Water & Utilities: The Illinois Commerce Commission is set to hear public comments on Illinois American Water’s proposed $142M rate increase, which would add about $14 a month for typical households, with a Sept. 16 meeting in Bolingbrook. Energy & Industry: Ameren Illinois is backing Illinois State University’s new College of Engineering with a $5,000 grant aimed at building a renewable power lab for solar and wind training. Ag & Environment: Pekin ethanol plant Alto Pekin LLC agreed to a final consent order ending an eight-year Illinois River thermal pollution fight, paying a $75,000 penalty and funding a $125,000 wetland restoration project. Food Supply Chain: Illinois awarded nearly $4M in fiscal 2026 Local Food Infrastructure Grants to help farms and food businesses store, process, package, and distribute locally grown products. Trade & Costs: A new Midwest analysis says the administration’s 2025 tariff approach is hitting households and manufacturing across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. Logistics Tech: Amazon says Prime Air drone delivery will expand to nearly 500 municipalities by year’s end, including Illinois. Fraud Watch: Belleville tied for sixth in Illinois for BBB Scam Tracker reports in July, with eight reports and about $813 in listed losses.