AGP Executive Report

Severe Weather: Tornadoes and damaging storms hit communities outside Chicago, knocking out power for hundreds of thousands and disrupting travel, with confirmed touchdowns reported in rural areas southwest of the city. Immigration Enforcement: Trump signed the Secure America Act, boosting ICE funding and expanding 287(g) agreements—raising fresh pressure on “sanctuary” cities. Public Housing Corruption: A former Chicago Housing Authority property director and a contractor executive face kickback allegations tied to $4.8M in CHA work. Rural Healthcare: Keokuk held a packed community forum on an upcoming rural emergency hospital, focusing on what services will be offered and how stabilization care will work. Ag & Markets: Soybeans slid on favorable crop weather and ample global supplies, while Illinois-area dairy producers were urged to cut heifer rearing costs without hurting performance. Manufacturing & Automation: John Deere plans hiring and callbacks in Iowa/Illinois, and Lake Superior State University’s robotics leader won a major automation teaching honor for work preparing students for real-world manufacturing. Tech & Courts: A Northern District of Illinois ruling dismissed Natsoft’s patent claims against Hexaware. Energy & Shipping: Ethanol is gaining traction as a marine fuel option as shippers look to diversify amid oil and shipping risks.

Agriculture Outlook: USDA cut the U.S. winter wheat harvest outlook after Plains drought, projecting 2026/27 production at 1.03 billion bushels—down 2% from last month and far below last year—while Illinois yields and harvested acres also slipped. Power & Grid: FERC approved PJM’s expedited interconnection fast-track for large projects (up to 10 requests a year, 250MW+), aimed at meeting rising demand tied to data centers. Manufacturing & Automation: IMTS announced a bigger 2026 conference lineup, including a new Industrial AI Conference, and DigiKey is pushing automation demos at Automate 2026 in Chicago. Illinois Jobs & Retail Expansion: Rural King broke ground on a $75M Mattoon store support campus, adding 100 jobs and retaining 719. Workforce Training: Southeastern Illinois College ran a 4-H Spin Club welding class for junior high students, building hands-on skills for skilled trades. Food & Weather: Severe storms damaged Culver’s “Thank You Farmers” barn in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, highlighting ongoing weather disruption across the region. Illinois Policy: Illinois lawmakers advanced anti-ticket fraud measures, targeting bot scalping and sales of tickets sellers don’t yet possess.

Higher Ed Leadership: The Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Board of Trustees is set to affirm Dr. Timothy L. Taylor as next chancellor at its June 16 meeting, with Taylor (currently Shawnee Community College president) slated to start Aug. 15 after Chancellor Ryan Gower’s June 30 retirement. Child Nutrition in Chicago: The National CACFP Association is calling for presentation proposals for its 2027 National Child Nutrition Conference, March 29–April 2 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, focused on “Fresh Ideas, Shared Purpose.” Grains & Agriculture: Chicago Board of Trade corn futures slipped as traders awaited USDA’s monthly supply-demand report; rains across the Midwest are expected to support early crop growth. Energy & Power Reliability: Severe storms knocked out power across the Midwest, including the Chicago area, with tornado warnings and damaging-wind alerts disrupting travel. Manufacturing Ownership: Fisher Barton announced it has transitioned to employee ownership after six years of growth and operational upgrades, aiming to strengthen its workforce and innovation pipeline. Local Community & Events: Chicago’s Midway Plaisance is set to open a new universally accessible playground, while Illinois communities continue to weigh the tradeoffs of major local events and construction impacts.

Medical Supply Industry: Medline marks its 60th anniversary this June, tracing roots to Chicago-area healthcare apparel and now reporting $28.4B in 2025 net sales, 70 global distribution centers, 30 manufacturing sites, and next-day delivery to 95% of U.S. customers. Consumer Protection: Illinois and other states secured restitution through a multistate settlement with GS Labs over overpriced and delayed COVID-19 tests, with restitution and reimbursements funded for affected consumers. Energy & Grid: Apex Clean Energy sold a 28 MWdc Illinois community solar portfolio to SolAmerica Energy, aiming to expand bill savings for residents and businesses across Ameren and ComEd territories. Construction & Public Works: A hazardous materials release at the University of Illinois’ Nathan Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory prompted an evacuation notice, then ended later that day. Workforce & Training: Jefferson County Joint Vocational School is bringing back its HVACR program, adding summer adult training and pointing to growing demand tied to commercial, residential, and data-center cooling needs. Local Preservation: Landmarks Illinois awarded $5,000 to help assess the historic Johnson County Courthouse in Vienna for future restoration planning. Business & Courts: CoStar urged an Illinois federal court to deny Zillow’s bid for a preliminary injunction in a listing-data dispute involving Chicago-area real estate data and brokerage firms.

Healthcare Supply Chain: Medline marks its 60th anniversary this June, founded in 1966 in the Chicago area and now operating 70 distribution centers and 30 manufacturing sites with $28.4B in 2025 net sales and 2,100+ MedTrans trucks for next-day delivery to 95% of U.S. customers. Energy & Grid Infrastructure: Hitachi Energy airlifted two 80-ton transformers from Poland to Chicago for a hyperscale data center project, underscoring how fast-growing AI and electrification are stressing grid scaling and resilience. Legal AI Expansion: Legora, a $5.6B legal AI platform, is opening offices in Madrid, Milan, and Paris and adding a London engineering hub, targeting 700 EMEA employees within a year. Food Safety: Federal officials expanded a Salmonella outbreak tied to moringa supplements to 119 cases across 36 states, while a Listeria alert linked to Chicago-made deli headcheese warns consumers to check products. Illinois Policy & Compliance: Michigan AG Dana Nessel and a coalition won a preliminary injunction blocking USDA from enforcing certain funding conditions tied to immigration and DEI-related terms. Construction & Learning: Wild Classrooms, a UI Extension outdoor education training for K-6 teachers, runs June 15-18 in Quincy with hands-on science and agriculture lessons.

Engineering Education Wins: City Colleges of Chicago’s School of Engineering is racking up scholarships, national chapter awards, and near-200 grads headed to top universities, with internships landing at NASA, Argonne, Fermilab, CME Group, and UIC. Tax Resolution in Chicago: J. David Tax Law opened a Chicago office to help Cook County taxpayers facing IRS and Illinois collection actions like wage garnishments and bank levies. Public Health & Consumer Safety: The FDA approved bemotrizinol as a new OTC sunscreen active ingredient—the first added since 1999—expanding options for adults and kids 6 months+. Transit Operations: CTA defended shortening some weekend “L” trains to save money, reduce wear, and improve deep cleaning, with service frequency unchanged. Food & Manufacturing Growth: Mérieux NutriSciences (Chicago) became a TikTok-approved testing, inspection and certification body for dietary supplements, aiming to speed compliance for TikTok Shop-ready brands. Energy & Policy: Pritzker’s spring wins came with caveats as BUILD and megaproject bills stalled, while a data center tax-credit pause moved forward via executive action.

Senior Living Quality: Gardant says 25 Illinois-managed senior living and memory care communities earned AHCA/NCAL 2026 Bronze Commitment to Quality Awards, bringing its five-year total to 94. Energy & Consumer Protection: The Citizens Utility Board warns Ameren customers that summer alternative electricity supplier offers could cost more, citing higher default supply rates and urging careful contract reading to avoid scams. Payments Regulation: The OCC resumed preemption determinations, with a focus on Illinois’ Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, while the NCUA moved to preempt Illinois swipe-fee limits for credit unions. Workforce & Training: Illinois advanced an apprenticeship pathway bill for barbers, cosmetologists, nail techs and hair braiders, aiming to replace costly school hours with paid training. Agriculture Costs: University of Illinois guidance highlights ways to cut replacement heifer costs without sacrificing health or fertility, including smarter timing and nutrition. Logistics Security: A Noble Oak bourbon shipment worth $500K+ was stolen from a Philadelphia-area warehouse in broad daylight, prompting an FBI report.

Corrections & Local Economy: Illinois plans to rebuild both Stateville and Logan prisons in Crest Hill, a move that could reshape jobs and families in Lincoln and Logan County. Energy & Grid Resilience: A new forecasting approach using very fine-scale models is helping utilities defend public safety power shutoff decisions—relevant as Illinois grid operators weigh risk and reliability. Payments & Regulation: Illinois’ interchange fee law is permanently blocked for many entities after OCC action, while Illinois-chartered banks and credit unions remain covered and lawmakers pushed the effective date to July 1, 2027. Renewables Deal: Qualitas Energy acquired a 164 MWp solar PV project, signaling continued investment in Illinois-accessible MISO power routes. Public Safety: Three people died and three were injured in a Warren County crash on U.S. 34; Illinois State Police are investigating. Workforce & Industry Education: Illinois State University graphic communications students won first place in the Phoenix Challenge, boosting flexography packaging skills. Utilities Efficiency: Taylorville was selected as the first Ameren Illinois community for “Energize Your Town,” aiming to cut energy costs via assessments and incentives. Food Safety Research: UIUC researchers report rising antibiotic resistance in Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, pointing to stewardship needs across food production and healthcare. Tech Leadership: Diraq appointed Scott A. McGregor as board chair as it targets a first quantum product by 2029. Sports Business: The Bears advanced toward a Hammond, Indiana stadium plan after Illinois stalled local authority legislation.

Data Center Policy: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker paused new data center tax incentives starting July 1, citing electricity-rate and grid strain concerns after lawmakers failed to pass guardrails—existing deals stay in place, but new mega-facilities will wait. Food & Ingredients Deal: Ingredion announced a recommended all-cash acquisition of Tate & Lyle (about $5.0B), aiming to expand specialty ingredients in sweetening, fortification, and texturants. Logistics & Air Cargo: Kuehne+Nagel added Frankfurt to its Inspire air freight rotation, with a revised weekly route connecting Chicago to Frankfurt and onward to Atlanta to support time-sensitive shipments. Public Safety Grants: IDNR awarded $495,000 in federal grants to 73 Illinois volunteer fire departments for equipment and training, covering about 250,000 residents. Local Industry Tech: Sterling Trading Tech said it fully implemented revised FINRA Rule 4210 for Lightspeed Financial, shifting from PDT to an intraday margin regime. Community & Culture: The Bulls and NBA community mourned Stacey King, 59, after a reported fall in River Forest.

Illinois Policy Watch: Illinois lawmakers are facing fresh legal and regulatory pressure as the state weighs data-center tax incentives and broader consumer rules, with reporting highlighting how regulation delays and enforcement gaps can quickly turn into real-world cost and compliance problems. Energy & Supply: Midwest fuel pricing remains sensitive to refinery outages, with coverage pointing to Illinois and Indiana capacity disruptions as a driver behind higher gasoline prices heading into summer travel. Local Business & Public Safety: A Kirksville City Council agenda spotlights practical infrastructure spending—radio upgrades for public safety communications and aquatic center maintenance—plus a proposed variance tied to using a metal shipping container as an accessory building. Sports & Media: Chicago Bulls broadcaster and three-time champion Stacey King has died at 59; the team cited his decades-long impact on Bulls broadcasts and fans.

Energy & Industry Policy: Illinois paused tax incentives for data center developers after lawmakers rejected a plan that would have raised electricity rates for the power-hungry facilities, aiming to prevent utility bill hikes for residents. EV Infrastructure: An Illinois EV driver shared a photo of a new “EV-only gas station” in Fulton with a canopy, convenience store, restrooms, and a big roadside price sign for fast charging. Agriculture & Research: University of Illinois researchers used satellite imagery and machine learning to map tillage practices across corn and soybean fields from 2000 to 2022, helping track no-till and strip-till trends for soil health and water management. Food Assistance Legal Fight: A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from enforcing new conditions on billions in USDA nutrition funding, including SNAP, after states argued the requirements could disrupt aid for low-income families. Public Safety: Troy Fire Protection District moved paramedics into dual-role firefighter/paramedics to expand emergency coverage and response flexibility. Local Economy & Community: The Museum of Science and Industry will close on June 18 for opening day of the Obama Presidential Center, then reopen June 19 with a free admission day for Illinois residents.

Data Centers: Illinois Governor ordered a pause on data center tax credits, drawing criticism that the move won’t cut utility bills or protect the grid but could shift investment and jobs to neighboring states. Energy & Fuel Costs: GasBuddy price reports show Illinois-area diesel and E85 availability varies by county, with Champaign County’s E85 hitting $3.92 and Kane County diesel at $5.49 in the week ending May 30, while statewide diesel averaged $5.93. Public Safety: A Back of the Yards mass shooting left two people dead, including South Side chef and restaurant owner Isaac “Wavy” Bradley, highlighting ongoing violence risks for local businesses. Sports & Talent Pipeline: NHL scouting buzz points to Ivar Stenberg as a potential next Chicago Blackhawks star, with the team’s draft plans drawing comparisons to recent high-profile prospects. Cyber Risk: A new FBI-focused report says Americans lost nearly $900 million to AI-generated scams in 2025, warning losses could grow as scams get more convincing.

Illinois Consumer Protection: Illinois lawmakers unanimously approved a ticket resale consumer protection bill that bars resellers from listing or advertising tickets unless they actually possess them at the time of sale, aiming to cut misleading listings and price gouging. Public Safety Funding: The Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal awarded $6 million in FY2026 small equipment grants to 260 fire and EMS agencies statewide, with up to $26,000 per group for critical gear. Energy & Industry Policy: Illinois paused tax incentives for data center developers, following legislative action and renewed debate over how incentives affect costs and growth. Corrections & Facilities: Illinois is moving forward with closing the Logan women’s prison and rebuilding it at the Stateville prison site near Joliet, while officials also discuss new Crest Hill prisons to replace Logan. Sports & Local Economy: The Chicago Bears advanced plans for a new stadium in Hammond, Indiana, after Illinois lawmakers adjourned without a last-ditch stadium bill—prompting fresh political and business reaction across the state. Agriculture & Food Costs: A new look at the ethanol boom’s impact finds farmland values in ethanol-producing Midwest states rose sharply after early-2000s biofuel policy changes.

Illinois Data Centers: Gov. JB Pritzker ordered a pause on new Illinois tax incentives for data centers starting July 1, citing pressure on energy affordability and water resources after lawmakers failed to pass data-center reforms this spring. NFL Stadium Watch: The Chicago Bears’ board voted to advance a potential stadium in Hammond, Indiana, with the site still undecided, after Illinois lawmakers adjourned without creating local stadium authorities that could have helped an Arlington Heights option. FCC Spectrum: The FCC’s AWS-3 auction (Auction 113) opened with muted demand—$104 million in bids after nine rounds—with key interest expected for licenses in Chicago, Boston and New York. Air Travel Disruption: A consumer watchdog says summer travel is getting worse, finding 1 in 12 flights late by an hour or more and a big rise in long tarmac delays, with Chicago O’Hare among airports with lower on-time performance. Foodservice Trends: The 2026 National Restaurant Association Show highlighted “value” as consumers trade down on price but still spend for convenience and experience. Local Events: Michelada Fest canceled its June Union Park run and will return as a free Pilsen street festival in September due to rising production, labor and insurance costs.

Illinois Business & Trade: Kazakhstan and Illinois officials met to expand innovation cooperation, with agribusiness, manufacturing, logistics, digital tech and innovation flagged as priority areas. Energy & Industry: Nature’s Miracle delivered initial robots to its Chicago facility and signed an MOU with Faraday Future to expand North American robotics deployment. Legal & Manufacturing: Atkore agreed to pay $50M in an Illinois federal antitrust settlement tied to PVC pipe price-fixing claims. Housing & Consumer Costs: A judge said a MAC Cosmetics customer can pursue BIPA claims over virtual makeup try-on face scans, while separate reporting highlights renters paying non-refundable application and screening fees. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Illinois State Police and IDOT broke ground on a $14M Traffic Incident Management training facility to help first responders and road crews practice roadside scenarios safely. Local Economic Development: A city offered up to $3.5M in tax incentives for a $124M manufacturing plant expected to create 148 jobs. Illinois Research: Illinois researchers reported a new mechanism to suppress frost spreading.

Public Safety Funding: Illinois State Fire Marshal announced $6 million in 2026 Small Equipment Grants for 260 fire departments, districts, and EMS providers, with awards up to $26,000 each to buy small firefighting and ambulance gear. State Budget Fight: Illinois Rep. Kevin Schmidt said he voted against the recently passed $55.9B state budget, calling it a “dead of night” tax hike package that adds $800M for families and businesses and lacks affordability. Energy & Fuel Costs: Gas prices remain volatile after spring 2026 refinery outages and Middle East disruptions; Reuters cited Illinois and Indiana outages removing 800,000 barrels per day of fuel capacity, pushing Midwest prices higher. Livestock Watch: USDA confirmed New World screwworm in a Texas calf, raising alarm for ranchers and traders as feeder cattle futures jumped more than 3% on spread risk. Illinois Agriculture/FFA: Illinois FFA State Convention will move from Springfield to Peoria in 2028 for its centennial, citing space needs at the Peoria Civic Center. Chicago Industry/Facilities: Chicago got a preview of the Obama Presidential Center ahead of its June 19 public opening, including a replica Oval Office display and museum artwork.