Hunt - Elf on the Shelf & Friends!6:00 amDecorate our Christmas Trees at the Library!6:00 amElf on the Shelf Library Display Raffle - Week 1: The Elf on the Shelf Santaverse Ornament Collection3:30 pm9:30 AM - Walk and Talk Book Club4:30 pm10:30 AM - Walk & Talk Book Club10:00 pmMaker Monday: Tinkercad
TuesdayDecember 2, 2025
WednesdayDecember 3, 2025
Latest News Stories
Frankfort Township Highway Department Upgrades Aging Fleet, Starts Grant Project
Article Summary: The Frankfort Township Highway Department is in the process of replacing equipment that is up to two decades old, having recently received a new small leaf vacuum and a...
Mokena Library Board Approves Tentative Budget for 2025-2026 Fiscal Year
Mokena Community Public Library District Board of Trustees Meeting | July 2025 Article SummaryThe Mokena Community Public Library District Board of Trustees has formally approved its tentative budget and appropriation...
Trump-appointed judge blasts administration for campaign against judiciary
By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square A federal judge dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit against all 15 federal district judges in Maryland Tuesday, emphasizing the extraordinary nature of the case and...
Report: Teachers’ unions give millions to progressive causes
By Esther WickhamThe Center Square The two largest U.S. teachers unions have donated over $40 million to progressive organizations and initiatives, a new report found. Since 2022, the American Federation...
Illinois quick hits: Record hotel tax revenues reported; grocer sentenced for SNAP, WIC fraud
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Record hotel tax revenues reported Illinois tourism numbers for 2024 saw an all-time high for hotel tax revenue. The Illinois Department...
Trump goes on attack over digital services taxes, threatens tariffs
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump broadly attacked other nations' plans for a digital services tax, which he said were designed to harm U.S. companies while giving others...
WATCH: Policy questions loom as Pritzker announces ag investment, tax credits
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says a new fertilizer production facility in Douglas County is a major win for...
Report: Claims that preserving coal plants will cost $6B based on unlikely assumptions
By Tate MillerThe Center Square A new report released Tuesday by America’s Power challenges environmental organization-sponsored claims circulating that say the Trump administration’s decision to preserve coal power plants will...
Federal officials confirm case of New World screwworm
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Federal officials confirmed a human case of New World screwworm on Tuesday and said the government will be monitoring livestock in response to the threat....
Colorado committed to increasing housing supply
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Colorado remains committed to building more homes to address the ongoing housing crisis. Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, joined state legislators in making that commitment....
Stock market weathers Fed governor’s attempted firing well
By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square Tuesday’s stock market remained little changed from Monday, despite President Donald Trump’s attempted termination of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook on Monday evening. The major...
WATCH: Police officer, legislator: Seize opportunity to reform Illinois’ cashless bail
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Republicans want to change the state's no-cash bail law. Democrats say cashless bail is working. President...
Trump proposes returning death penalty to D.C.
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Capital punishment could be returning to Washington, D.C., as President Donald Trump announced during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. “Anybody murders in the capital? Capital...
