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

Illinois ‘sanctuary’ policies put dangerous aliens back on the streets, feds claim

April 23, 2025 6:23 AM The Center Square

Illinois’ migrant sanctuary policies have resulted in tragedies, including the release of an illegal alien who went on to be charged with murder. That’s one of several examples being given by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Ordinance would allow Chicago police to impose emergency curfew any time, any place

April 17, 2025 5:29 AM The Center Square

A Chicago alderman has changed his proposal to impose an earlier teen curfew in the downtown area. The new idea from Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) would allow police commanders to impose emergency curfews for unaccompanied minors at any hour and at any location in the city.

Chicago reigns as USA ‘homicide capital’ for 13th straight year

March 23, 2025 4:14 AM The Center Square

For the 13th consecutive year, the city of Chicago once again reigned as the nation’s homicide capital in 2024 with 573 murders.

As Chicago transit crime jumps, activist calls for action

January 12, 2025 6:16 AM The Center Square

With the number of crimes being committed at Chicago Transit Authority stations now sharply on the rise, Violence Interrupters Executive Director Tio Hardiman is demanding top city officials do more to keep riders safe.

Chicago has ‘work to do’ despite lower violent crime numbers in 2024

January 2, 2025 4:48 PM The Center Square

Superintendent Larry Snelling announced the city’s reduced violent crime numbers for 2024 this week. Police reported an 8% reduction in homicides, a 7% reduction in shootings, and a 4% reduction in shooting victims compared with 2023. But he says there’s a lot of work to do.

New year brings new laws affecting police, courts, and gun crimes in Illinois

December 25, 2024 10:43 AM The Center Square

Around a dozen new laws going into effect on January 1 will change Illinois’ criminal justice system. The changes range from renaming some gun crimes to beefing up police training.

Legislator wants ‘investigation’ to determine why South Side red light cameras issued 2.5x more tickets than North Side cameras

November 20, 2024 11:25 AM The Center Square

Illinois State Rep. La Shawn Ford is again calling for change after new data shows more than 2.5 times as many red-light camera tickets were issued on Chicago’s South Side over a yearlong period than at intersections where cameras are installed on the city’s North Side.

State lawyers apologize to federal judge for linking his gun ruling to CTA quadruple murder

October 5, 2024 6:06 PM The Center Square

The Illinois Attorney General’s office has apologized to a federal judge after implying his ruling against the state’s mass transit concealed carry ban has “safety implications.”

Highland Park shooter’s victims seek $58 million from state police, claiming negligence

August 29, 2024 12:27 PM The Center Square

Illinois taxpayers could be on the hook for monetary awards to claimants suing Illinois State Police for alleged negligence in the run-up to the 2022 Highland Park mass shooting.

Criminals who wear masks should face stiffer penalties, alderman says

July 5, 2024 4:15 AM The Center Square

With violent crime like robberies on the rise, a Chicago city council member is sponsoring an ordinance that would bring enhanced penalties for individuals convicted of crimes while wearing masks.

Ex-inmates to get free state ID cards, poor people still have to pay

June 18, 2024 6:31 AM The Center Square

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to soon sign a number of new laws, including one that expands free state identification card programs for inmates who served time in county jails or Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities located in Illinois. Poor people will still have to pay, critics say.

Fairness and equity? Illinois drivers can get 3 unpaid tickets a year before license suspension under newly-passed law

June 4, 2024 7:07 AM The Center Square

A bill that passed the Illinois General Assembly will allow traffic violators to get three unpaid traffic tickets per year before they have their license suspended.

Apologizing for the criminal? Illinois set to change ‘offender’ to ‘justice-impacted individual’ in state laws

May 22, 2024 8:33 AM The Center Square

Illinois legislators have passed legislation that would change the word “offender” to “justice impacted individual” in state law, a move Republicans say disrespects victims of violent crime.