WATCH: Trump ‘not gonna pay’ child care fraud; Immigration enforcement costs; Moving out

January 6, 2026/

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By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares the latest in the ongoing scrutiny of taxpayer spending on child care subsidies with President Donald Trump saying he’s not going to pay states like Illinois for child care fraud.

Bishop also shares reaction from Illinois state Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, to a recently published Chicago Tribune report about the estimated taxpayer cost of immigration enforcement in Illinois coming to around $59 million and counting. Halbrook says the taxpayer cost of illegal immigration is much higher than that.

Finally, Bishop shares some reaction from Illinois state Rep. Martin McLaughlin, R-Barrington Hills, to the ongoing trend of Illinois seeing more people move out of the state that are moving in.

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.

Event Calendar

MondayJanuary 19, 2026

No School - Martin Luther King's Birthday MLK - No School MLK - No School

TuesdayJanuary 20, 2026

6:00 pmBOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

FridayJanuary 30, 2026

12:15 Dismissal 12:15 Dismissal Early Dismissal 12:00pm/12:15pm

FridayFebruary 6, 2026

Quarter 3 Progress Reports Sent Home Quarter 3 Progress Reports Sent Home

FridayFebruary 13, 2026

12:15 Dismissal ACT Practice Test ACT Practice Test Early Dismissal 12:00pm/12:15pm 12:15 Dismissal

SaturdayFebruary 14, 2026

ACT at LHS (registered students only)ACT at LHS (registered students only)

MondayFebruary 16, 2026

Presidents' Day - No School No School- Presidents' Day Presidents' Day - No School

TuesdayFebruary 17, 2026

6:00 pmBOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

MondayMarch 2, 2026

Casimir Pulaski - No School Casimir Pulaski - No School

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