AGP Executive Report

Illinois Environmental Enforcement: Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a petition seeking civil penalties against the City of Lawrenceville over wastewater treatment and operation violations, including alleged NPDES permit problems, ammonia limits, sanitary sewer overflows, and unpermitted discharges into the Embarras River. Emerging Contaminants Funding: Illinois EPA announced $21.806 million in grant funding for small or disadvantaged communities to tackle PFAS and manganese in drinking or source water through the EC-SDC program. Wildlife & Ethics: A column argues that the recent deaths of four beluga whales at Shedd Aquarium highlight the harm of keeping intelligent marine mammals captive for entertainment. Climate in the Courts: The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a major climate case tied to local governments suing energy companies for fossil-fuel harms, a dispute that could reshape how climate lawsuits move forward. Energy Infrastructure & Power Demand: AWS CEO Matt Garman pushed back on data-center criticism, disputing claims about water use and pollution while arguing for local benefits and tax revenue. Local Development Watch: Plainfield officials will revisit a proposed Ridge Road warehouse development after residents raised concerns about noise and traffic.

Climate & Health: A University of Chicago study warns super El Niño could drive heat conditions like those expected in 20 years, projecting up to 451,000 additional heat deaths worldwide in the coming months. Legal & Environment: Illinois Attorney General Raoul challenges EPA rollback of greenhouse gas pollution limits for power plants, as multiple states and cities sue to restore stricter rules. Wildlife & Invasives: Northern snakehead, an invasive land-walking fish, has been confirmed in Missouri, with officials urging anglers to kill it by severing the head or gutting it. Local Environment & Community: Illinois Extension advises fall gardeners to start with a “clean slate” (remove old plants and roots, add compost) and to leave some seedheads for winter wildlife; a separate guide recommends cleaning up tomato beds after harvest to reduce disease. Campus & Tech: At SAIC, fashion students are using AI tools in design, sparking debate over creativity and the environmental footprint of AI.

Illinois Climate Watch: Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford says fall-like weather is finally settling in after a very warm September, with data through the first three weeks of the month pointing to a lingering heat pattern. Super El Niño Prep: London officials are urging residents to stock emergency food for up to three days as a “super El Niño” could disrupt the polar vortex, raising odds of colder outbreaks, storms, and flooding. Water Infrastructure: Dixmoor is moving ahead with a village-wide water meter replacement program, funded by state and Cook County grants plus Illinois EPA support, aiming to cut estimated billing and help detect leaks with digital tracking. Federal Land Protection: The Trump administration’s proposed rollback of the Roadless Rule would loosen protections on national forests, including Shawnee, threatening roadless solitude for backcountry users. Cleanup Milestone: EPA removed the Kerr-McGee Kress Creek/West Branch DuPage River Superfund site from the National Priorities List, ending decades of radioactive contamination cleanup in DuPage County. Local Nature & Wildlife: A Champaign-Urbana plant pest update warns honey locust trees are showing widespread damage from mimosa webworm, with webbing on browning tips.

PFAS Cleanup Expansion: Carus, based in the Illinois Valley, is partnering with Australian firm RemBind to bring new PFAS (“forever chemicals”) remediation tools to U.S. soil and groundwater cleanup work. Disaster Relief for Illinois Farmers: USDA’s Farm Service Agency says low-interest physical loss loans are available after March tornadoes and high winds, with Illinois counties including Knox, Madison, St. Clair, Washington and others eligible; application deadlines are in April. Water-Use Concerns Near Kankakee River: Kankakee County officials are reviewing an Indiana plan to use Kankakee River water to cool a proposed Amazon Web Services data center power plant, raising downstream worries. Heat-Related Health Warning: Chicago-area officials report that heat deaths this summer were preventable, underscoring the need for stronger cooling and outreach. Community Conservation Spotlight: A Morrison Soil & Water Conservation District award highlights 3Sixteen Ranch’s soil-first practices and native-plant restoration efforts. Local Recycling Update: Ecology Action Center says recycling progress in McLean County continues after new data showed improved rates.

Heat & Public Health: A Chicago-area heat death report says 16 people died from heat this summer, with one family describing how a man died from hyperthermia after medications were left behind on a CTA bus. State Ethics: Illinois’ acting legislative ethics watchdog David Risley warned lawmakers and staff that “someone always knows” about sexual harassment and that his office will pursue cases regardless of rank. Local Pollution Policy: A reader urges Illinois lawmakers to go further on plastic pollution, pointing to microplastics in Great Lakes shorelines and calling out washing-machine microfiber sources. Great Lakes Cleanup: The EPA has started a $12 million Torch Lake shoreline cleanup in Michigan to remove copper-mining contaminated sediment, with possible updates to fish and wildlife advisories. Waste & Recycling: Vermilion County is hosting a free electronics recycling drop-off in Danville, with battery recycling rules spelled out. Data Centers & Power: Amazon’s data-center push faces local opposition; AWS chief Matt Garman warns moratoriums could leave the U.S. behind on AI infrastructure. Chicago Rail Yard Fight: Bridgeport and Chinatown residents packed meetings opposing a 24-hour train maintenance facility on the Union Pacific Canal Street rail yard.

Food Safety: The FDA closed its probe into the largest recorded cyclospora outbreak, saying it found strong links to recalled shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms’ Mexico operation, though it couldn’t definitively prove how contamination happened. Air Quality & Enforcement: Illinois AG Kwame Raoul and Chicago moved to halt Pullman Innovations’ operations over “sickening” odors and alleged air-pollution violations tied to an animal-feed additive plant on the Southeast Side. Climate in Court: A coalition of 21 states and cities, including Chicago, sued the Trump administration over EPA’s repeal of greenhouse-gas limits for coal and gas power plants, arguing it will worsen extreme heat and storms. Illinois Energy Policy Fight: Raoul also joined a lawsuit challenging weakened federal fuel-economy standards, saying they’ll raise costs and emissions. Renewables, Local Impacts: Peoria County wind hearings continued, with experts debating Illinois noise rules, curtailment plans to protect endangered bats, and wildlife risk for the Four Creeks/Fort Creek projects. Regional Infrastructure: Will County board members revived talks on a new bridge over the Des Plaines River Valley after a prior funding pause.

Illinois Environment: Volunteers helped restore 43 acres at the Greenbelt Forest Preserve in northeast Illinois, removing invasive plants and replanted with 1,100 pounds of native seed and nearly 9,000 native plant plugs along the Skokie River headwaters. Climate & Courts: A Supreme Court case could reshape state “climate superfund” efforts to make Big Oil pay, after New York’s law was blocked in court and other states weigh similar lawsuits. Energy Costs & Policy: As gas and diesel prices stay high, more states are taking action—like Ohio suspending fuel taxes for 90 days—while debating options such as red-dyed diesel rules. Extreme Weather: Hurricane Rachel has intensified to Category 3 off Mexico’s Pacific coast as the U.S. faces ongoing flooding impacts. Illinois Business & Sustainability: Illinois’ attorney general moved to halt operations at the South Deering plant over excessive odors, adding pressure to local environmental enforcement.

Climate & Courts: The Supreme Court will hear a case that could limit states’ ability to sue oil and gas firms over climate change damages, a big deal for how Illinois and other states pursue fossil-fuel accountability. Air Quality in Chicago Homes: Faith In Place’s Air Aware citizen science testing found dangerously high indoor carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide levels in South Side homes, urging Illinois residents to treat indoor air as a health issue, not just outdoor weather. Food & Water Pollution: A new lawsuit targets Australis’ Mama Bear salmon marketing, alleging deceptive “sustainable” claims tied to environmental harm in Chile’s marine ecosystems. Illinois Climate Planning: Illinois EPA released a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan aimed at net-zero emissions, setting the policy direction for future cuts and programs. Energy Reliability: A utilities study-committee meeting highlighted deep anger over August power outages, underscoring the stakes for grid resilience. Wildlife & Invasive Species: Great Lakes lawmakers warn delays on the invasive carp barrier could keep harming ecosystems and the regional economy. Local Growth & Land Use: A Metropolis apartment complex proposal includes environmental and sustainability considerations alongside zoning flexibility.

Illinois Climate Policy: The Illinois EPA released a “Comprehensive Climate Action Plan” aimed at reaching net-zero emissions, adding fresh state-level momentum to climate regulation. Water & Public Health: Cook County’s pharmacist vaccine case heads to the courts again after a federal appeals panel sided with the county, a reminder of how public health rules collide with religious objections in Illinois workplaces. Wildlife & Range Shifts: Prairie strips and native habitat are gaining attention as farmers report better yields and improved water retention, while separate wildlife notes point to species pushing northward—like American badgers potentially expanding in Kentucky and an armadillo found in southwest Ohio. Energy & Data Centers: A U.S. Senate bill to keep data center costs off electric bills stalled, underscoring the fight over who pays for grid upgrades as Illinois and beyond grapple with power demand. Local Environment Watch: Chicago-area residents were urged to delay showers and conserve water amid heavy rain and flooding concerns. Community & Sustainability Events: The ASSEMBLY Show returns to Rosemont with AI and automation themes, alongside a growing set of local events tied to community resilience.

Climate Accountability in Court: A New York “climate superfund” bid to make Big Oil pay for warming-linked harm was blocked by a federal judge, and the fight is now shifting to a Supreme Court case that could undercut similar state efforts nationwide. Extreme Heat Warning: New reporting on “super El Niño” points to a future of dangerous heat—an estimate of hundreds of thousands of excess heat deaths worldwide is being framed as a “postcard from the future,” with Illinois-area readers likely to feel the stakes through hotter summers and higher health risks. Illinois Water & PFAS Focus: Illinois EPA is rolling out PFAS strategy work aimed at closing awareness gaps, while lawmakers also push for stronger EPA rules and monitoring. Air Pollution & Health: A study linking nitrogen dioxide on race days to slower marathon times highlights how pollution can hit performance and health—Chicago is named among affected major races. Local Governance & Schools: Evanston/Skokie District 65 reviewed achievement results and heard updates on superintendent search and budget cuts, while parents at Prescott Elementary in Chicago raised concerns about special education students being displaced into inadequate spaces. Illinois Environment in the Real World: Residents in a central Illinois-area canal system complain that invasive pondweed is clogging waterways and limiting boat access, pointing to funding and enforcement gaps.

Invasive Carp: U.S. Senate Democrats are pressing the Trump administration to end delays on the $1.15 billion Brandon Road barrier, warning invasive silver carp are already showing up farther north near Lake Michigan—potentially threatening Great Lakes ecosystems and the regional economy. Local Budgeting: DuPage County Board Chair Deborah Conroy unveiled a $710.7 million FY2027 budget, including a flat property tax levy and new funding for first-time homebuyers, rental assistance, and stormwater infrastructure grants. PFAS Tracking: California signed a bill requiring the state to flag PFAS in agricultural pesticides in a public database, aiming to improve data and guide future regulation. Illinois Climate Policy: A new report highlights how Illinois’ climate migration law was passed but has languished, raising questions about follow-through. Great Lakes Conservation Push: Lawmakers say delays on the invasive carp barrier are putting both ecosystems and jobs at risk. Research & Nature: Field Museum researchers re-identified a fossil from Illinois’ Mazon Creek as a distinct amphibian ancestor, adding to the biodiversity story of the region’s deep past. Energy Grid Flexibility: A new analysis points to virtual power plants using distributed energy resources as a way to avoid costly grid upgrades—relevant to Illinois as power demand rises.

Data Centers in the Crosshairs: Residents in Evanston pushed back on a proposed data center near a high school, with city staff flagging zoning problems and a de facto moratorium while more details are reviewed. Local Energy Resilience: Vermont’s “virtual power plant” model—home batteries leased through the utility—has cut outages to zero for thousands, offering a cleaner backup during storms. Illinois Water & Chemicals: A new analysis says atrazine at wildlife-harming levels may be widespread across nearly 860,000 miles of U.S. rivers and streams, renewing calls for stronger action. PFAS Policy Watch: Illinois EPA released a PFAS integrated strategy as PFAS Awareness Week approached, signaling next steps for contamination cleanup and prevention. Ag & Health: Illinois lawmakers and advocates continue pushing EPA protections, while Syngenta paraquat litigation drags on as plaintiffs reject settlement offers. Community Conservation: A private land restoration project near Kinkaid Lake is helping protect creek systems and safeguard reservoir water for about 30,000 people.

PFAS Research Push: The EPA awarded $15M to study how “forever chemicals” move through farmland, crops, and livestock, including nearly $1.6M each for Michigan State and the University of Illinois to track PFAS in soil and tile-drained fields. Microplastics Oversight: Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-OR) and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) led a request for a GAO review of EPA microplastics work in drinking water and ecosystems, arguing Congress lacks a clear accounting of progress and remaining gaps. Heat Safety Fight in Chicago: Chicago alderwoman Maria Hadden’s workplace heat protection ordinance faces pushback from Illinois manufacturers, who warn it could create a city-only enforcement burden. EV Charging in Springfield: Springfield cut a ribbon on 40 new Level 2 chargers funded through the federal CFI grant program, with Illinois Climate Bank support. Great Lakes Conservation: Midwest lawmakers introduced the Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act to formally recognize the Great Lakes Commission within NOAA’s regional partnerships program. Weather Watch: Forecasters warn a “hybrid storm” could bring widespread heavy rain and flash-flood risk across the central U.S. into Sept. 30.

Climate Migration Law: Illinois’ first-in-the-nation Climate Displacement Act is already running into trouble: the required task force hasn’t been convened and reporting deadlines are being pushed, even as climate disasters keep forcing people to move. Local Waste Oversight: Residents and city officials toured Evanston’s contested Waste Transfer Station again, pushing for transparency after years of complaints about noise and smells. Education & Equity: A new Chicago Public Schools board election spotlighted what “student success” should actually mean, as parents weigh outcomes and data. AI Safety & Security: New reports of broader AI model breaches are raising alarms and setting up a high-stakes meeting between Anthropic’s CEO and President Trump. Wildlife Conservation: Walmart’s Acres for America program says it has helped protect 2.2 million acres of wildlife habitat nationwide. Illinois Environment Watch: Illinois’ IDNR will offer chronic wasting disease sampling kits to deer hunters, aiming to track and manage the spread.

Climate & Health: University of Chicago scientists warn this year’s “Godzilla-level” El Niño could drive extreme heat worldwide, with estimates of more than 450,000 heat deaths in the coming months. Illinois Environment Policy: Illinois hunters will soon be able to request free chronic wasting disease sampling kits, with results posted online in about 2–4 weeks. Local Wildlife: Monarchs are being spotted in Central Illinois during fall migration, with Tawny Oaks’ prairie mix of milkweed, goldenrod, and asters supporting the journey south. Clean Energy & Land Use: An Elgin, Illinois solar project shows how developers are squeezing arrays onto constrained parcels—between homes, wetlands, power lines, and train tracks. Data Centers & Power: A new push for data center rules is framed as a climate-and-community issue, with concerns about energy demand and local impacts. Community Preparedness: Henry and Stark County health officials highlight September awareness efforts, including emergency preparedness and food safety, as heat risk and seasonal hazards loom.

El Niño Heat Risk: A new advisory says El Niño is already here and is expected to intensify into a “very strong” event through early 2027, bringing drought and extreme heat. Researchers tied to the University of Chicago’s Climate Impact Lab estimate thousands of additional heat deaths in the Philippines, with global studies warning of hundreds of thousands of extra heat-related deaths worldwide. Illinois Water Safety: In Beaverville, residents report dark, foul tap water and illness concerns; independent sampling by a Virginia Tech water expert found no residual chlorine at homes and detected Legionella pneumophila, raising questions about disinfectant protection. Local Power Infrastructure: In Chicago’s Lakeview, neighbors are protesting a planned ComEd substation, arguing the utility hasn’t been transparent and warning about reliability and safety as demand grows. Intergenerational Health: K-State researchers are studying how an intergenerational setup in rural Kansas affects seniors and students, with early results pointing to improved mood and engagement. Workforce & Weather: State Farm says it will add about 3,000 claims workers in 2027, citing severe weather and evolving repair needs.