Illinois in Focus

(The Center Square) -- State lawmakers expressed public, bipartisan concern again Wednesday over an Illinois commission's efforts to increase access to state contract money for businesses that are owned by racial minorities, women and people with disabilities. The lawmakers' concerns are largely based on the reporting of The Center Square in recent months, which has found that the commissioners have fewer responsibilities than their counterparts elsewhere in government and that their decisions have led to a dramatic decline in businesses that are certified for contract preference. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – A federal appeals court heard oral arguments Thursday as judges consider former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s appeal of his conviction on 10 counts of public corruption. The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals took the case under advisement on Thursday afternoon following a hearing at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago. Madigan defense attorney Amy Saharia said the appellate court should reverse Madigan’s conviction because counts related to ComEd were too vague, and because the government failed to prove quid pro quo related to a state board seat. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) - Fewer businesses that get diversity-related government priority in Illinois are getting contracts with the state, according to a new annual report from the agency, after a long-running computer problem thwarted efforts to increase those contracts. About 1,500 businesses that are owned by racial minorities, women and people with disabilities were paid by the state for construction and other service contracts in this past fiscal year. That figure -- contained in the Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion's recent annual report -- is a 9-percent decrease from the prior year. And it happened even though state lawmakers have devoted millions of dollars in recent years to support the businesses. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump says a Loyola University student would still be alive if Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker asked his administration to help stop crime. The president spoke at a Cabinet meeting Thursday morning. “It would be great if people like the mayor of Chicago and the governor of Illinois would say, ‘Please come in and stop the crime,’” Trump said. Trump referred to 18-year-old Loyola student Sheridan Gorman, who was allegedly shot and killed by a Venezuelan migrant Thursday. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – Illinois voters will have a rematch in the race for governor after Darren Bailey beat out three other candidates in Tuesday evening’s Republican primary election. Just as votes were being counted and before the race was called for Bailey, during a campaign event in Chicago, incumbent Gov. J.B. Pritzker predicted that Republicans would select the same candidate as they did four years ago. “Illinois Republicans are offering voters a destructive alliance of cowardly, doomed grifters who recklessly embrace ruin,” Pritzker said. “Yes, folks, this is the fight of our future.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says God was looking out for people in Kankakee County this week. The governor visited the area Thursday after severe storms, including an EF-3 level tornado, caused extensive damage on Tuesday. “But one thing, and God was looking out for people here, is that there were really very few injuries. They were relatively minor. There were no deaths,” Pritzker said. Pritzker said almost 500 structures were affected and at least 30 homes were totally destroyed. “Many of the people who have been displaced have family that live in the area, and they’ve gone to stay with their family while their homes are being repaired or maybe for longer,” Pritzker said. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – Chicago Police say they are monitoring the U.S. conflict in Iran. Residents and visitors observed a significant increase in police presence at O’Hare International Airport and on area passenger trains this week. In a statement to The Center Square, the Chicago Police Department said it is monitoring the situation in Iran. “While there is no actionable intelligence related to Chicago at this time, we are paying special attention to places of worship and will adjust resources if necessary as we continue to follow the rapidly unfolding events,” the CPD statement said. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Greg Bishop, Illinois editor for The Center Square, hosts Illinois In Focus Daily, a review of some of the top Illinois headlines with timely and relevant news and interviews. Read more at TheCenterSquare.com/illinois Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For Illinois in Focus Daily with The Center Square, host Greg Bishop talks with The Center Square investigative reporter Jared Strong about his continued investigation into Illinois diversity contracting commission, including a commissioner not disclosing the entirety of their other employment outside of being a commissioner. Read the story here: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_63956a13-5235-4a23-92e7-06203fbad8d9.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) - An Illinois megaproject bill about a new Chicago Bears stadium project passed through a House committee Thursday, but it did so with a warning from several legislators and an advocacy group that the bill could lead to a meteoric rise in property tax bills in multiple communities in the state. The bill will next go to the House for a vote with sponsor Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, saying he didn’t know how quickly it would be taken up for a vote. The bill would allow the Bears’ proposed $5 billion stadium project and any $500 million project in the state to pay a negotiated lower rate instead of the same property tax that other companies and residents pay and it would allow the construction of the facility to be done sales tax free for 10 years. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has proposed a budget for fiscal year 2027 that is smaller than the state’s 2026 spending plan. The governor delivered his State of the State budget address before the General Assembly at the Illinois Capitol on Wednesday. Pritzker opened by saying he would introduce another balanced budget proposal. The spending plan with $54.8 billion in general funds appropriations is down from the state’s $55.2 billion for the current year. The governor then launched into criticism of President Donald Trump and said Illinois is fighting more than 50 cases in court where Pritzker said the federal government is “illegally confiscating money” that was promised and appropriated by Congress to the people of Illinois. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For Illinois in Focus Daily, host Greg Bishop reviews the latest actions from Indiana to lure the Chicago Bears out of Illinois, and shares reaction from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For Illinois in Focus Daily, host Greg Bishop reviews moments from Gov. J.B. Pritzker's 2025 budget address and what Republicans are looking for from the Democratic incumbent in the 2026 address. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – A retail business advocate says a federal judge’s ruling to uphold the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act paves the way for Main Street Illinois to experience major relief, but a banking advocate says the law could slow commerce and foul up transactions. U.S. District Court Judge Virginia Kendall ruled on Tuesday that the law to ban processing fees on the tax and tip portion of credit and debit card transactions could be implemented as scheduled July 1. Illinois Retail Merchants Association President and CEO Rob Karr said removing the pressure of swipe fees on prices will be a big deal. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For Illinois in Focus Daily, Greg Bishop discusses President Donald Trump's action on vehicle emissions and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul's response. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

During Illinois in Focus Daily, Greg Bishop provides some of the latest headlines you'll find at The Center Square - Illinois. Read more at TheCenterSquare.com/Illinois Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For Illinois in Focus Daily, Greg Bishop reviews the latest in conversations about the future of the Chicago Bears, and Iowa looks to join Indiana in starting a commission to have the state absorb one or more Illinois counties. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Illinois Senate Appropriations Committee chair says greater federal scrutiny of state government spending will not change the General Assembly’s budget process. State senators are scheduled to return to Springfield this week for session days Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. State Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, chairs the appropriations committee. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Greg Bishop shares some of the recent conversations happening at the Illinois Statehouse as some legislators push for taxing millionaires more, others push changes to public safety policy. One legislator is defending her bill allowing for local regulation of campfires. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Center Square's Greg Bishop looks at the immigration enforcement debate as it relates to Illinois Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.