WATCH: HHS tells Pritzker ‘show receipts’ on welfare spending; Energy bill to be signed
January 8, 2026/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares conversations about fighting welfare fraud with Truth In Accounting founder and CEO Sheila Weinberg and HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill and how Illinois could be impacted and how the state can rectify a funding freeze.
Bishop also revisits debate over energy legislation Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to sign Thursday in Joliet. Supporters of Senate Bill 25 say it will help keep down rates with a continued focus on renewable energy. Opponents say they’ve heard that before with previous energy policies Illinois approved that they say has only led to higher utility rates.
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
TuesdayJanuary 20, 2026
FridayJanuary 30, 2026
FridayFebruary 6, 2026
FridayFebruary 13, 2026
SaturdayFebruary 14, 2026
MondayFebruary 16, 2026
TuesdayFebruary 17, 2026
MondayMarch 2, 2026
Latest News Stories
Litchfield Approves $397k for Emergency Water Plant Repairs; Resident Donates $100k to Cause
Litchfield City Council Meeting | Nov. 6, 2025 Article Summary: The Litchfield City Council authorized nearly $400,000 in emergency expenditures to fix a catastrophic failure at the water treatment plant,...
Litchfield Park Board Approves 5% Tax Levy Increase
Litchfield Park District Board Meeting | Nov. 5, 2025 Article Summary: The Litchfield Park District Board voted to increase its annual property tax levy by 5 percent following a review...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Litchfield CUSD 12 for October 21, 2025
Litchfield CUSD 12 Meeting | October 21, 2025 The Litchfield Community Unit School District No. 12 Board of Education met on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, to review the annual audit,...
Principals Present Improvement Plans Focused on Growth and Attendance
Litchfield CUSD 12 Meeting | October 21, 2025 Article Summary: Litchfield building administrators presented their 90-day School Improvement Plans (SIP) to the Board of Education, outlining specific targets for reading...
Litchfield Board Approves Strategic Planning Contract and Truck Driver Training Site
Litchfield CUSD 12 Meeting | October 21, 2025 Article Summary: The Litchfield School Board authorized a new strategic planning process led by external consultants and approved a partnership to establish...
Litchfield School Board Accepts Clean Financial Audit; Auditors Advise Monitoring Benefit Funds
Litchfield CUSD 12 Meeting | October 21, 2025 Article Summary: The Litchfield School Board accepted the annual financial audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, which returned a...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Litchfield City Council for Oct. 16, 2025
Litchfield City Council Meeting | Oct. 16, 2025 The Litchfield City Council convened on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, tackling significant infrastructure and financial issues. The meeting was dominated by discussions...
Litchfield Approves Contract for State-Funded Auto Theft Task Force Inspector
Litchfield City Council Meeting | Oct. 16, 2025 Article Summary: The City Council approved a contract for services with Ryan Gorman, who will serve as an Inspector for the Illinois...
Council Rejects Water Bill Credit for Mt. Olive, Citing Fairness to Local Residents
Litchfield City Council Meeting | Oct. 16, 2025 Article Summary: The Litchfield City Council unanimously voted against a request from the City of Mt. Olive for a $3,675 water billing...
Litchfield Council Authorizes $183K in Emergency Water Plant Repairs Following System Failure
Litchfield City Council Meeting | Oct. 16, 2025 Article Summary: The Litchfield City Council waived competitive bidding to authorize over $183,000 in emergency repairs to the city’s water treatment plant...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Litchfield City Council for Oct. 2, 2025
Litchfield City Council Meeting | Oct. 2, 2025 The Litchfield City Council met on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, addressing the recent water system boil order, hunting regulations, and public safety...
Litchfield Approves New Police Vehicle Upfit and Pursuit of Full-Time Chief
Litchfield City Council Meeting | Oct. 2, 2025 Article Summary: The council approved the outfitting of a new Dodge Durango for the ordinance officer and authorized the Illinois Association of...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Litchfield Park District Board for Oct. 1, 2025
Litchfield Park District Board Meeting | Oct. 1, 2025 The Litchfield Park District Board met on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, to review maintenance projects and upcoming fall events. The board...