WATCH: GOP governor candidates forum highlights; Pritzker talks taxes increase, Bears
January 20, 2026//
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square’s Greg Bishop provides highlights from Monday evening’s Illinois State Rifle Association Republican gubernatorial candidates forum at GAT Guns in East Dundee. The entire forum can be viewed here.
Bishop also airs some of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s news conference after signing the Clean Slate Act into law where the governor talked about criminal justice reform, taxing millionaires and the ongoing question of where the Chicago Bears will land a new stadium deal.
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.
Latest News Stories
Massive Second Inning Propels Athens Past Litchfield, 10-4
The Litchfield varsity softball team jumped out to an early lead on Friday, but a massive eight-run second inning by visiting Athens proved too much to overcome in a 10-4...
Trump: Strikes on Iran could be ‘winding down’
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The U.S. is “very close” to meeting objectives in Iran, President Donald Trump said Friday, while providing a glimpse of the region after military strikes...
Arizona Republican lawmakers plan to end Cesar Chavez Day
By Dave MasonThe Center Square The Republican majority in the Arizona Legislature is working on a bill to end Cesar Chavez Day following allegations of sexual abuse and rape by...
Barrasso: Senate Dems have ‘blood on their hands’ for DHS shutdown
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square With the ongoing partial government shutdown now the second-longest in American history, irritated Republicans are berating Senate Democrats, who for the fifth time Friday blocked...
DEA seizes fentanyl, pill presses, guns and millions in cash
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Armed with battering rams and search warrants, federal agents stormed homes and warehouses across the country, seizing millions in cash, piles of illegal drugs and...
WATCH: Illinois House hears bill banning ‘convertible pistols’ amid ‘switch’ concerns
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois legislators are contemplating a bill to prohibit the sale of certain types of pistols that can...
GOP lawmakers call for gas tax suspension as prices climb
By Sean Reed | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State lawmakers on both sides of the aisle called for the wrangling of spiking gas prices...
Illinois Quick Hits: Bill targets youth community participation
By The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A measure advancing at the Illinois Statehouse looks to strengthen civic participation among young people, according to the bill’s sponsor....
House Republican leaders back White House AI framework
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square House Republican leaders are pledging to enact the Trump administration’s newly released national legislative framework for AI regulation. The proposal outlines how Congress should address...
Low illegal border crossings continued in February
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Illegal border crossings and apprehensions in February saw continued record declines and the lowest number so far this year. Nationwide apprehensions totaled 26,963 in February,...
Bill renaming highway for Charlie Kirk faces uncertainty
By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square The Arizona Legislature this week passed a bill renaming a major Arizona highway after conservative leader Charlie Kirk. Senate Bill 1010 renames Loop 202 as...
Poll: More than a third of American voters don’t trust U.S. power grid
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Slightly more than half of American voters say they at least "somewhat trust" the American power grid, according to a new poll. The Center Square...
Harvard sued after Jewish students harassed
By Christen SmithThe Center Square Harvard University found itself at the center of a federal discrimination lawsuit on Friday after the Trump administration said it failed to protect Jewish and...