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

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

January 6, 2026/Newspaper Staff/

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.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

U.S., NATO alliance on the line as Trump set to meet with Rutte

U.S., NATO alliance on the line as Trump set to meet with Rutte

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Tensions are running high between President Donald Trump and NATO leaders, as grumblings grow over the U.S. withdrawing from the alliance. NATO’s relationship with the...
BREAKING: Trump fires Bondi, Blanche to lead DOJ

BREAKING: Trump fires Bondi, Blanche to lead DOJ

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square President Donald Trump removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from the Department of Justice on Thursday, according to a post on social media. "Pam Bondi is...
Litchfield Girls Soccer Graphic

Adia Melchert’s Six-Point Performance Powers Litchfield to 7-0 Tournament Rout of Hillsboro

LITCHFIELD, Ill. — Bouncing back from a tough shutout loss earlier in the week, the Litchfield varsity girls' soccer team emphatically rediscovered its offensive rhythm on Wednesday, overwhelming Hillsboro 7-0...
States sue Trump administration over rollback of some air pollution regulations

States sue Trump administration over rollback of some air pollution regulations

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is co-leading a multi-state lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s rollback of some federal limits on toxic air pollution. The lawsuit...
Energy affordability report ranks Illinois 31st, warns of 'burdensome' mandates

Energy affordability report ranks Illinois 31st, warns of ‘burdensome’ mandates

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – According to a new report on energy affordability, burdensome mandates are making Illinois more expensive. The American...
Illinois voices weigh in on birthright citizenship case

Illinois voices weigh in on birthright citizenship case

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As the U.S. Supreme Court considers a high-stakes challenge to birthright citizenship, a constitutional law expert...
U.S. rep.: Mexico still not delivering water to South Texas, despite claims

U.S. rep.: Mexico still not delivering water to South Texas, despite claims

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Despite repeated claims by Trump administration officials, Mexico is not delivering water as promised to South Texas in accordance with a long-standing treaty. In January,...
Supporters say will storage option would streamline judicial process

Supporters say will storage option would streamline judicial process

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Supporters say an Illinois House bill allowing county clerks to develop a will depository would streamline judicial...
Dallas Fed: Geopolitical conflicts creating uncertainty for U.S. oil and gas industry

Dallas Fed: Geopolitical conflicts creating uncertainty for U.S. oil and gas industry

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square A new quarterly Dallas Fed Energy Survey indicates the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran and other geopolitical conflicts are negatively impacting and creating uncertainty for the...
Illinois Quick Hits: Pritzker pushes for E15

Illinois Quick Hits: Pritzker pushes for E15

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is asking leaders of the U.S. House on Environment and Public Works Committee...
Hillsboro Area Ambulance Service

Montgomery County Board Approves $858,000 in Ambulance Service Contracts

Montgomery County Board Meeting | February 10, 2026 Article Summary: The Montgomery County Board finalized Special Service Area contracts for three local ambulance providers, authorizing the disbursement of over $858,000...
Trump addresses nation on Iran strikes; signals conflict nearing end

Trump addresses nation on Iran strikes; signals conflict nearing end

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Just over a month after Operation Epic Fury began, President Donald Trump Wednesday proclaimed U.S. strikes on Iran are nearing completion, while telling allies to...
IL biometrics privacy reforms apply to past cases, too: Appeals court

IL biometrics privacy reforms apply to past cases, too: Appeals court

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Pending class action lawsuits under Illinois' stringent biometrics privacy law may have become significantly less lucrative, after a federal appeals court declared...
Artemis II heads to the moon with first crewed mission since 1972

Artemis II heads to the moon with first crewed mission since 1972

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square America is going back to the moon, after Artemis II lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Fla., Wednesday evening, more than five decades after Americans last...
Pro-life org to Trump: Taxpayers should not be forced to fund killing of unborn children

Pro-life org to Trump: Taxpayers should not be forced to fund killing of unborn children

By Tate MillerThe Center Square The Trump administration’s decision to send tax dollars to the abortion industry by continuing former President Joe Biden’s Title X grant awards to Planned Parenthood...