AGP Executive Report

Severe Storms & Disaster Aid: Illinois hit a record tornado pace, with the National Weather Service confirming 153 tornadoes as of June 23, while analysis says Illinois and other “blue” states are getting less federal disaster aid—leaving local governments to stretch budgets just as storms intensify. Flooding’s Food Fallout: A new look at flooding warns that crop and soil damage can linger long after waters recede, quietly raising food-system stress and costs. Clean Transit in Will County: Pace rolled out 24 hybrid-electric buses in Will County as part of Project Zero, cutting emissions and noise while building toward a fully zero-emission fleet. Air Monitoring & Community Health: Chicago’s air-monitoring network continues to expand, and local health updates highlight mosquito prevention and radon testing as summer risks ramp up. Local Pride & Community Safety: A Chicago-area Pride book fest in Tinley Park centers LGBTQ+ authors and support for a South Side LGBTQ+ center, reflecting how community spaces are being defended alongside public health and climate resilience.

Data Center Pressure in Illinois: Carbondale approved a one-year moratorium on new data center development while staff study impacts and draft new zoning rules, aiming for a “balanced case” on jobs, taxes, power, water, and quality-of-life concerns. Air and Water Health: A new Neponset River water quality report card gives many sites B-or-better grades, but nearly half fall below swimming compliance standards, underscoring how aging infrastructure and heavier precipitation can keep recreation waters under strain. Industrial Pollution Fight: Environmental groups sued the EPA over delays on a U.S. Steel Gary Works permit renewal, arguing the agency is leaving neighbors in limbo about whether pollution limits and monitoring safeguards are being met. Climate Extremes: Forecasters warn of a renewed severe storm and flood threat across the Midwest and Great Plains, with damaging winds and hail possible, including Illinois. Local Sustainability Signals: Sun Chemical’s SunCure EcoPlast ink earned APR Design® for Recyclability recognition for rigid polypropylene packaging, a small but concrete step toward better recycling compatibility.

Nuclear Power for Illinois Retail: Walmart signed a first-ever long-term nuclear deal, buying 176 megawatts for 15 years from Constellation Energy’s Illinois plant—enough for about 150,000 homes—and backing a 30-megawatt capacity uprate, with Walmart also taking the emissions-free energy attributes as it targets net-zero by 2040. Solar for Schools: Illinois lawmakers advanced a bill to speed how quickly schools can connect rooftop solar to the grid, requiring faster utility evaluations and clearer disclosure of upgrade costs and timelines. Flood Risk Watch: Flood Watches stretch from Nebraska toward the Gulf and Florida as heavy rain saturates soils, with flash-flood danger shifting through the week. Clean Ports Planning: The Illinois EPA met Peoria residents on a multiyear planning effort to decarbonize Illinois waterways and ports, building on federal Clean Ports Program funding for zero-emission equipment planning. E-scooter Safety: A new push highlights rising injuries and deaths among tweens and teens from e-scooters, calling for stronger guardrails and safer rules. Local Landmark Decision: Urbana council rejected landmark status for the former Urbana Civic Center, even as officials discussed possible adaptive reuse tied to a potential transit hub.

Data Centers, Water & Power: Forty mayors worldwide signed a pact to shape how urban data centers are built and run, aiming to protect city resources, energy prices, and climate goals as development surges. Illinois Policy Push: Gov. JB Pritzker is urging new state regulation to curb data center expansion, while Elk Grove Village’s mayor says his suburb is “data center capital” and argues impacts are manageable. Local Land-Use Fight: A closed incinerator site in Robbins (near Chicago) is drawing interest from data center developers, with officials saying they’re still in the “discovery” phase on water, electricity, noise, and pollution. Clean Energy Deal: Walmart and Constellation announced a long-term nuclear power purchase agreement tied to the Dresden Clean Energy Center to supply emissions-free electricity for Walmart’s Illinois expansion. Industrial Closure: INEOS Styrolution will permanently close its polystyrene plant in Channahon, citing margin pressures. Air & Health: Chicago’s neighborhood-by-neighborhood air monitoring expands, and new research links pollution exposure to why asthma worsens differently across people. Extreme Weather: Illinois tornado counts keep climbing, and a federal heat risk map warns of dangerous triple-digit heat index conditions ahead. Wildlife & Community: Illinois marks Pollinator Month; IDNR is accepting pheasant and wildlife habitat grant applications; and a rabid bat was found in DeKalb County, prompting urgent exposure precautions.

Data Centers & Water/Energy Pressure: A global pact backed by 40 mayors targets AI data center growth, pushing cities to demand clean power, affordability, and community engagement as residents worry about electricity bills, water use, and land competition. Food Security Shock: Federal SNAP cuts tied to new work rules and limits on lawfully present immigrants are set to hit hundreds of thousands in Illinois, with ripple effects for farmers and local food businesses; a one-time $400 state payment may not fully offset losses. Tornado Risk in Illinois: Illinois is on pace for record tornado totals, with 200 confirmed so far this year and meteorologists pointing to shifting patterns in “Tornado Alley.” Pollution Rule Shift: The EPA’s repeal of 2024 MATS amendments could signal a broader change in how the agency weighs “ancillary” pollution benefits in future air rules. Oil & Gas Cleanup Accountability: The Chicago Tribune highlights how Illinois regulators have struggled to force operators to plug abandoned wells, leaving taxpayers and communities exposed to contamination and methane. Local Parks Funding: Evergreen Park is making a second push for an OSLAD grant to expand Yukich Fields with new soccer fields, playground upgrades, and an interactive ball wall. Illinois Manufacturing Spotlight: The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association will honor 2026 inductees into the Illinois Manufacturing Hall of Fame on June 25. Bears Stadium Bids: Two Chicago-area proposals are emerging as the Bears consider a move to Indiana after Illinois incentives stalled.

Severe Weather: Illinois is on pace for a record tornado season, with reports of at least 149 tornadoes by June 20 and more storms still being tallied, as Chicago-area residents continue recovering from damaging weather. Wildlife & Public Health: “Zombie deer disease” chronic wasting disease is now confirmed in 36 states, and new research warns that deer can look healthy while still spreading prions. Water Quality: A coalition of states backed by Illinois AG Nick Brown is challenging expanded oil and gas development in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, arguing it would harm wildlife and worsen climate impacts. Food Security: Federal SNAP changes are hitting Illinois families and also the farmers who supply local food, with advocates saying communication has been unclear and benefits could be lost. Climate/Industry: INEOS Styrolution will permanently close its Channahon polystyrene plant by Q4 2026 as margins pressure restructuring. Local Green Infrastructure: Work begins on Chicago’s Bronzeville Trail with soil testing for contaminants before building the South Side’s first elevated bike path. Sustainability Wins: Heartland Community College in Normal received a sustainability award for an agriculture building designed for zero net emissions.

Air Quality Alert: Illinois EPA declared an Air Pollution Action Day for the Chicago metro after ozone hit “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups,” putting about 9.4 million residents across eight counties on respiratory-risk watch. Severe Weather: Illinois is again setting records for tornado reports in 2026, with NOAA noting the count could rise after surveys. Clean Energy & Agriculture: Gov. JB Pritzker cut the ribbon on Incobrasa’s $250 million expansion in Gilman, adding soybean processing capacity and a solar array tied to biofuels and farm feed. Wildlife & Outdoors: Illinois DNR scheduled July and August waterfowl blind drawings for public hunting areas. Community & Learning: Indian Creek High School senior Bethany Odle won a Built Environment scholarship, while a Pike County student received a conservation scholarship for habitat work. Public Safety: A new report warns the e-scooter boom is putting kids at risk, calling for stronger safeguards. Policy Watch: Illinois lawmakers face fresh legal fights over a new “social media” fee measure aimed at internet platforms. Local Economy: A Normal consultant urged McLean County to consider data centers only with public buy-in and tougher oversight.

Severe Weather: Illinois has already logged at least 147 tornadoes in 2026—more than any year on record—after another round of storms, including a deadly outbreak that hit Jefferson County, IL. Air Quality & Industry: The Illinois Pollution Control Board is set to hold a public hearing on Friday on Citgo Lemont’s request for relief from carbon monoxide emissions standards, drawing community concern about health risks. Microplastics: A protected estuary in Spain showed microplastic levels comparable to polluted European rivers, underscoring how plastics can persist in sediments even where protections exist. Clean Energy in Illinois: A former Illinois coal mine in Minonk is now powering a 16,000-panel community solar project, aimed at supplying renewable electricity for thousands of homes. Local Wildlife & Community: In Chicago, a Pride Sit with Chicago BIPOC Birders offered LGBTQ+ families a welcoming way to connect with local birds and habitat. Policy Watch: Illinois is also moving toward banning AI smart glasses for drivers, treating them like other restricted electronic communication devices.

Indiana Dunes vs. industry: Visitors to Indiana Dunes National Park are seeing smokestacks and refineries right on the horizon, reigniting the debate over whether heavy industry can coexist with one of the nation’s most biodiverse parks—and what vigilance is needed to protect it. Data centers and power costs: In Indiana, advocates are pushing back hard on massive data center incentives, arguing subsidies will drive higher utility bills and worsen air and environmental quality, while supporters say the projects are needed for development. Microplastics push: Illinois and other states’ attorneys general are urging stronger monitoring and action on microplastics in drinking water, as new research links plastics exposure to health risks. Illinois hospital debt: Illinois hospitals owed the state hundreds of millions in taxes, penalties, and advances—raising questions about taxpayer support for safety-net hospitals after closures, including a major case involving West Suburban Medical Center. Wildlife at construction sites: In Lockport, residents are asking developers to pause work to protect killdeer eggs under federal protections, showing how local decisions can make or break habitat during development. Heat and resilience: A separate report highlights how cities are responding to extreme heat with cooling centers and emergency planning—an issue that matters for Illinois summers too.

Climate & Health: Record 2026 heat is raising the odds of the worst toxic algae season in years, with warmer surface waters helping cyanobacteria blooms spread—especially where farm runoff, fertilizers, and septic pollution feed nutrients. Wildlife Watch: Chicago’s smooth green snakes are declining on top of shrinking prairie habitat, and new research points to contaminated soil heavy metals in eggs plus a fungal disease threat. Water Quality & Policy: Illinois is among AGs pushing EPA to add microplastics to drinking-water research priorities and to keep monitoring them, arguing more data is needed to protect public health. Local Climate Resilience: Pella used a helicopter lift to install rooftop climate-control units at its plant—an example of how extreme weather and operational needs are driving practical infrastructure fixes. Community Outdoors: A Pecatonica BBQ fundraiser backed youth conservation education, supporting hands-on wildlife habitat and outdoor learning programs across Illinois. Heat Outlook: NOAA’s summer forecast keeps Illinois mostly leaning warmer than average, with precipitation near normal for much of the Midwest.

Microplastics Watch: Illinois AG Rob Bonta joined a coalition urging the EPA to add microplastics to drinking-water research priorities and to keep monitoring them, pushing for more data to guide future rules. Local Storm Resilience: Wauconda’s Bangs Lake Outfall Improvement Project—$3.5 million with remote monitoring and drainage upgrades—has helped ease flooding after heavy rains, targeting dozens of affected homes and roads. Conservation in Action: Illinois Farm Bureau’s Nutrient Stewardship Field Days return this summer, spotlighting soil health and nutrient-loss reduction practices through county-led tours and research plots. Community Water & Habitat: Lockport District 205 received a $284,575 grant for Central Campus roof replacements, while Lockport Prairie preservation work also aims to protect wildlife by restricting vehicle access where needed. Food & Health Innovation: At IFT FIRST 2026 in Chicago, Nuritas showcased plant-based peptide hydrolysates designed for real food formulations. Extreme Heat Warning: A NOAA summer outlook points to above-normal temperatures for much of the U.S., with Illinois among the states facing higher heat risk.

Severe Weather in Illinois: Illinois has already logged 143 tornadoes in 2026—surpassing the 2024 record of 142—and officials warn the tally is still climbing as storms continue. Heat Risk and Power Reliability: Philadelphia declared a Heat Health Emergency for Juneteenth after heat index forecasts hit around 103°F, highlighting how vulnerable groups face deadly risk when cooling and services fail; a separate report notes New York deployed thousands of utility workers to prevent heat-wave outages. Clean Energy and EV Readiness: ComEd and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus recognized nine northern Illinois communities graduating from an EV Readiness Program aimed at cutting barriers to charging and improving first-responder readiness. Lead Pipe Funding: The EPA’s lead action push points to Illinois as a major priority state, citing hundreds of thousands of known and suspected lead service lines and new funding for replacements and monitoring. Data Centers and Guardrails: Illinois lawmakers are negotiating summer rules after a spring pause on data center regulations, with concerns over energy demand and water impacts driving pressure for workable limits.

Wildlife Protection: Will County’s Forest Preserve District will restrict vehicle access near Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve to curb turtle deaths on Division Street, with barricades planned while wildlife barriers are installed. Clean Energy Jobs: A Chicago resident launched a new career in solar after completing Association House’s Clean Energy Training Program, including hands-on installation practice and industry certifications. Public Health & Policy: Illinois AG Kwame Raoul marked Juneteenth by spotlighting civil-rights enforcement and ongoing legal fights over discrimination and unlawful federal actions. Climate & Weather Risk: Tropical Storm Arthur’s remnants brought catastrophic rain and flooding across parts of the South, while severe storms hit the Midwest, leaving many without power. Local Nature Education: University of Illinois Extension announced a summer grass-identification workshop series to help Illinois residents recognize prairie, woodland, and nuisance grasses. Tech & Industry: NVIDIA and Doosan expanded “physical AI” partnerships tied to robotics and even small modular reactor concepts for powering data centers.

Obama Presidential Center, Chicago: The $850M Obama Presidential Center opens to the public Friday, with a focus on grassroots change and interactive programming, including fully digital records meant to broaden access. Community & culture: The opening weekend drew all living U.S. ex-presidents (minus Trump) and major stars, while speeches and ceremony moments sparked debate over land-acknowledgment rituals. Illinois environment watch: A new University of Illinois study looks at how drought-driven soil cracking speeds moisture loss, with implications for water management across the state. Plastic exposure concern: ENDO 2026 coverage highlights research linking early-life DEHP exposure to long-lasting anxiety-like behavior in animals, adding to scrutiny of common plastic chemicals. Data center pressure: A report warns that AI data centers are expanding fast while raising electricity and water demands—an issue that matters for Illinois planning. Severe weather: Midwest storms brought damage and power outages, underscoring how quickly conditions can turn. Sports policy: IHSA finalized a 35-second shot clock for 2026-27 varsity basketball.

Severe Weather: A tornado tore through parts of Illinois Wednesday, damaging homes, blocking roads, and leaving thousands without power as storms moved across central Illinois. Solar Permitting: Massac County commissioners voted to deny SB Energy’s special use permit for a commercial solar facility, saying the record from an earlier hearing didn’t meet the county’s 2023 solar ordinance requirements. Community Cleanup: Volunteers with the Shawnee National Forest partners ran a “Trash Blast” at Dutchman Lake, removing 106.5 pounds of debris and topping 2,000 pounds removed across the spring season. Pollinators & Food Forests: Illinois Extension pushed National Pollinator Month with tips for pollinator gardens, and also promoted edible landscaping ideas and upcoming community food forest workdays in Normal. Wildlife Health: A Reuters report warns pet owners about the return of screwworm to the U.S. Southwest, urging quick vet care for suspicious wounds. Education & Environment: Illinois Extension highlighted serviceberry and other native, edible plant options that can boost habitat while supporting local food.

Offshore Wind Rollback: The Trump administration is paying Invenergy $765M to buy back four early-stage offshore wind leases, including projects off California and New Jersey, redirecting money toward faster-to-build natural gas and geothermal ventures. Severe Weather & Tornado Impacts: Confirmed tornadoes hit Illinois and Iowa, with Charleston, IL reporting major damage and a local state of emergency as Midwest storms churned. Climate Risk for Tech: A new analysis finds nearly 80% of global data center capacity faces heightened climate hazards like flooding, wildfires, and extreme heat—raising reliability and operating-cost concerns. Illinois Data Center Pushback: Illinois lawmakers are gearing up for a summer of data center negotiations after spring talks stalled, as communities press for rules on energy, water, and quality-of-life impacts. Clean Energy on Reclaimed Land: Nexamp and TurningPoint Energy commissioned two Minonk, IL community solar projects on a former coal mine site, using Illinois Shines brownfield credits to repurpose disturbed land. Local Learning & Community: ISBE adopted a statewide Numeracy Plan to lift math outcomes, while Southern Illinois’ 4-H is pairing baseball with hands-on learning at a Thrillbillies game.