Articles by The Center Square

About The Center Square

The Center Square was launched in May 2019 to fulfill the need for high-quality statehouse and statewide news across the United States, focusing on state- and local-level government and economic reporting. A taxpayer sensibility distinguishes the outlet's work from other coverage of state and local issues, providing focus on the costs of government decisions. The Center Square is staffed by editors and reporters with extensive professional journalism experience. We engage readers with essential news, data, and analysis. The organization is a project of the 501(c)(3) Franklin News Foundation, headquartered in Chicago. Their web address is thecentersquare.com

Alderman launches reelection bid as unsealed divorce records detail allegations of spending on prostitutes, pornography

August 19, 2026 6:58 PM The Center Square

A Chicago alderman has launched his reelection campaign and continued his push to get on the ballot for Congress, even after recently-unsealed divorce records showed his ex-wife claimed he previously spent marital funds on prostitutes and pornography.

70+ fires and 2 inmate deaths at Joliet prison spur calls for more oversight

August 6, 2026 7:12 PM The Center Square

Illinois lawmakers are calling for an audit of the Joliet Treatment Center after more than 70 fires, including eight cases of prisoners setting themselves on fire, were reported over three years.

Grocery store closures reignite debate over taxpayer-funded food access

August 2, 2026 7:08 PM The Center Square

The closure of seven Save A Lot grocery stores on Chicago’s South and West sides has renewed debate over whether government subsidies can effectively address food access in underserved neighborhoods, with one free-market policy expert arguing the shutdowns highlight the limits of public intervention.

Illinois lawmaker, police officer says CTA anti-violence signs not enough

August 1, 2026 4:09 PM The Center Square

An Illinois lawmaker who also serves as a police officer says Chicago’s new campaign posting signs on CTA trains and stations warning that violence is illegal is a positive step, but real improvements in public safety will require stronger enforcement and a greater law enforcement presence.

As mayor considers police cuts to fill budget gap, aldermen say he fails to collect revenue he doesn’t like

July 19, 2026 6:57 PM The Center Square

Chicago aldermen are suggesting that the city has a projected budget gap of $130 million because Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration is failing to collect revenue for budget items it opposes. Meanwhile, Johnson’s administration is saying it may need to cut the city’s police budget to make ends meet.

Lawmaker says Pritzker should condemn ‘MAGA hate’ after anti-Trump cross-burning in Grant Park

June 20, 2026 11:48 AM The Center Square

An Illinois state representative says Gov. JB Pritzker should address the political motivations behind a Grant Park cross burning after the University of Illinois Chicago student accused in the incident said it was intended as a protest against the Trump administration and “MAGA Christian nationalist supporters,” not Black people.

Illinois bill would reclassify fentanyl overdoses as ‘poisonings,’ but coroners say it’s ‘basically lying’

March 4, 2026 7:13 AM The Center Square

Some Illinois lawmakers want to rebrand fentanyl deaths as “poisoning” instead of “overdose,” but coroners say the change would force them to lie on death certificates.

Law would ban ICE agents from becoming cops in Illinois

January 17, 2026 2:45 AM The Center Square

A newly introduced bill that would bar former Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from working in state and local law enforcement in Illinois is sparking intense debate, with supporters calling it a necessary accountability measure and critics warning it could worsen police shortages and undermine public safety.

Report details sexual abuse, falsified grant applications at Chicago Public Schools

January 9, 2026 6:01 PM The Center Square

The Chicago Board of Education’s Office of Inspector General has released a report detailing falsified federal grant applications, false reports on employee income statements, and significant levels of sexual abuse at Chicago Public Schools.

Senator blasts prison hospice bill for being named after murderer

June 13, 2025 6:20 AM The Center Square

Legislation that mandates the Illinois Department of Corrections annually report on hospice and palliative care within its facilities is being criticized for being named after a convicted murderer who threw a victim headfirst down an elevator shaft.

As feds scale back ‘costly’ federal consent decrees, retired suburban chief applauds

June 10, 2025 7:30 AM The Center Square

The Trump administration has scaled back federal oversight of police departments, but Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul remains a strong supporter of the consent decree in Chicago. Retired Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel said ending the decrees was a good move.

With Chicago violent crime down, alderman praises police

June 8, 2025 4:28 AM The Center Square

Chicago Ald. David Moore says he’s finally starting to see the change he’s long been envisioning when it comes to reducing the city’s out-of-control violent crime numbers.

Feds unveil $1,000 payout for migrants who deport themselves with an app; Chicago resident is the first taker

May 5, 2025 4:55 PM The Center Square

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced on Monday another incentive for self-deportation: a $1,000 stipend and the first payout went to a man who shipped himself from Chicago back to Honduras.