Illinois in Focus

By The Center SquareNews

Illinois in Focus episodes

August 26, 2022 Episode 205: Illinois has the 7th highest student loan debt in the nation
Illinois has the 7th highest student loan debt in the nation, standing at $61.6 billion for 1.6 million borrowers.

President Biden on Wednesday announced taxpayers will cover up to $10,000 in student loan debt for individuals making $125,000 or less and families making $250,000 or less. An additional $10,000 will be paid for by taxpayers for those who received Pell Grants.

Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/illinois-61-6-billion-in-student-loan-debt-7th-highest/article_c37a8456-23ca-11ed-9636-97d37ffb59dd.html
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
49 min
August 19, 2022 Episode 204: Democrats, Republicans kick off election season at State Fair
Marking the unofficial beginning of election season, Illinois Democrats pushed for their agenda while Illinois Republicans downplayed the Pritzker administration in hopes of garnering more support in November.

The Illinois gubernatorial election will be held on Nov. 8.

Read More: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/illinois-republicans-rally-at-state-fair-downplay-democrats-accomplishments/article_08847366-1f45-11ed-a757-dba87a462f7e.html

Read More: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/illinois-democrats-rally-at-fair-downplay-party-strife/article_22b01b9c-1e77-11ed-a1ca-f3012fb7809f.html
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
46 min
August 12, 2022 Episode 203: As Illinois adds teachers and sheds students, is there really a teacher shortage?
Illinois schools employed more teachers in 2021 than it had at any point over the past decade while student enrollment declined over the same period. Despite this, lawmakers say the state is experiencing a teacher shortage and they continue to look for solutions to the perceived problem.

The most recent report from the Illinois State Board of Education on teacher supply and demand found that 99% of teaching positions were filled in 2020 and that vacancy rates were highest for bilingual and special education teachers. Even in those more-difficult-to-fill positions, the vacancy rates remained below 3% in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Read More: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/as-illinois-adds-teachers-and-sheds-students-is-there-really-a-teacher-shortage/article_0b2bc53c-127b-11ed-b6bb-93f851c26bfd.html
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
49 min
August 05, 2022 Episode 202: Pritzker denies knowing about alleged fraud with connections to his office
Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he doesn’t know anything other than what’s been reported by the media in the allegations of worker's compensation fraud against a former state employee that touches his office.
This, as a lawsuit alleging Pritzker’s administration was complicit continues on appeal.
Documents from early 2020 show former Illinois State Police Merit Board employee Jenny Thornley listed the governor’s office as her employer and Pritzker himself as her supervisor in a worker’s compensation claim, with a separate form listing the governor’s general counsel Ann Spillane as her supervisor.

Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/pritzker-denies-knowing-about-work-comp-fraud-allegations/article_24521f2c-142c-11ed-a9a5-d7613b55976e.html
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
56 min
July 29, 2022 Episode 201: Controversial SAFE-T Act abolishes cash bail in Illinois on Jan 1, 2023
Battle lines are being drawn over the argument on the effects of ending cash bail in Illinois.
No other measure as part of the controversial criminal justice reform SAFE-T Act has drawn more attention than the Pretrial Fairness Act, which abolishes cash bail on Jan. 1.
State’s attorneys contend the provision will allow violent offenders to be released with a higher burden of proof required to hold them before trial.
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
51 min
July 22, 2022 Episode 200: Illinois is one of 14 states with COVID-19 emergency orders still in place
Illinois continues to be in a state of emergency, according to Gov. J.B. Pritzker's continued COVID-19 declarations.

Since the beginning of the pandemic over two years ago, Pritzker has exercised powers granted to him by state law to enact policies during states of emergency. The governor has issued 116 orders and declared a statewide disaster dozens of times to extend those powers.

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
51 min
July 15, 2022 Episode 199: Illinois Chamber of Commerce warns of "economic storm" following historic inflation
An economic storm is coming and the state of Illinois could do more to be better prepared. That’s the warning from the Illinois Chamber of Commerce after sustained historic inflation. Inflation set another 40-year record Wednesday with the consumer price index up 9.1% over the past 12 months.
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
48 min
July 08, 2022 Episode 198: Tragedy in Highland Park punctuates a violent holiday weekend in Chicagoland
Six were killed Monday and dozens of others were injured after a man perched on the roof of a nearby building opened fire on the crowd watching the Independence Day parade in Highland Park. The seventh person died Tuesday at Evanston Hospital.

The city of Chicago experienced a violent Independence Day weekend in which at least eight people were killed and 29 were injured. Mayor Lori Lightfoot says they're making improvements in public safety.
In Chicago, the holiday weekend saw a total of 68 reported shootings, eight of which were fatal, and several of the shootings ended up without someone in custody.
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
58 min
July 01, 2022 Episode 197: Pritzker vs. Bailey in face off for Governor
A downstate Republican farmer who sued Gov. J.B. Pritzker over COVID-19 mandates will take on the billionaire Democratic incumbent this November.
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
56 min
June 24, 2022 Episode 196: Donald Trump visits Illinois with primary election just days away
President Donald Trump is coming to Illinois Saturday evening for a rally in Mendon. He’s making at least one endorsement, and maybe another.
In an interview with The Center Square Thursday, the former Republican president said he is endorsing U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Oakland, in the newly drawn 15th Congressional District.
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illinois-in-focus/support

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
43 min

About Illinois in Focus

From the publisher's feed

The podcast bringing you the most important stories out of Illinois from TheCenterSquare.com. Join us as we dive into the top headlines and provide insightful commentary and analysis.