AGP Executive Report

Illinois Nuclear Push: Gov. JB Pritzker’s nuclear pivot is moving from policy to planning, with state agencies exploring where new plants could fit to add up to 2 gigawatts and protect reliability as energy demand and data-center growth accelerate. Local Industry & Jobs: Realta Fusion plans to build a fusion R&D and HQ facility at Madison’s former Oscar Mayer plant, targeting 600+ jobs and leaning on UW-Madison as a talent pipeline. Manufacturing Tech: Researchers report a new approach to cut 3D-printing defects by detecting differences between “identical” printers and adjusting optimization per machine. Food & Agriculture: Chicago corn rebounded after USDA crop-rating drops tied to hot, dry weather, while soybeans eased with oil. Public Health Watch: A study found mifepristone in tap water samples from two U.S. cities, including Carbondale, raising questions about wastewater treatment and long-term exposure. Workforce & Training: Illinois lawmakers reversed course on a foreign-language graduation requirement, shifting toward career-focused coursework to keep school-to-career pathways alive for trades, manufacturing, and biomedical students. Energy Market Signal: Century Aluminum says its U.S. smelter restart is tied to tariff-driven demand for domestic aluminum inputs.

Data Center Planning: Yorkville’s City Council approved a re-phasing amendment for the 1,034-acre Project Cardinal data center, reshuffling the order of 14 warehouses after a settlement—while one alderman voted no and another voted present. Cyber Safety Engineering: A Cyber Safety Summit in Washington highlighted a gap in accountability for cyber-physical risk and pushed the idea of a new “cyber safety engineering” discipline. EV Infrastructure: Aurora is set to consider a contract to add nine dual-port EV chargers at three sites, with most costs covered by federal grants. Food Safety & Supply Chains: A cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to central Mexico produce is expanding, with some retailers reportedly pulling items linked to the suspect region; Illinois is among affected states. Weather & Construction Safety: Downers Grove first responders are still working to rescue two workers trapped in a storm sewer after severe storms. Local Industry & Jobs: Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara announced he’s resigning mid-term to lead the Illinois Municipal League. Corporate Watch: Century Aluminum set its Q2 2026 earnings date for Aug. 6.

Illinois Labor Snapshot: New BLS/DES data shows Illinois employment gains concentrated in a few metro areas, with statewide nonfarm jobs up about 7,000 year over year, but unemployment rising in 11 of 12 metro areas—Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg, Lake County, Champaign-Urbana and Peoria gained, while Rockford, Springfield and Elgin lost. Energy & Industry Tension: Residents in Galena and across Illinois are pushing back on the data center boom, saying it strains energy and resources; a coalition is holding town halls after hearing strong, organized opposition. Power Infrastructure Watch: In Wisconsin, Chicago-based Invenergy’s proposed Red Oak Ridge natural gas plant drew heavy public opposition at hearings, with critics linking the project to rising data center demand. Dark Skies, Light Pollution: Middle Fork River Forest Preserve in Champaign County earned Illinois’ first International Dark Sky Place designation, highlighting state efforts to curb outdoor lighting. Agriculture & Health: A workshop tied soil microbiomes to human health, underscoring how farming practices can ripple into chronic disease risk. AI Governance: A new discussion on AI regulation argues the U.S. still lacks a single federal rulebook, leaving oversight to a patchwork of state laws, standards, and lawsuits.

Food Safety & Retail Impact: The CDC and FDA widened a cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to shredded iceberg lettuce from central Mexico, now reaching nine states including Illinois; Taylor Farms shut down the linked processing facility and the recall is already hitting traffic and lettuce sales. Transportation & Infrastructure: IDOT says Illinois Route 53 resurfacing in Joliet starts Tuesday, with intermittent daytime lane closures and new ADA sidewalk ramps; the $1.4M job runs through November. Energy & Costs: AAA reports U.S. gas prices are back above $4 a gallon as jet fuel and crude costs jump amid renewed Middle East tensions. Industrial Tech in Illinois: RTX’s Collins Aerospace advanced hybrid-electric aircraft testing at its Rockford lab, moving integrated powertrain subsystems to Airbus for next-stage validation. Illinois Business & Workforce: University of Illinois Extension will host two free fall webinars on nature-based solutions, including applied ecology and community science tools for backyard data. Regulatory & Health Markets: Utah announced a $29.6M antitrust settlement with Glenmark over alleged generic drug price inflation, as multistate litigation heads toward a late-2026 trial.

WNBA in Chicago: Team Spoon beat Team Coop 129-122 at the United Center in front of a record 19,783 fans, with Jonquel Jones taking MVP honors after a 22-point, 13-rebound, eight-assist night. Local Business & Recovery: Urbana’s Beck’s Country Shoppe is holding a discounted inventory sale after a June tornado, offering up to 50% off surviving furniture while it weighs rebuilding. Energy & Reliability: Illinois is mapping where new nuclear plants could go as the state prepares for potential energy shortfalls and higher prices. Public Services & Community: Gary Comer Youth Center’s urban agriculture program is growing and distributing thousands of pounds of produce through youth-led rooftop and farm operations. Education & Consumer Relief: Illinois’ back-to-school sales tax holiday runs 10 days starting Aug. 7, with clothing/footwear under $125 eligible. Storm Damage Watch: Illinois State University approved nearly $3.2M for repairs after June storms flooded multiple buildings.

Food Safety Alert: The FDA and CDC expanded a cyclosporiasis investigation tied to shredded iceberg lettuce, now reaching nine states including Illinois, with 1,947 reported illnesses and at least 98 hospitalizations. Public Health + Supply Chain: A Reuters report says Michigan is straining to respond amid federal funding cuts and slower federal communication, underscoring how quickly outbreaks can overwhelm state and county teams. AI + Infrastructure: A new report highlights how AI data centers are moving into communities and raising alarms over energy, water use, noise, and farmland impacts. Illinois Policy: Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act, requiring transparency and independent audits for the biggest AI developers. Business + Logistics: A Chicago-area industrial market update points to ongoing demand and supply shifts, while local coverage also flags new industrial expansion and warehouse activity.

WNBA in Chicago: Azzi Fudd became the first rookie to win the WNBA All-Star 3-point contest at Wintrust Arena, scoring 30 in the finals and calling for a Steph Curry rematch. All-Star Rising Stars: Jezelle “GG” Banks led Team Washington to win Shooting Stars, with Shakira Austin and Elena Delle Donne praising Banks’ confidence and clutch half-court shots. Food Access in Chicago: Seven Chicago-area Save A Lot stores are set to close July 25 on the South and West Sides, raising fresh concerns as SNAP cuts squeeze grocery margins. Local Construction/Preservation: DePaul is demolishing historic Lincoln Park housing for a $50M basketball practice facility, sparking debate over neighborhood change. Energy Policy Fight: The Trump administration admitted in court it cancelled $7.6B in clean-energy grants based on states’ political identity, not project quality. Illinois Courts/Policy: An Illinois judge tossed a proposed Abbott securities class action tied to the 2022 infant formula recall, saying it still needs more information. Tech/Consumer Costs: DoorDash is changing how it calculates delivery and service fees, aiming for more transparent pricing that may raise costs on some longer-distance orders.

Agriculture & Food Safety: The CDC expanded its cyclosporiasis outbreak probe to Illinois (now 9 states total), tied to recalled Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce linked to Taco Bell exposure; meanwhile USDA Funding: NRCS is offering $3M for wetland mitigation banking projects, with Illinois listed as a priority state and applications due Sept. 8. Livestock Trade: USDA will lift its ban on Mexican cattle imports after New World screwworm detection in Texas and New Mexico, with resumption planned via Arizona ports first. Energy & Power Reliability: Illinois is weighing where new nuclear plants could go as the state moves toward adding gigawatts for reliability and data-center demand. Manufacturing & Industry Events: Okuma America will showcase CNC and automation at IMTS 2026 in Chicago (Sept. 14–19). Local Governance & Infrastructure: Illinois State University approved a $600.4M operating budget with a surplus, and DuPage County Fair adds glass-blowing and an FFA showcase. Public Safety: A Chicago man faces mail-fraud charges in an “Operation Eau de Fraud” perfume swap scheme.

Illinois Infrastructure & Safety: Rockford drivers are dealing with overlapping construction zones as IDOT highway work and the city’s 2026 capital projects collide, raising “Double-Zone” crash risks. EV & Energy Buildout: Illinois’ first federally funded EV chargers are now online, and IDOT is also opening additional NEVI-funded charging sites after awarding $23.5M for more projects. Agriculture & Food Supply: BASF is rolling out a new all-in-one soybean seed treatment premix (fungicide + insecticide) aimed at broad pest and disease control for the 2027 growing season. Healthcare Workforce: Memorial Hospital in Illinois earned a 5-star HCAHPS rating for nurse communication, placing it in the top 10% nationally. Local Business & Construction Industry: The Chatham Business Association set an Aug. 11 meeting focused on “Doing Business in the Construction Industry,” with bid opportunities highlighted for minority, women and disadvantaged business enterprises. Transportation & Logistics: United Airlines will delay 10 new routes from Chicago O’Hare due to FAA flight caps extended through 2027. Data Centers & Local Governance: Garfield Township is moving toward a data center moratorium process after residents largely opposed the land-use impacts of proposed facilities.

Food & Agriculture: Taylor Farms is again in the spotlight as a Cyclospora outbreak triggers recalls and fresh political questions, underscoring how quickly Illinois-linked supply chains can get pulled into public health scrutiny. Manufacturing & Consumer Goods: Chicago-based Tootsie Roll reported Q2 results (revenue $151.9M; net income $13.3M), while Badia Spices named Laura Chamberlain chief customer officer to push customer partnerships and commercial growth. Energy & Infrastructure: California officials are challenging an Interior Department deal with Chicago-based Invenergy that they say would use federal dollars to shut down offshore wind development—another reminder that clean-energy projects are still fighting for permitting and funding stability. Legal & Policy: A multistate coalition led by AG Nick Brown argues DHS/FEMA are imposing unlawful conditions on federal emergency funds, including election and immigration-related requirements. Illinois Business Watch: Wintrust approved a quarterly dividend, and GE HealthCare said CFO Jay Saccaro will step down, with interim leadership in place as preliminary Q2 results come out. Sports & Local Economy: Patrick Kane is returning to the Chicago Blackhawks on a two-year, $16M deal, adding star power as the team continues its rebuild.

Heat Watch: A heat dome is set to push “feels like” conditions past 100°F across much of the central and western U.S., with high humidity raising heat-illness risk. Packaging & Manufacturing: Source One Packaging added an OMET X6 flexo press to boost capacity for custom shrink sleeves, labels, and flexible packaging for food, supplements, and consumer goods. Ag Markets: CME feeder cattle slipped on hot Midwest weather and firmer feed costs; hogs edged higher as traders weigh the next USDA cattle-on-feed report. Payments & Small Business: Illinois’ swipe-fee changes are delayed to 2027, while some Sangamon County shops are already steering customers toward cash-only options. Illinois Agriculture & Youth: Dixon Springs Agricultural Center hosted a farm-to-table research event, and AJMPU 4-H general shows drew 216 projects from five counties. Chicago Business & Community: The Logan Square Chamber shared event and farmers market updates, plus an AI learning workshop planned for August 27. Food Safety: FDA-linked cyclospora concerns continue to drive lettuce recall coverage for Illinois shoppers. Energy & Grid: Reports say a data-center power disconnection triggered a voltage anomaly felt as far as Chicago.

Food Safety & Local Supply: As cyclosporiasis cases rise, a Carbondale co-op says shoppers are asking for nearby lettuce and the store is leaning on strict handling and sanitation, while Illinois public health urges thorough washing even for pre-washed produce. Real Estate & Finance: Chicago landlord Jiazhao “Frank” Chen faces another foreclosure suit tied to nearly $820,000 in defaulted loan payments, adding to a growing list of defaults across Bridgeport and Chinatown properties. Industrial Real Estate Earnings: Chicago-based First Industrial Realty Trust reported Q2 funds from operations of $111.6M (82 cents/share), beating expectations, and reaffirmed a full-year FFO outlook. Aviation Access: A proposed federal cut to the Essential Air Service program could threaten commercial flights to downstate Illinois airports including Decatur, Quincy and Marion. Energy & Policy: Illinois AGs joined a legal fight to stop a Trump wind farm freeze, arguing stalled onshore projects are being blocked without routine national security reviews. Quantum & Economic Development: Gov. Pritzker announced Zero Point Cryogenics will set up its first U.S. location at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, backed by about $1.8M in tax credits and 20+ jobs. Insurance Oversight: An Illinois federal court sanctioned an insurer in an opioid coverage dispute, citing intentional destruction of key emails and underwriting records. Tech & Talent: Argonne National Laboratory is seeking help for an AI supercomputing center, as Illinois continues to court advanced computing investment.

Renewables & Power: Pivot Energy won approval for four Warren County community solar projects totaling 16.7 MW, expected to generate over $1M in local tax revenue and power about 5,000 homes. Energy & Industry: Morton Industries is expanding in East Peoria with a new factory aimed at growing demand tied to AI and data centers. Construction & Logistics: Winnebago County announced a Pecatonica Road construction project, with details expected as the timeline firms up. Food & Consumer Safety: A federal class-action targets Driscoll’s over alleged PFAS-related pesticide residues in conventional strawberries sold in Illinois and other states; the company denies the claims. Health & Public Policy: The American Lung Association launched its Clean Air School Challenge to help K-12 schools build indoor air quality management plans, citing gaps that leave many students and staff exposed. Crypto & Regulation: The Digital Chamber sued Illinois to block the state’s 0.2% digital asset transaction tax before it takes effect in 2027, arguing it unfairly targets blockchain-based activity. Agriculture Markets: Wheat prices rose again amid Black Sea shipping and harvest-risk concerns, with Chicago futures up on the latest tension-driven outlook. Business & Workforce: Northern Illinois fire departments are facing a growing firefighter shortage as emergency calls surge, increasing reliance on mutual aid.

Quantum Manufacturing: The Bloch Quantum Tech Hub in the Illinois-Wisconsin-Indiana region won a $55M push to build a U.S. quantum supply chain, aiming to cut reliance on foreign imports and create thousands of jobs. Logistics Tech: Chicago-based LiFit Logistics launched a pallet shipment visibility platform for shipyards and loaders, replacing paperwork with real-time tracking. Food Safety: The FDA says the iceberg lettuce recall linked to cyclosporiasis remains in place after a false-positive lab result, with Taylor Farms products distributed to Illinois and 26 other states. Cybersecurity & Consumer Goods: A hacking gang claimed responsibility for a ransomware attack on Coca-Cola’s fairlife, threatening to leak stolen data as production remains paused. Energy & Climate Policy: New York AG Letitia James and allies sued to block an EPA rollback that delays HFC refrigerant phase-down deadlines, a move that could affect Illinois commercial cooling and manufacturing. Illinois Agriculture: Some Illinois farmers are optimistic about double-crop soybeans after wheat harvest conditions improved, despite wet stretches that delayed planting. Industrial Leadership: ADM named Jeff Rowe as executive vice president and chief operating officer, expanding oversight of global manufacturing and R&D.

Illinois Infrastructure & Jobs: A new Illinois Economic Policy Institute study says Illinois Tollway projects have supported nearly 150,000 jobs and delivered a $28 billion economic boost since 2012, with a reported 200% return on investment. Manufacturing & Business Climate: The National Association of Manufacturers touts a year of impact from the 2025 GOP tax law, arguing it protected jobs, wages, and growth across all 50 states. Energy & Utilities: Illinois signed utility bill laws that clarify charges and discounts up to 84%, while a separate Illinois Tollway item points to continued construction and contract approvals. Data Centers & Water/Power: A Galena forum will take on how data center growth could affect electricity, water supply, and local infrastructure costs. Ag Markets: Chicago corn and soybeans slipped as U.S. crop ratings beat expectations, while wheat edged up on Black Sea shipment worries. Health Care: Illinois is cited in national ACA enrollment change data, showing only a small decrease after subsidy expiration. Tech/Operations: Opensity Solutions launched a dedicated law firm MSO practice in Chicago, aiming to modernize how legal firms run their business side.

Food & Retail Supply Chain: The FDA walked back an earlier cyclospora alert tied to Taylor Farms lettuce, saying the result was a false positive, even as the company’s recall and testing continue after thousands of illness reports nationwide. Food & Retail Operations: Yellow Banana, which runs six Chicago-area Save A Lot stores, is at risk of closing after SNAP cutbacks and the death of its CEO left the operator without leadership to keep the stores afloat. Manufacturing & Industrial Growth: Miller Electric expanded its welding lineup with new 600-amp Deltaweld systems, aiming to boost productivity for higher-power manufacturing jobs. Biotech Dealmaking: Chicago-based Tempus agreed to acquire Personalis in a roughly $1.5B cancer diagnostics deal, signaling continued consolidation in precision medicine. Construction & Materials: USG will close its Southard, Oklahoma gypsum plant this November, underscoring cost pressure on specialized building-material production. Legal & Consumer Protection: A Seventh Circuit panel ruled that text messages can’t be treated as “phone calls” under the TCPA for class action claims, a potential win for businesses facing serial marketing-text lawsuits. Energy & Policy: Century Aluminum praised a Trump executive order that lowers tariffs for companies investing in new U.S. primary aluminum production, including a major Oklahoma smelter plan.