AGP Executive Report

Dakota Access Pipeline: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has given final approval for the Dakota Access Pipeline to keep operating under Lake Oahe, ending years of delays tied to the Standing Rock protests—though more legal fights are still expected. Illinois Energy & Water: The decision keeps a major crude route moving into Illinois, with added conditions aimed at leak detection and groundwater monitoring. Workplace Culture: A new look at “email incivility” highlights how rude messages can fuel stress and rumination, turning small slights into bigger mental-health costs. Healthcare Tech: LiveData launched an AI advisor for hospital leaders to ask plain-language questions about operating room performance, aiming to cut the lag between problems and answers. Local Planning: Yorkville is moving toward riverfront redevelopment, with a potential TIF path discussed for the Greiter Building. Education & Governance: IECC trustees approved updated IT remote access rules and new policies, including guided pathways and term honors.

EV Charging Expansion: UIS and CWLP just added Level 2 EV chargers on campus, funded by an Illinois grant, with more citywide installs planned. Water & Health: Illinois is set to receive nearly $300M to replace toxic lead pipes statewide—an urgent fix for homes still served by lead lines. Pollution Watch: A new Illinois-wide survey finds microplastics in every waterway sampled, with fibers showing up everywhere. Wildlife Tech: A Rock Island graduate student is using eDNA testing to confirm endangered Blanding’s turtles in the Milan Bottoms as development pressure grows. Public Safety: Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling is warning parents about “teen takeovers,” urging families to stay more involved. Local Governance: Iroquois County updated its solid waste plan for a 90-day public review. Campus Readiness: A new webinar pushes colleges to move from reactive emergency response to continuous readiness and faster coordination.

Metro-East Growth: Koibito Poke is opening its first Metro East location in Edwardsville, a fresh fast-casual milestone after a soft opening in late April and a grand opening set for June 26–28. Health Care Staffing Crunch: A new study finds nearly 10% of surgeons leave active clinical practice within eight years, with mid-career departures and certain specialties hit hardest. Air Quality Warning: California and North Carolina issued “remain indoors” alerts as wildfire smoke and particle pollution push health risks for millions. Illinois Nuclear Watch: The NRC has formally accepted NANO Nuclear’s construction permit application for its KRONOS microreactor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, moving the project into a full technical review. Media & Access: A lawsuit challenges a new federal rule that narrows “professional degree” definitions, limiting federal student loan access for many graduate and healthcare students. Local Tech Policy: Chicago residents packed a community conversation on data centers as the city drafts new policy recommendations.

PFAS Push in Illinois: The EPA announced $21.3 million in grants to help Illinois communities test, plan, and upgrade drinking-water systems to cut PFAS and other emerging contaminants. Wetlands Funding: The Interior Department approved $44.79 million in North American wetlands grants, plus $22.6 million for national wildlife refuges—supporting habitat for migratory birds across multiple states, including Illinois’ Emiquon area. Gas-Rate Fight: Consumer groups are urging Illinois regulators to reject 80% of Nicor Gas’s proposed rate hike, arguing for wasteful spending and excessive profits. Local Climate Watch: NOAA says El Niño is increasingly likely, with Chicago-area impacts expected to include a stormier summer and warmer winter. Kids + Fossils: U of I Extension is bringing a Fossil Fun program to Seneca Library. Wildlife Win: Brookfield Zoo Chicago reported a record 12,244 Puerto Rican crested toad tadpoles from one breeding cycle. Community Care: Faith leaders won daily pastoral access at an Illinois ICE facility under a court-linked agreement.

Mosquito Surge Watch: Los Angeles is back on top of Orkin’s 2026 “mosquito cities” list, ranked the worst in the U.S. for mosquito-related problems—an annual spot it’s held since 2021—highlighting how these pests (and the diseases they can carry) are spreading beyond traditional hotspots. Air Pollution Fight: Virginia AG Jay Jones joined a coalition pushing back on an EPA proposal that would roll back national limits on ethylene oxide, calling it a direct threat to public health. Illinois Climate/Health Pressure: A new Illinois editorial argues federal budget cuts are hitting families at “kitchen table” level, with Medicaid and food assistance losses cascading into state strain. Regenerative Agriculture Push: ADM and Hill’s Pet Nutrition are partnering on regenerative practices across Illinois and Minnesota (plus a Hungary pilot), aiming for soil and watershed gains. Data Center Buildout: New fiber capacity plans linking Denver to Chicago underscore how AI demand is driving infrastructure investment across the Midwest.

Data Center Pressure in Illinois: With lawmakers nearing adjournment, Illinois environmental groups say the POWER Act is stuck in hearings and worry Gov. JB Pritzker isn’t engaging enough on data-center water and energy transparency. Housing & Health Safety: Aurora residents at Fox Shore Apartments were forced out after Illinois EPA flagged unsafe asbestos-related renovation work, with the case referred for possible legal action. Climate Liability Fight: NGOs and academics urged the government to drop amendments that would shield major emitters from climate-related liability. Local Water & Environment: St. Charles is weighing whether to keep the downtown Fox River dam in place as a federal study runs out of funding. Sports & Community: The Smashing Pumpkins announced the “Rats in a Cage” fall tour, including a Chicago stop at United Center on Oct. 14.

EPA Rollback Fight: Illinois AG Kwame Raoul is leading 16 states in pushing back on an EPA proposal to repeal national ethylene oxide (EtO) pollution limits, arguing the agency is ignoring its own findings that EtO is a known human carcinogen and that Illinois already tightened rules based on newer science. Public Health Watch: Michigan reports at least 21 salmonella cases tied to backyard chicks and ducklings, with children hit hardest in a multistate outbreak. Illinois Education & Tech: Illinois Wesleyan is launching a $3.5M Fisher Center for Interdisciplinary Quantum Science and Engineering to bring quantum studies into a liberal-arts curriculum. Local Infrastructure: Mesa is seeking voter approval for $285M in November bonds—$150M for public safety and $135M for transportation. Sports Betting Shift: DraftKings is ending live in-person bets at Wrigley Field after May 31, citing Illinois operating costs, while the venue stays open as a sports bar. Arts & Culture: Noisy Creek names Malik Jackson as the new publisher of the Chicago Reader starting June 1.

Illinois Policy: The Illinois House and Senate passed a Rep. Ann M. Williams-backed measure that blocks the Illinois Pollution Control Board from adopting weaker environmental standards than current state rules, keeping the door open for stricter protections. Energy & Jobs: At BP’s Whiting Refinery, about 800 union workers are set to return to bargaining Monday after a months-long lockout, with both sides still far apart on jobs, pay, and contract terms. Water & Climate Resilience: University of Illinois Extension kicks off a Watershed Stewardship program May 26 in Genoa, teaching water quality, climate change impacts, and invasive species—plus a field trip. Wildlife in the City: Chicago officials say two bald eagle hatchlings spotted in a Southeast Side park may mark the first successful wild breeding there in over a century. Community & Food Security: A new Kankakee Area YMCA food pantry already served 241 people in its first two months, distributing hundreds of pounds of food.

Tax-and-spend politics: California hedge-fund billionaire Tom Steyer is leaning hard into “tax-the-rich” messaging as early voting begins for the June 2 primary, betting voters will see him as a “class traitor” rather than a contradiction. Energy costs pressure: Democrats are reviving a “Big Oil” windfall tax push aimed at easing gas prices as prices hover around $4.51 a gallon amid Iran-linked supply fears. Illinois environment & health: A new Kankakee Area YMCA food pantry opened after quietly launching in March, already serving 241 people; meanwhile, Illinois researchers warn hantavirus is present via rodent “hot spots,” even though no linked cruise-ship cases are reported. Local sustainability spotlight: DeKalb’s STARR Awards highlighted community sustainability wins, from food-growing efforts to neighborhood projects. Data center fight: Advocates are urging Illinois lawmakers to pass the POWER Act before session ends, citing stalled action and demands for water-and-energy transparency.

Vatican AI push: Pope Leo XIV has created an in-house study group on artificial intelligence as he prepares his first encyclical, expected to stress an ethics-first approach centered on human dignity and peace. Urban wildlife safety: A new look at how U.S. cities are redesigning streets and public spaces to reduce conflicts between people and animals highlights green corridors and smarter layouts. Illinois local watch: In Lake in the Hills, officials are working to bring a PFAS-tainted well back online, with remediation efforts and EPA sign-off still in play. Data center fight in Illinois: A state move to limit local regulation of data centers appears to have stalled in the House, keeping the debate over local control and resource strain alive. Nature on the radar: A juvenile Philippine eagle was spotted in Davao’s Panigan-Tamugan subwatershed, with tagging planned to track its movements and support a critical habitat proposal. Sports culture: Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol is leaning into a “right field Loge” shirtless fan tradition after a club team from nearby Alton helped spark the atmosphere.

Data Center Pressure: Illinois advocates are pushing the POWER Act for more public transparency on data centers’ water and energy use, but with the session nearing adjournment it’s still stuck after hearings and Gov. J.B. Pritzker hasn’t clearly backed it. PFAS Cleanup: Lake in the Hills approved steps to bring a PFAS-tainted well back online, budgeting $1.9M for remediation while awaiting Illinois EPA sign-off on the pilot approach. AI Regulation: Senate Democrats unveiled an eight-bill package to regulate some AI uses, aiming to pass before May 31 and pointing to California and New York as models. Budget Jitters: Pritzker budgeteers warned lawmakers not to expect big new spending room as revenue growth stays modest and unemployment rises. Campus Life: A pen-pal friendship helped a Champaign-area girl land at U of I’s ACES Family Academies—real mail, mermaid stories, and hands-on classes.

Vatican AI Ethics Push: Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical is signed and set for release in coming weeks, with Vatican officials saying it will tackle artificial intelligence through an ethics-first lens focused on human dignity, relationships, and peace. Illinois AI Regulation: Illinois Senate Democrats unveiled an eight-bill package to regulate some AI uses after federal action stalled, aiming to pass before May 31. Data Center Pressure in Illinois: Bloomington and Normal are weighing six-month moratoriums to study data center impacts and draft rules, while Carbondale is hosting a May 18 community discussion on “Our Water, Our Power, Our Communities.” New Weed Alert for Farmers: University of Illinois Extension confirmed Asian copperleaf in Stephenson County, warning growers to get ahead of a potentially herbicide-resistant, fast-spreading invader. Health Tech for Stress: Northwestern researchers reported a wearable “polygraph” that tracks hidden whole-body stress signals in babies and adults.

AI Regulation Push: With just two weeks left in Illinois’ spring session, Senate Democrats rolled out an eight-bill package to regulate AI uses, aiming to pass before May 31 after federal action stalled. Kids & Health: A new wave of “AI slop” aimed at toddlers is showing up on YouTube, while Illinois parents are also sounding alarms after testing found multiple pesticide compounds near playgrounds across 10 counties. Local Development: Prophetstown approved two TIF projects, and Arlington Heights celebrated the grand opening of Arbor House, a 301-unit luxury apartment community. Housing/Enrollment Pressure: Illinois colleges are feeling the enrollment cliff—ISU deposits are down 8% year over year. Environment Watch: Chicago anglers reported a rare American eel in the Chicago River, and the state’s conservation groups are urging lawmakers to fully fund soil and water conservation before the May 31 budget deadline.

College Sports Power Move: Illinois and coach Brad Underwood agreed to new contract terms that could keep him in Champaign through 2036, pending Board of Trustees approval May 21—an extension tied to performance and updated pay. Local Community & Environment: Niabi Zoo is rolling out “Zoo Nights” with monthly extended evening hours, giving families a dusk-to-evening look at its 600+ animals. Waterway Surprise: An angler in Chicago’s River North reeled in an American eel—only the second documented eel in the Chicago River—pointing to improving water quality after years of cleanup. Energy & Climate Court Fight: A federal appeals hearing is set for Friday over Trump-era orders keeping aging coal plants open, with opponents arguing there’s no real energy emergency and the cost is landing on ratepayers. Tech Policy Watch: Bloomington is set to consider a temporary moratorium on hyperscale data center applications next week as updated local rules are drafted. Health & Learning: Illinois State University and OSF HealthCare named spring 2026 Connected Communities Initiative awardees, funding applied research on healthcare access, safety, and sustainability.

Illinois Health Policy: A new Illinois Senate bill would require reciprocal sharing of Prescription Monitoring Program data across state lines, tightening how authorized users can access it. Courts & Freight Safety: The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that negligent-hiring claims against freight brokers aren’t blocked by federal trucking preemption rules, sending a key Illinois case back for further proceedings. Chicago Affordability: The University of Chicago announced free tuition for students from families making under $250,000 (and free housing, meals, and fees under $125,000), starting for undergrads in fall 2027. Water & Infrastructure: A lead service line replacement cost calculator was recognized as a Paris Agreement transparency “good practice” tool. Supply Chain Watch: Freight fraud is shifting toward “trusted” carriers and social-engineering tactics, while a new port/rail index flags fuel shocks tied to the Strait of Hormuz closure. Local Community: Chicago broke ground on a Humboldt Park community plaza focused on wellness and violence-prevention programming.

Data Center Backlash: In Utah, more than a thousand people chanted “People over Profit!” after Box Elder commissioners advanced a massive “Stratos Project” data center—raising alarms about power use, emissions, and water impacts tied to the Great Salt Lake. Illinois Solar Reality Check: In Oil City, a solar proposal was rejected as “impossible” under the current zoning code—no defined solar use means no variance or special exception. Healthcare Clean Energy: Medline and PowerFlex completed a 5.2-megawatt solar array at Medline’s Grayslake distribution center, adding thousands of panels and boosting on-site clean power. Wildlife & Public Health: Yellowstone is warning visitors about the “brain-eating amoeba” found in warm freshwater sites, while Illinois DNR urges people to leave young wildlife alone. Schools Under Strain: Chicago Public Schools plans cuts as unions press for more state funding amid a projected $732M deficit. Budget Deadline Push: Soil and water conservation leaders urge Illinois lawmakers to fully fund conservation before the May 31 budget deadline.