# The Center Square Daily | 4.23.26 | Illinois 'Megaprojects' Bill Not Enough to Keep the Bears

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-center-square-daily-6742680/the-center-square-daily-4-23-26-illinois-megaprojects-bill-not-enough-to-keep-the-bears
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-center-square-daily-6742680/the-center-square-daily-4-23-26-illinois-megaprojects-bill-not-enough-to-keep-the-bears.md
Podcast: [The States](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-center-square-daily-6742680)
Published: 2026-04-23T20:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/americas-talking-network4
Audio file: https://afp-444292-injected.calisto.simplecastaudio.com/8b02661e-96f3-4975-81b1-e2aa11528098/episodes/fdcd1a4d-293c-402d-af70-84e704992836/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=8b02661e-96f3-4975-81b1-e2aa11528098&awEpisodeId=fdcd1a4d-293c-402d-af70-84e704992836&feed=yyj8m_Dh
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Duration seconds: 1910

## Resource

Greg Bishop hosts The Center Square Daily, a review of some of the top headlines concerning taxpayers across the country. On today’s show, federal prosecutors have unsealed an indictment charging the Southern Poverty Law Center with wire fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, while questions are being raised about the alleged misuse of donor funds and what the case could mean for nonprofit oversight and taxpayer-funded law enforcement partnerships. We also cover scrutiny facing Michigan gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson over her past role on the SPLC board during part of the time period referenced in the indictment. We also examine debate in California over legislation that would require anti-hate speech training for public officials, where supporters say the measure addresses discrimination concerns while critics question how broadly the standards could be applied to public discourse. Plus, a U.S. Department of Education proposal aimed at holding low-performing college programs accountable as student loan debt nears $1.7 trillion. And Illinois lawmakers advance tax incentives for the Chicago Bears and other megaprojects, raising broader questions about subsidies, economic development and taxpayer exposure.

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