AGP Executive Report

Chicago Cubs: The Cubs moved quickly after a cut, trading for 28-year-old right-hander Yosver Zulueta from the Mariners, a sign they’re hunting pitching help as injuries and an offensive slump have hurt their momentum. MLB All-Star voting: Shohei Ohtani leads early voting for the July 14 All-Star Game, with Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami sitting third in the AL at his position. Higher education costs: New data shows 16 colleges and universities will top $100,000 in annual attendance for 2026-27, adding pressure on families and shifting enrollment toward community colleges and public schools. Illinois politics & stadium talk: State Rep. Marty McLaughlin is pitching a revised “certainty” approach tied to keeping the Bears in Illinois as the stadium fight shifts toward Indiana. Data centers in Illinois: McLean County approved 13 new rules for future data centers, including noise limits and water requirements, as residents push back on impacts to local resources. Local community: Batavia Woman’s Club awarded $3,118 in summer STEAM camp scholarships to 13 middle school students.

Illinois Hemp Oversight: Springfield signed a bill doubling adult-use limits and tightening hemp THC rules, adding licensing, testing, labeling and enforcement to protect consumers as the industry grows. State Contracting: A Chicago nonprofit says Illinois human services contractors often wait months for payment, squeezing smaller, minority-led providers and threatening services in poor neighborhoods. Gaming Revenue: Illinois casinos pulled in $192.8M in May, up 9.2% year over year, led by Rivers Casino and strong slot performance. Automation & Manufacturing: Automate 2026 opens next week in Chicago, with a Taiwan Excellence Pavilion bringing 23 companies showcasing AI, robotics and smart manufacturing tech. Transportation Deal: LRT Group acquired F2F Transport, aiming to expand freight opportunities while keeping F2F operations running. Health & Biotech: Confo Therapeutics reported encouraging preclinical data for CFTX-2034 for post-bariatric hypoglycemia at ENDO 2026 in Chicago. Workforce Training: SIUC is offering free access to a Google AI Professional Certificate via Grow with Google for learners and local organizations. Local Business: Huntington Bank is expanding its Loop footprint at 222 N. LaSalle, signaling continued demand for amenity-rich office space.

Illinois Higher Ed Access: A new push to help single parents finish college is gaining traction, with scholarship models covering remaining tuition after grants—aimed at removing the real barriers of childcare, transport, and time. K–12 to College Pipeline: Researchers argue college completion problems are often built earlier in K–12 systems, not just fixed once students arrive on campus. Illinois Lottery: The Illinois Lottery pulled in $312.2M in April sales, up 1% year over year. Energy & Costs: Markets reacted to a U.S.-Iran framework deal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, dragging corn and wheat lower and raising hopes for easing gas prices, though Illinois drivers remain skeptical. Tech & Talent: LG Energy Solution held a Chicago battery tech conference to recruit researchers in next-gen batteries, energy storage, and AI. AI in Finance: Major banks are racing to hire chief AI officers, but some leaders warn the role may not last. Illinois Policy & Business Climate: Illinois moved to impose a digital asset trading tax, drawing sharp criticism from industry and legal experts. Workforce & Education: Business schools are being urged to expand private markets teaching as private capital hiring and demand keep growing.

Illinois AI Regulation Push: Illinois is moving ahead with targeted AI rules even as the Trump administration tries to limit state action, with lawmakers focusing on how chatbots and workplace AI affect people. State Budget & Pensions: Illinois lawmakers extended the pension buyout program, using additional pension obligation bonds to keep the voluntary option alive while chipping away at the state’s massive pension liability. Healthcare Workforce: New reporting highlights healthcare as a key job pathway for career changers, with training programs helping people pivot into roles like nursing assistants. Local Banking Leadership: A veteran banker in Bloomington-Normal is calling for a “one unified vision” across business, residents and municipalities to strengthen quality of place and the workforce. Consumer & Supply Chain Pressure: Protein demand is outpacing whey supply, driving higher prices—an issue that could ripple through food and beverage costs. Public Safety & Fraud: Chicago-area “ghost tapping” scams are hitting people at donation requests, leading to unauthorized charges and refund fights. Sports Business Angle: The Illinois pension and AI moves land alongside major sports headlines, including the Cubs’ trade chatter and the Knicks’ championship parade—reminders of how big money and big attention flow through Illinois-adjacent markets.

Rivian Autonomy Push: Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe says the company is targeting a Tesla-style “driver attention” experience in 2027, with a supervised point-to-point system rolling into Gen 2 vehicles and an unsupervised phase next year—while Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker highlights the Normal plant ramp as a jobs and manufacturing milestone. Severe Weather Recovery: After EF-2 tornado damage in Merrillville and broader storm impacts across Illinois and Indiana, residents face cleanup and power restoration that could run into next week, with utilities reporting tens of thousands of outages and local businesses stepping in with meals. Illinois Pharmacy Funding: Illinois is distributing $25 million to help independent pharmacies stay open and compete, with Gov. Pritzker also touting additional steps to strengthen pharmacy access. Fuel Prices Watch: Gas prices are easing nationally and in California, with crude below $100 per barrel cited as a driver—good news for Illinois commuters heading into summer travel. Food Safety Recall: The FDA issued a Class I recall for Alfredo sauce tied to potential salmonella contamination, affecting hundreds of cases sold across multiple states. Sports & Local Economy Angle: The Knicks’ 53-year title run is dominating headlines, while Illinois-area business attention also shows up in community events like a Southern Illinois car show raising money for local nonprofits.

Illinois Business & Economy: Illinois lawmakers signed a bill to double the marijuana possession limit and tighten rules around hemp THC products, with new compliance expectations for businesses. Health & Retail: The state is distributing $25 million to help independent pharmacies stay open, including a separate $25M pledge from Gov. JB Pritzker to strengthen pharmacy access. Finance & Banking: Two Rivers Bank & Trust locations are set to reopen as First Mid Bank & Trust after regulatory approvals. Policy & Data Centers: Illinois lawmakers are debating how to regulate data centers, with critics warning communities are effectively subsidizing corporate incentives. Weather & Local Impact: Severe storms and tornadoes hit the Chicago area and downstate, leaving residents dealing with outages and cleanup. Sports & Business Tie-Ins: The Chicago Bears’ potential move to Indiana continues to drive political and economic debate, including calls for a special session and stadium-related tax questions. Courts & Markets: The CFTC is pressing ahead in its fight over prediction market oversight, including a clash involving Kalshi. Community & Small Business: Illinois casinos topped $190 million in May, while local groups are organizing back-to-school and arts events that rely on community and donor support.

Severe Weather & Recovery: Tornadoes and storms tore through parts of Illinois and Indiana, leaving widespread damage and hundreds of thousands without power as crews work to restore service into next week. Power & Infrastructure: ComEd reported major outage impacts across its territory and said restoration is progressing after multiple storm rounds. Data Centers & Local Control: With Illinois POWER Act stalled, Gov. JB Pritzker is pushing to halt new processing agreements for the state’s data center program, while lawmakers race to expand local authority over water, noise, and siting. Healthcare Policy: A bill on Pritzker’s desk would require insurers to cover up to a six-month supply of prescription hormone therapy, aiming to reduce treatment barriers. Sports Business & Talent Pipeline: The Chicago White Sox promoted switch-hitting outfielder Braden Montgomery, adding a new bat to a surging lineup. Regulation & Markets: The CFTC escalated its fight with states over prediction markets, challenging New Mexico’s attempt to apply sports-gambling rules to Kalshi. Local Business & Crime: A suburban Chicago bar warned other owners after thieves targeted gaming machines in a break-in. Community & Culture: Flossmoor and Homewood held a Pride Fest that drew residents together after storm damage.

Illinois Hemp Oversight: State Rep. Barbara Hernandez’s bill (SB 3222) strengthening statewide hemp and cannabis regulation—licensing, safety standards, testing, labeling, and enforcement—was signed into law by Gov. Pritzker. Pharmacy Access Funding: Pritzker announced nearly $25M for 434 Illinois pharmacies under the Illinois Pharmacy Support Program, with $56,892 each to help providers most at risk of closure, especially in rural and low-income areas. Local News Crunch: Paddock Publications shut down at least 13 Illinois newspapers, creating five more “news desert” counties and leaving more than half of Illinois counties with no or only one local professional news source. Chicago Business & City Hall: Aldermen are pressing Stonepeak Partners for details before a vote on the sale of Chicago parking meters, raising concerns about the buyer’s ties to immigration enforcement and how parking data would be collected. Banking Deal: Esquire Financial received regulatory approvals and waivers to complete its $348M all-stock acquisition of Chicago’s Signature Bank, pending shareholder approval. Digital Access: Illinois launched a statewide digital library service through the Illinois State Library/EBSCO partnership, expanding free access to e-books, journals, magazines, newspapers, and research databases. Foodservice Costs: Chicago-area restaurants face pressure as distributors seek fuel surcharges tied to high diesel prices. NBA Draft/Trade Buzz: With the Finals ongoing, ESPN outlines multiple draft-and-trade scenarios that could reshuffle lottery picks, including speculation tied to Giannis.

Severe Weather Disruption: Tornadoes and damaging storms hit communities near Chicago, knocking out power for hundreds of thousands, damaging homes, and disrupting flights across the Midwest and Northeast. Sports & Local Business: The White Sox traded veteran outfielder Derek Hill to the Phillies, adding depth as Philadelphia monitors Adolis García’s shoulder injury. Capital Markets: States including Illinois urged Nasdaq and FTSE Russell to rethink rules that could force heavy index buying for SpaceX’s record $75 billion IPO. Energy & Inflation Watch: Oil prices extended their decline after Trump said a deal with Iran is close, keeping shipping and Strait of Hormuz risks in focus. Agriculture: Chicago Board of Trade soybeans fell on favorable crop weather and ample global supplies, while wheat rose and corn was flat. Tech & Industry Talent: Lake Superior State University robotics leader Jim Devaprasad won a national automation educator honor tied to Automate 2026 in Chicago. Public Finance & Compliance: McLean County approved tougher data center zoning rules, including monitoring electricity use and requiring decommissioning plans. Housing & Fraud: A former Chicago Housing Authority property director and a construction executive were indicted in a $4.8M kickback scheme tied to CHA contracts.

Energy & Data Centers: FERC approved PJM’s expedited interconnection track for large generation projects, aiming to speed up capacity additions as data-center demand strains the grid. Retail & Jobs: Rural King broke ground on a $75 million Store Support Center campus in Mattoon, adding 100 new jobs and retaining 719. Food & Inflation: A new report highlights how drought is cutting the U.S. winter wheat outlook, adding pressure to already-stressed farm economics. Chicago Politics & Pensions: Mayoral challenger Susana Mendoza says she’ll use her comptroller experience to confront Chicago’s $36B pension crisis and rein in spending. Illinois Consumer Protection: Illinois lawmakers advanced bills targeting ticket fraud, including limits on selling tickets sellers don’t yet possess and cracking down on bot-driven scalping. Local Business Openings: Scramblers opened its first Illinois restaurant in Bloomington, bringing new jobs and expanding the breakfast/brunch chain into the state. Weather Disruption: Severe Midwest storms knocked out power and disrupted flights, with tornado reports across parts of the region. Tech & Manufacturing: Deeply says its industrial acoustic AI hit 99.87% accuracy for connector engagement defects and is pushing adoption at Automate 2026 in Chicago.

Higher Ed Leadership: Illinois Eastern Community Colleges’ trustees are set to affirm Dr. Timothy L. Taylor as next chancellor at a June 16 meeting, with Taylor (currently Shawnee Community College president) slated to start Aug. 15 after Chancellor Ryan Gower’s June 30 retirement. Local Business & Community Events: Hinsdale’s Uniquely Thursdays summer concert series kicks off tonight in Burlington Park, running through Aug. 13 with new bands plus returning favorites and food vendors. Child Nutrition in Chicago: The National CACFP Association opened its call for presentations for the 41st National Child Nutrition Conference, March 29–April 2, 2027 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, themed “Fresh Ideas, Shared Purpose.” Energy & Risk Watch: Severe storms moved into the Chicago area, knocking out power and disrupting flights, with warnings for damaging winds and flash-flood risk. Public Safety & Health: A class action was filed over a Honda Odyssey recall tied to side airbags that can deploy without a crash, including Illinois vehicles. Agriculture Markets: Chicago corn futures slipped ahead of USDA’s monthly supply-demand report, with traders watching Midwest rains and global supply expectations.

Bears Stadium Fallout: Illinois Republicans are pushing fresh proposals to keep the Chicago Bears in-state after the team shifted focus to Hammond, Indiana, with Gov. JB Pritzker signaling he’ll call a special session if lawmakers can agree on a tax deal. Consumer & Health Enforcement: Illinois Attorney General Brenna Bird secured a multistate GS Labs settlement tied to overpriced and delayed COVID-19 tests, with restitution and reimbursement for affected residents. Energy & Grid: Apex Clean Energy sold a 28 MWdc Illinois community solar portfolio to SolAmerica Energy, aiming to deliver bill savings through the state program. Real Estate & Antitrust: CoStar urged a federal court to deny Zillow’s bid for a preliminary injunction in its listing-data antitrust fight involving Chicago-area MRED and Compass. Workforce & Training: Emerson is set to highlight automation tech at Automate 2026 in Chicago, while DeKalb’s Baron Advanced Manufacturing program will showcase student robotics at the show. Local Economy & Community: Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced hunger relief grants for volunteer food pantries as federal cuts bite. Sports Business: The IHSA Boys 1A & 2A state baseball tournament is set for Illinois Field, expected to bring major economic impact to Champaign-Urbana. Immigration Policy Shift: A USCIS policy change is driving a surge in pending family green card cases, with analysis pointing to which cities and states are most affected.

Data Centers & Power Infrastructure: Hitachi Energy airlifted two 80-ton transformers from Europe to the U.S. for a hyperscale data center project, underscoring how grid scaling is becoming the bottleneck for electrification and AI demand. Sports Business & Local Economy: The Chicago White Sox’s Braden Montgomery delivered a walk-off homer in his MLB debut, a feel-good storyline that keeps the team in the playoff conversation and boosts attention in a tough market. Legal AI Expansion: Legora, a legal AI platform valued at $5.6B, is opening offices in Madrid, Milan, and Paris and adding a London engineering hub, targeting 700 EMEA employees within a year. Consumer Tech & Privacy: A class action alleges Motorola improperly shared license plate reader camera data with federal immigration and law enforcement agencies, raising new privacy and compliance questions for Illinois-area tech users. Community Health Access: TaskForce Prevention & Community Services launched a free, bilingual LGBTQ+ therapy program on Chicago’s West Side to expand mental health access for people facing insurance and navigation barriers. Public Finance & Unclaimed Property: State Sen. Don DeWitte will host an I-CASH unclaimed property event June 17 in Carpentersville to help residents claim cash and assets.

Tax Resolution: J. David Tax Law opened a Chicago office at 939 W North Ave to help Cook County taxpayers facing IRS and Illinois Department of Revenue collection actions like wage garnishments and bank levies. Sports Business: The White Sox called up top prospect Braden Montgomery from Triple-A Charlotte, adding a power bat as they open a series at home vs. the Braves and Dodgers. State Budget & Housing: Gov. JB Pritzker’s spring wins came with caveats: BUILD housing and a megaproject bill tied to Bears stadium property-tax negotiations stalled, while Pritzker paused data center tax credits via executive action. Health Insurance Regulation: State Sen. Dave Koehler’s end-of-session bill would curb “down coding” by requiring insurers to pay for the full diagnostic work when doctors run multiple tests to find the real cause. Local Economy & Jobs: Western Smokehouse Partners won New Markets Tax Credits to expand in Mexico, Missouri, projecting 377 jobs and doubling production lines. Community & Education: Marquette Bank’s Education Foundation awarded $3,000 scholarships to 64 Chicagoland seniors, continuing its 1968 tradition of funding local students. Tech & Compliance: Mérieux NutriSciences (Chicago) says TikTok approved it as a testing, inspection and certification body for dietary supplements, offering TikTok Shop-ready compliance verification. Agriculture Finance: Farm Credit Illinois will distribute $30 million to more than 8,400 farm families.

Illinois Data Center Fight: Lee County officials say there’s no data center planned for a 387-acre site near Nelson after a listing sparked protests and a fast-growing petition, as residents worry about farmland loss and environmental impacts. Grid Resilience: A new look at extreme heat argues the U.S. power system is shifting from treating heat as a rare risk to planning for it as a baseline condition, with reliability concerns tied to aging infrastructure and rising demand. Payments & Banking: A federal judge action revives uncertainty around Illinois’ interchange fee law, while the OCC has resumed preemption determinations affecting the state’s Interchange Fee Prohibition Act. Family Office & Wealth: J. Bradley Hilton of the Hilton Family Office will keynote a Chicago family office conference focused on legacy, governance, and long-term investing. Auto Lending Tech: Digital Floorplan Compliance launched a continuous, VIN-level collateral assurance platform aimed at reducing fraud and improving audit defensibility for automotive floorplan lenders. Healthcare Cybersecurity: A report highlights how healthcare data breaches are escalating in scale, with Chicago-area hospital systems among frequent targets. Sports Business: The PWHL’s Detroit expansion is set to land Hilary Knight via a sign-and-trade, with the deal tied to the league’s trade freeze.

Bears Stadium Push: The Chicago Bears’ board voted to advance a multi-billion-dollar stadium plan in Hammond, Indiana, after Illinois lawmakers adjourned without stadium-financing legislation—setting off fresh debate over whether the move is inevitable and what it means for Chicagoland businesses. Corrections & Local Economy: Illinois plans to rebuild both Stateville and Logan prisons in Crest Hill, a decision that could reshape jobs and costs for Lincoln and Logan County. Payments Law: A federal court permanently enjoined most of Illinois’ interchange fee limits for national banks and payment networks, while Illinois-chartered banks and credit unions remain subject—likely teeing up more appeals. Energy & Data Centers: Gov. JB Pritzker paused data center tax incentives amid electricity-rate concerns, as utilities and communities push back on rising power demand. Illinois Business & Finance: Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza launched a Chicago mayor bid, arguing the city must better “respect the taxpayer dollar,” while Illinois’ Farm Credit Illinois paid out $30M in patronage to member-borrowers. Retail Expansion: Dutch Bros is expanding in Illinois, including a new Rockford opening and additional planned sites in New Lenox and Buffalo Grove. Workforce & Education: Illinois State University students won first place at the Phoenix Challenge, and Northern Illinois University held spring graduation for more than 2,300 students. Public Safety: A 13-year-old was charged in a Bronzeville shooting that wounded four boys, highlighting ongoing violence concerns.