AGP Executive Report

Bears Stadium Fallout: With Illinois lawmakers failing to land a Bears deal this session, the team is moving forward toward a new Hammond, Indiana stadium—leaving Chicago leaders and businesses bracing for a long goodbye. Data Center Fight: Gov. JB Pritzker is pausing Illinois data-center tax incentives as communities and lawmakers push back over water and power strain, after a major POWER Act effort stalled. Public Safety: A CDOT bike-safety advocate, Riley O’Neil, was killed in Bridgeport after a car door opened into his lane and he was struck by a semi; tributes poured in. Immigration at O’Hare: Iraq’s World Cup striker Aymen Hussein was questioned for nearly seven hours after landing, and the team’s photographer was reportedly denied entry. Local Roads: IDOT scheduled daily closures of U.S. 60/62 over the Mississippi River in Alexander County June 9-11 for bridge maintenance. Food & Work Policy: New SNAP work rules are raising concerns that uneven state enforcement could push recipients toward “easier” jurisdictions. Culture & Civic Life: The Obama Presidential Center’s opening day will force the Museum of Science and Industry to close June 18, reopening June 19 with a free day.

Bears Stadium Fallout: The Chicago Bears’ board voted to advance a new stadium project in Hammond, Indiana, with the exact site still to be selected—reigniting Illinois lawmakers’ pushback and leaving Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson saying it’s not a done deal until shovels hit the ground. State Budget & Schools: Illinois’ 2027 budget includes $45 million for the ISBE Property Tax Relief Grant, with districts required to abate property taxes for three years to qualify. Data Center Tax Credits: Gov. JB Pritzker paused Illinois tax incentives for data centers after regulation efforts stalled, drawing criticism from groups warning the pause won’t lower bills. Public Safety & Health: A study highlights Chicago’s South Side trauma center saving an estimated 79 lives per 2,000 gunshot victims, but funding that built it is now at risk. Crime: A man was charged with sexually assaulting an 8-year-old boy in a Portage Park store restroom. World Cup at O’Hare: Iraq striker Aymen Hussein was questioned for nearly seven hours at O’Hare; the team’s photographer was denied entry. Local Economy: Video gambling collections for Illinois municipalities and counties topped $160 million in 2025, up 5% year over year.

Bears Stadium Fallout: The Chicago Bears’ board voted to advance a new stadium project in Hammond, Indiana, with the exact site still to be selected—setting off fresh debate in Illinois as Gov. JB Pritzker and lawmakers argue the team kept shifting its position. Immigration Policy: Illinois lawmakers sent a bill to Gov. Pritzker banning new immigration detention centers from being placed near homes, schools, churches and other facilities, while existing sites like Broadview would not be affected. Data Center Tax Pause: Pritzker paused state tax incentives for data centers starting July 1 after regulation efforts stalled in the legislature, saying the pause is meant to protect energy and water resources and affordability. Crypto Crackdown: Illinois lawmakers approved a 0.2% tax on cryptocurrency transactions and new registration rules for digital asset brokers, with unregistered brokers facing felony penalties. Public Safety Funding: Illinois awarded $6 million in small equipment grants to 260 fire and EMS agencies statewide. Courts & Records: Judicial Watch sued Urbana for records tied to a 2025 fatal drunk-driving crash involving an undocumented driver later convicted in the deaths of two women. Culture & Education: SAIC suspended a tenured lecturer after an Israeli student complaint over alleged anti-Israel and antisemitic content in an assignment. Arts Spotlight: “Keerah” at Definition Theatre explores love and identity in a world where people can “own your story,” running through June 28.

Bears Stadium Saga: The Chicago Bears took a major step toward leaving Illinois, with their board voting to advance a new stadium development in Hammond, Indiana, though the exact site isn’t set and Illinois officials say talks can continue. Local Impact: Chicago-area businesses tied to Soldier Field say the move could mean fewer game-day visitors and jobs, while Hammond leaders and Indiana Gov. Mike Braun welcomed the announcement. State Politics: The shift comes after Illinois lawmakers adjourned without passing a stadium incentive package, leaving the franchise’s Illinois plan stalled. E-bikes & Scooters: Illinois lawmakers sent new rules for faster, more powerful e-bikes and e-scooters to Gov. JB Pritzker. Courts & Real Estate: A federal judge rejected Zillow’s bid to force Compass and an MLS to turn over communications, calling the request too burdensome. Public Safety Funding: IDNR awarded nearly $500,000 in grants to 73 volunteer fire departments statewide for equipment and training.

Illinois Budget & Taxes: Illinois lawmakers approved a nearly $56B budget headed to Gov. JB Pritzker, relying on new taxes and tweaks including a per-user fee on large social media platforms, plus changes tied to election-year breaks. Data Centers: Pritzker plans to temporarily pause tax breaks for data centers starting July 1 while lawmakers work on a broader framework this fall. Public Safety & Courts: The Illinois Supreme Court created a Pretrial Accountability Task Force to review electronic monitoring and pretrial warrant processes under the SAFE-T Act. Chicago Housing & Tourism: A WBEZ analysis finds short-term rental licenses in Chicago’s 20th Ward jumped sharply near the Obama Presidential Center, raising affordability concerns. Transit: Metra Electric will add more frequent weekday stops in Hyde Park starting June 15. Environment & Health: A WBEZ/Sun-Times investigation says there’s little enforcement on diesel idling by trucks and buses. Local Business/Community: Illinois State Fire Marshal awarded $6M in small equipment grants statewide to fire departments and EMS providers. Sports & Politics: The Bears stadium fight is now blamed across Illinois leadership after the legislature adjourned without a deal, leaving Indiana positioned to move faster.

Energy Efficiency Push: Ameren Illinois picked Taylorville as the first stop in its “Energize Your Town” pilot, pairing residents, businesses, and public buildings with efficiency experts for assessments, education, and rebates to cut bills. Courts & Power: A federal judge said the Illinois Supreme Court may have overstepped by ousting a Cook County judge, but he’s not yet ordering a fix—setting up likely appeals. Public Safety: Hanover Park and nearby agencies plan more plain-clothed foot patrols to target drug/gang problems and burglaries. School Policy: Illinois lawmakers passed new rules for high-speed e-bikes and also moved forward on school cellphone limits; meanwhile, Chicago’s school board race is in turmoil as more than half of candidates face petition challenges. Justice Department Fallout: Acting AG Todd Blanche defended U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros amid the “Broadview Six” scandal as calls for his resignation grow. Chicago Spotlight: The Obama Presidential Center is nearing its Juneteenth opening, with officials projecting major visitor impact. Weather Watch: Northern Lights could be visible across Illinois Thursday night as a geomagnetic storm forecast reaches G3 levels.

Local Energy Relief: ComEd will offer small businesses up to $500 to help cover electric bills, with applications opening June 15 and requiring matching payments; the program totals $2.5 million and is tied to higher power costs from data center growth. Transportation & Travel: Air Canada launched its first O’Hare-to-Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport route, with twice-daily service aimed at downtown Toronto travelers. Rural Health Investment: USDA Rural Development awarded Clay County Hospital an $800,000 grant for a new medical building to expand primary care and add behavioral health services. Chicago Culture & Tourism: The Obama Presidential Center is drawing major attention ahead of its June 18 opening, with previews highlighting the museum’s “hope” theme and the sprawling South Side campus. Business & Jobs: Thirty-one Illinois companies made Inc.’s “best places to work” list, reflecting employee engagement and benefits. Community Spotlight: Springfield’s “Springfield Project” will receive $250,000 to build a Southtown outdoor food court and a business incubator. Public Safety & Courts: A federal court fight over Illinois’ “swipe fee” law continues, with judges blocking enforcement. Sports & Local Life: A Chicago Tech Academy student was denied her diploma after performing a split on stage, sparking debate over graduation rules.

Bears Stadium Standoff: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says Springfield’s failure to pass a Bears stadium plan during the spring session gives the city a new opening to revisit his proposal for a publicly owned lakefront stadium, arguing it’s the only viable option that keeps the team downtown. Housing Help: Chicago launched HomeGrown Purchase Assistance, offering eligible first-time buyers up to $70,000 for down payments and closing costs, with applications starting June 8. Courts & Public Safety: The Illinois Supreme Court created a Pretrial Accountability Task Force to improve electronic monitoring use and speed up pretrial warrant processes. Tech & Work: Illinois proposed rules would require employers to give notice when using AI in employment decisions, with longer record-retention requirements. Local Culture: The city’s Department of Cultural Affairs announced Next Stage Chicago, a grant program for emerging theater groups. Illinois Politics: Lawmakers approved a bill aimed at banning disparate impact discrimination, setting up a potential state-federal civil rights fight. Community Watch: East Pilsen residents are protesting Jim’s Original’s planned move, citing safety, noise, and trash concerns.

Illinois Budget & Cost Relief: Illinois lawmakers approved a $55.9B FY27 budget, pausing the July motor fuel tax increase for six months (pushing it to January) and adding a back-to-school sales tax holiday plus food assistance funding. School Phone Rules: Illinois is moving toward stricter cellphone limits in classrooms, joining a growing list of states tightening school phone policies as research and a Surgeon General advisory debate whether bans help. Bears Stadium Fallout: With the legislative session ending without a Bears stadium bill, the search for a new plan shifts again, with Illinois lawmakers and leaders reacting to the stalled effort. Iowa GOP Shake-Up: Zach Lahn upset U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra to win the Iowa GOP nomination for governor, setting up a fall matchup with Democrat Rob Sand. Chicago Local Life: Chicago’s bagel scene is heating up as private equity-backed “Big Bagel” expands while indie shops push back, and a city elevator-inspection certificate controversy highlights the use of Comic Sans on official paperwork. Church & Slavery: Pope Leo XIV’s apology for the Vatican’s role in slavery draws fresh calls for atonement beyond words.

School Safety & Tech Rules: Illinois lawmakers are moving toward a statewide cellphone ban during instructional time, with the restrictions set to start in the 2027-28 school year and include most wireless devices (with health, special education, and caregiving exceptions). AI Oversight: Illinois also passed a new AI regulation requiring developers to publish capability/risk reports and face third-party audits, adding to the state’s growing patchwork of AI rules. Local Transportation: A new bill would let Illinois municipalities lower default urban speed limits without costly studies, including options down to 20 mph in residential areas and 10 mph in alleys. Chicago Politics: Mayor Brandon Johnson elevated Antonio King to an executive-level director of LGBTQ+ affairs, a first for the city. Bears Stadium Fallout: With Illinois lawmakers adjourning without a Bears stadium bill, Johnson says Chicago is “in the mix” for a dome plan while Springfield’s stalled effort keeps the team’s future uncertain. Public Health: Tick season warnings are ramping up as mild winters and outdoor conditions drive more tick-related illness risk. Community Watch: Naperville police arrested nine after a downtown “teen takeover” gathering.

Bears Stadium Stalls: Illinois lawmakers adjourned early Monday without passing a Bears stadium bill, leaving the franchise’s future in limbo and pushing new ideas—like a Cook County–based municipal stadium authority—into the next round. Springfield Budget & Tax Moves: The session still cleared major policy, including a record $55.9B budget and changes affecting property-tax debt sales, plus privacy expansions for abortion records and access to birth control. Property Tax Debt Reform: A House-passed bill would require surplus proceeds to go back to homeowners after delinquent property-tax sales, aligning Illinois with a 2023 Supreme Court ruling. Abortion Privacy: Illinois approved a Reproductive Health Privacy Act to shield abortion-related information in digital medical records from out-of-state access. LGBTQ+ Climate: A new index ranks Illinois among the better states for LGBTQ+ residents, even as national acceptance continues to slide. Chicago Street Vendor Crackdown: A new wave of enforcement has street vendors fearful and struggling, with reports of carts being seized even when vendors try to comply. Business & Health: Ingredion announced it’s buying Benicaros®, a low-dose prebiotic fiber; and Tempus says its first whole-genome sequencing assay is nearing clinical availability.

Bears Stadium Standoff: Illinois lawmakers adjourned the spring session without passing a plan to keep the Chicago Bears in-state, leaving a new “stadium authority” approach as the latest scramble after a megaprojects bill died and Indiana moved ahead with its own stadium push. State Budget & Taxes: After a late-night slog, Illinois approved a $55.9B FY27 budget that includes new taxes on social media companies and digital assets, plus other changes, while spending is essentially flat versus the prior year. Credit Card Fee Law Delayed: The Interchange Fee Prohibition Act was pushed back another year, extending the fight over “swipe fees” on sales tax and tips as legal challenges continue. E-Bike Rules: Illinois passed a bill to regulate e-bikes statewide, including limits on sidewalk riding, aiming to reduce the legal gray area highlighted by a fatal campus crash. Housing Push Punted: Gov. JB Pritzker’s multiunit housing plan stalled in Springfield, with lawmakers deferring the fight over “middle housing” and local zoning control. Workplace Safety Staffing: A new national look ranks Illinois among the worst-staffed for workplace safety managers, underscoring pressure as OSHA rules expand. Local Business & Development: Dermody began shedding parts of its former Allstate HQ in Glenview, selling a portion to Realty Income for $175M as industrial leasing remains mixed.

Bears Stadium Standoff: The Illinois Senate passed a bill early Monday to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois by letting Cook County municipalities create stadium authorities that could shield the team from property taxes, but the Illinois House adjourned without voting—leaving the plan in limbo. State Budget Fight: Illinois lawmakers approved a record $55.9B budget that includes new taxes on prediction markets, crypto, fantasy sports and digital advertising, plus a gas tax freeze for six months. Transit Funding: Landmark regional transit legislation takes effect today, aiming to prevent CTA/Metra/Pace service cuts by raising about $1.5B annually and reshaping governance under a new transit authority. Broadview Six Fallout: Defendants in the Broadview Six case say the prosecution was doomed by federal misconduct, after juror handling and sealed grand jury moves raised new questions. Local Living Costs & Consumer Protection: Multiple lawmakers highlighted affordability and oversight wins, including property tax relief efforts, anti–price gouging steps, and new rules for hemp products. Chicago Culture & Community: Chicago’s affordable housing push adds $300M for 15 developments, while a Lake View shop rides the “dirty soda” trend.

Illinois Schools: Gov. JB Pritzker is set to sign a bill banning cell phones during the school day, aiming to cut disruptions and limit social-media harm. Bears Stadium Talks: With the spring session ending, lawmakers are scrambling to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois, including a new idea that would let municipalities form their own stadium authorities to offer tax certainty. State Budget: Illinois lawmakers filed a roughly $55.9 billion spending plan, but key revenue details still weren’t public as the deadline neared. Property Tax Relief: The House advanced a bill to reform delinquent property tax debt sales so homeowners can keep surplus equity after a sale. Health Coverage: Illinois approved expanded insurance coverage for earlier mammogram screenings and moved forward a measure to widen health facilities review board authority. Lead & Safety: A lead service line notification/access bill cleared the legislature, and another measure would require schools to review mobile panic alert systems. Travel Disruption: A United flight from Newark to Spain turned back midair after a suspected security threat tied to a Bluetooth device name. Sports: The White Sox completed a Tigers sweep with a 2-1, one-run win. Community Loss: Spencer Leak Jr., longtime leader at Leak & Sons Funeral Homes, died at 56.

Illinois Health & Research: ASCO in Chicago highlighted new cancer data, including radium-223 plus cabozantinib for renal cell carcinoma and a radiation implant approach for brain metastases, alongside coverage gaps in molecular testing for kids’ cancers. Springfield Lawmaking: Illinois lawmakers approved multiple measures, from letting speech-language pathologists diagnose autism under age 3 to strengthening children’s advocacy centers and passing insurance regulation bills that give the state more control over auto and homeowners premiums. Public Safety: A hazardous material leak at a University of Illinois bio chem lab prompted people to leave the area, and a Tri-State Tollway crash killed a maintenance worker and injured two others. Local Economy & Community: Chicago’s Park District added 100 Paris-inspired chairs to Buckingham Fountain, while Illinois lawmakers advanced home resilience and insurance reforms aimed at high-risk communities. Sports & Culture: The White Sox beat the Tigers 7-1, and leaked Madden NFL 27 cover chatter has Bears fans buzzing around Caleb Williams.

Illinois Politics & Policy: Illinois lawmakers cleared the Junk Fee Ban Act, requiring upfront disclosure of mandatory fees (with limited exceptions) and sending it to Gov. Pritzker for signature. Springfield Watch: Lawmakers are also pushing utility fee transparency via an online portal separating delivery and supply charges, with a study to be posted on the Illinois Commerce Commission site. Data Centers: A POWER Act rally is set for Saturday at the Illinois Capitol, as advocates urge lawmakers to add guardrails on data centers amid local backlash over water and energy impacts. AI & Regulation: Illinois is moving ahead on AI safety and consumer protection rules, while Pope Leo XIV’s AI encyclical adds a faith-based warning about keeping humans “for the common good.” Local Community: Addison Public Library dedicated a new makerspace honoring Indian-American entrepreneur Satyanarayana “Sam” Gunda. Sports: White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami left with a hamstring strain and is expected to miss time after imaging. Business/Markets: Chicago Fed data shows Midwest farmland values dipped slightly year over year.