AGP Executive Report

Deadly Crash: A van carrying Belleville West High School students crashed and caught fire Wednesday morning at Illinois Route 15 and Pocket Avenue in Cahokia Heights; six students and two adults were injured, and St. Clair County later confirmed 17-year-old Zer’Real Hinds died. Immigration Enforcement: In Evanston, a U.S. citizen was injured after ICE agents allegedly mistook him for a fugitive and tried to handcuff him before releasing him when they realized the error; police are investigating. Public Safety & Health: Illinois delayed planned mental health bed reductions at Choate from March to June 2027 after pushback and a union lawsuit. Elections: Early voting starts Thursday statewide, with paper ballots still in use. Local Infrastructure: Effingham began demolition work along Fayette Avenue (U.S. 40), with periodic lane closures expected through mid-November. Community & Services: UIS will host an Oct. 12 open house for prospective students; Illinois Extension’s “Bats and Snacks” runs Oct. 29 in Ottawa. Policy & Economy: An Illinois economist says expanding E15 could ease diesel price pressure.

AI & Regulation: Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed an executive order creating an Illinois Artificial Intelligence Cabinet to assess AI risks to public safety and critical infrastructure, with experts from multiple state agencies expected to propose policy through 2027. Courts & Police Oversight: The Illinois Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether Chicago police disciplinary hearings must stay open to the public, a fight tied to years of delays and arbitration battles. Health Policy: Illinois’ new medical aid-in-dying law is now in effect, with patients and doctors weighing in as the debate continues over safeguards and ethics. Immigration Enforcement Scrutiny: Separate incidents involving federal immigration agents in Illinois and Texas are under review after an Evanston case where a U.S. citizen was mistakenly targeted and a Texas shooting involving an ICE encounter. Environment: In the long-running Illinois River pollution case, parties asked a judge to rescind the final ruling as they push a settlement path. State Services: Illinois will close all eight interstate visitor information centers by month’s end, though rest areas will keep operating. Public Safety: Illinois State Police urged proper child car-seat use after two fatal crashes involving unrestrained children.

State Politics & Courts: Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul says he won a federal fight against the Trump administration over noncitizens’ access to public health, education and social services, after a judge struck down efforts to require citizenship checks. Public Safety & Health: Gov. J.B. Pritzker disclosed a type 2 diabetes diagnosis and 80-pound weight loss using a GLP-1 drug, while Illinois also faces ongoing mental-health system pressure as sheriffs oppose planned cuts at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center. Economy & Travel: Illinois will close its eight state-run visitor information centers by month’s end, even as rest areas keep operating. Higher Ed & Community: Waubonsee will host 100+ four-year colleges at College Night, and Western Illinois University earned US News recognition for 2027. Sports: Illinois opens Big Ten play at No. 7 Ohio State, with coach Bret Bielema emphasizing road success. Business & Law: A federal judge expanded an injunction on Illinois swipe-fee limits to include federal credit unions.

Elections & Civic Life: A candidate forum is set for tonight in Alton at the YWCA, featuring races for Madison County clerk, State Rep. 111th District, and State Sen. 56th District. Public Safety & Health: Western Illinois University unveiled a new Emergency Operations Center, funded by a $2.3 million Illinois Emergency Management Agency grant, with Sen. Dick Durbin attending. Workplace Safety: OSHA fined Smithfield Foods’ Monmouth plant twice in the past year before a worker death, including penalties tied to amputation hazards and carbon dioxide exposure. Weather & Flooding: Heavy rain in northern Illinois has triggered flooding and evacuations, including nearly 300 people evacuated from an Amboy campground. Housing & Homelessness: A new Illinois study highlights “doubled-up” homelessness affecting nearly 100,000 people. Politics & Policy: Gov. JB Pritzker disclosed an 80-pound weight loss on GLP-1 as he signals interest in 2028, while immigration terminology and work-permit debates continue in Illinois politics. Business & Growth: Illinois’ data center boom is being pulled toward Indiana and elsewhere, even as major industrial deals move forward in the Chicago area.

Flood Watch: Northern Illinois saw nearly 8 inches of rain in days, with evacuations at an Amboy RV campground and flood warnings along the Green and Fox rivers. Emergency Preparedness: Western Illinois University unveiled a new Emergency Operations Center, backed by a $2.3 million Illinois Emergency Management Agency grant, with Sen. Dick Durbin attending. Public Safety & Health: Illinois reported measles cases rising to 22 this year and flagged nine counties with insufficient vaccination rates; Cook County School District 130 says its schools are open and safe after lawmakers questioned conditions. State Politics: Gov. JB Pritzker disclosed a type 2 diabetes diagnosis and 80-pound weight loss using a GLP-1 drug, while Forbes says his net worth jumped by $1 billion since 2019. Courts & Hunger: A federal judge permanently blocked the Trump administration from penalizing states over SNAP operations, including Illinois. Cost of Living: Gas prices in Illinois rose 41 cents per gallon over the past week; Powerball climbed to $313 million. Local Economy: Illinois’ adult-use cannabis sales totaled $933 million from January through August 2026.

Illinois Supreme Court & Police Accountability: The Illinois Supreme Court will hear arguments on Thursday over whether Chicago Police Department misconduct cases can be decided by a third-party arbitrator instead of the Chicago Police Board, a fight that could reshape how serious discipline is handled. Election Watch: Early voting starts Thursday, Sept. 24, in Illinois, with mail ballots also going out that day. AI Regulation: Gov. JB Pritzker says AI is “dangerous on the level of nuclear weapons” and urges federal guardrails, pointing to Illinois’ new audit and disclosure requirements. Public Safety: Police are investigating an attempted arrest by DHS in Evanston, and some Illinois businesses are using high-powered smoke machines to deter smash-and-grab robberies. Health & Preparedness: Illinois health officials released fall respiratory virus immunization guidance, and local navigator events are set to help residents sign up for coverage. Weather & Flooding: About 200 people were evacuated from a north-central Illinois campground as floodwaters surrounded the site. Local Roads: A portion of Route 53 in Palatine is closed for emergency bridge repairs. Agriculture: One Illinois farm’s potato harvest feeds major chip makers like Frito-Lay.

Education & Equity: New ISBE data show wide remedial-course gaps among Illinois high school grads who go to community colleges, including Rockford East (20.8%), Springfield Southeast (13.4%), Plainfield (36.6%), and Central High in Champaign (40.7%), compared with a statewide 28.2%. Public Safety: Illinois State Police are investigating an officer-involved fatal shooting in Sycamore after police confronted a knife-wielding man; there’s no threat to the public. ISP is also probing two Brooklyn shootings two hours apart that left one woman and one man dead. Housing Watch: Zillow reports mixed county trends: Jo Daviess up 3.7% to $250,663, Randolph up 5.9% to $154,820, while Lawrence County fell 10.7% to $101,078 and Hamilton County dropped 12.5% to $109,617. Sports (Illinois): Illinois opens Big Ten play Sept. 26 at No. 7 Ohio State (12 p.m. on FOX).

School Choice Fight: An Illinois editorial spotlights a new Indiana billboard on I-94 pushing the federal education freedom tax credit—highlighting that Illinois hasn’t opted in, while Indiana donors can fund K-12 scholarships for low-income families. Criminal Justice Oversight: An Illinois Answers Project investigation says county jails are submitting thousands of required “unusual occurrence” reports, but state regulators have reviewed almost none, raising questions about how well Illinois oversees jail conditions. Mental Health & Jails: Illinois sheriffs are urging changes after delays in getting inmates mental health treatment, warning that proposed cuts at the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center could worsen pressure on county jails. Public Safety: Illinois State Police reminded drivers and farmers to share the road during harvest season, stressing safer passing and caution around slow-moving equipment. Local Infrastructure: IDOT says work on the Illinois 2 Rock River bridge in Rockton is on schedule, with traffic reduced to one lane each direction and completion targeted for June 2026.

College Football: Katin Houser threw for 305 yards and two TDs, including two scoring strikes to Collin Dixon, as Illinois rolled Southern Illinois 48-10 in Champaign. Local Education: Illinois Supreme Court Commission opened applications for the 2027 Disability Access Grant, with funding for court accessibility upgrades and services; the window runs until Oct. 23. Tech & Banking: A data center cooling failure disrupted online and mobile banking for Central Illinois credit unions using Sharetec core processing, with services gradually returning and officials saying no breach was found. Workforce/Education Outcomes: New ISBE data shows high shares of students taking remedial classes at Illinois community colleges—31.1% at Normal Community West and 43% at East High (2024-25). Energy: Illinois’ first state battery storage auction secured 600 MW of storage, a boost toward clean-energy reliability even though it missed the initial target. Housing: Zillow reported Ogle County’s typical home value rose 7.2% to $230,289 in August 2026.

Harvest Safety: Illinois reports about 530 crashes a year involving farm vehicles, mostly from September through November, as National Farm Safety and Health Week runs Sept. 21-25. Weather & Flooding: A flood watch is up for northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin with heavy downpours early Saturday and flash-flood risk near major corridors. Medical Aid in Dying: Beloved WGN radio host Judy Markey, 82, died in Switzerland using medical aid in dying—one day before Illinois’ law took effect. Criminal Justice: Illinois marks three years since cash bail ended, with supporters saying fewer people sit in jail pretrial and critics arguing more changes are still needed. Environment: Illinois EPA released a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan aiming for net-zero by 2050, calling for major shifts across transportation, buildings, industry, and more. Local Government: Lawrence County approved a two-year moratorium on large data centers. Sports & Community: Bears stadium talks with Illinois officials reportedly continued in August; plus Week 5 high school football scores and broadcasts rolled in statewide.

Wildlife Watch: Illinois DNR confirmed a mountain lion in Union and Jackson counties, saying sightings likely involve the same animal and urging people to leave it alone and report sightings. Gas Prices: U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin blamed President Trump for record diesel and rising gas costs, citing AAA figures showing Chicago diesel averaging $6.58 and some stations near $7.99. Sports Recruiting: Warren Township standout Jaxson Davis, a two-time Illinois Mr. Basketball winner, committed to Ohio State for 2027. High School Football: Shaw Local Radio is airing multiple Week 5 Friday broadcasts across Northern Illinois. Climate Policy: The Illinois EPA released a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan aiming for net-zero by 2050, calling for major changes across transportation, buildings, manufacturing, agriculture, and waste. Assisted Suicide Lawsuit: Muslim doctors sued Illinois over the assisted-suicide information requirement, arguing it violates religious rights. Public Safety: Illinois State Police reported an emergency airplane landing near Gifford due to weather with no injuries.

Assisted Suicide Fight: A federal court decision keeps Illinois’ medical aid-in-dying law in place, but the state’s Catholic providers and nuns keep pushing back, with temporary reprieves and new lawsuits shaping what’s actually available to patients. Housing & Rent Rules: Chicago alderpeople are advancing competing rental proposals—FAIR gets committee support while opponents warn PRO would raise landlord costs and slow new housing. Energy Costs & Grid Strain: Diesel prices are spiking again, squeezing farmers and raising food-price fears, while Illinois-area power reliability and data-center growth are raising concerns about future shortages. Local Development: A former Lincoln College campus in Lincoln is reopening to nonprofits and businesses with $1 leases tied to job growth, aiming to jump-start investment. Community & Demographics: A UIC study finds Belmont Cragin is now Chicago’s largest Latino neighborhood, showing the city’s Latino population is shifting west. Weather: Heat advisories linger into the weekend, with relief expected next week. Sports: Illinois football and Big Ten Week 3 matchups are driving the weekend slate, plus local college and high school action continues.

Education & Accountability: Lake Villa CUSD 41 administrators averaged $135,976 in 2025, ranking 144th in Illinois, as lawmakers and parents keep pushing for transparency in school operations. Public Health & Schools: Cook County’s District 130 is under state scrutiny after teachers complained about unsanitary conditions tied to replacing union janitors with a private company. Mental Health Care: Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center workers’ union sued to block the state from downsizing beds and staffing, arguing the plan violates state law and threatens access to psychiatric treatment. Immigration Enforcement Fallout: A group of 15 Illinois residents filed claims against the federal government over alleged misconduct during “Operation Midway Blitz.” Environment & Safety: IDNR confirmed a mountain lion moving through Union and Jackson counties, likely heading west. Energy & Economy: Exxon’s Joliet refinery remains offline after floodwater overwhelmed a pump following a power outage. Higher Ed Outcomes: A new analysis highlights how many Black freshmen at Illinois public universities don’t graduate, with Northeastern and Governors State among the lowest. Sports & Community: A DeKalb High School senior threw a Cubs ceremonial first pitch through the Illinois Reads Together literacy program.

AAPI Education Push: Illinois’ TEAACH Act requires schools to teach Asian American and Pacific Islander history, but WBEZ reports uneven rollout—some educators and students say they’re getting little to no instruction, even as the state points to local control. Campus Surveillance Scrutiny: A WBEZ review finds five Illinois public universities still using Flock cameras, including UIUC and UIC, raising fresh concerns about automatic license plate tracking and who can access it. Criminal Justice Update: The “Starved Rock killer” Chester Weger’s family is seeking a rare posthumous pardon from Gov. JB Pritzker, with an Oct. 6 hearing scheduled. Weather & Daily Life: Rain and possible localized flooding are in the forecast for the Chicago area and southeast Wisconsin. Agriculture & Economy: USDA’s September WASDE/Crop report lowers the projected 2026 U.S. corn yield, while soybeans tick up slightly. Lottery: Powerball results for Sept. 16: 2, 21, 24, 25, 64; Powerball 7.

CTU Court Fight: A Cook County judge ruled the Chicago Teachers Union can keep providing only summaries of financial audit reports to members, rejecting a lawsuit that said the union violated members’ rights; plaintiffs say they’ll appeal. Education & Community: Illinois State Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders visited Washington Community High School to see programs firsthand, including student-led discussions. Local Revitalization: McLean County residents are weighing the future of the Eastland Mall after CBL Properties cited declining revenue and vacancies; housing and a culinary hub were common ideas, with little support for another retail mall. Public Safety: Ameren Illinois urged homeowners to use backup generators safely, warning about carbon monoxide risks and dangerous electrical backfeed. Transportation: The Tri-County region advanced a $639.2 million transportation plan for 2027-2030 with public input open. Sports (Illinois ties): Big Ten women’s hoops schedules are out, including Wisconsin hosting Illinois Dec. 5 and Illinois men’s Big Ten slate featuring a March 6 trip to Illinois. Courts & Crime: An Adams County jury found Dartalyon Carson guilty on multiple charges tied to meth and a firearm after a 2025 traffic stop.

Local Public Safety: A 16-year-old was shot while walking in Chicago’s Albany Park Tuesday night, police say; he was taken to hospitals and is listed in good condition, with detectives investigating. Housing & Tenant Protections: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is revising his Protecting Renters Ordinance, dropping “just cause” eviction limits as opponents argue the plan still goes too far. Immigration Enforcement Impact: Gov. JB Pritzker says Illinois will hold federal agents accountable for last year’s Operation Midway Blitz, citing fear in immigrant communities and major Cook County economic losses. Corrections Education: Illinois prison college access is lagging demand, with waitlists for higher education up 80% since last year. State Policy & Clean Energy Jobs: Illinois is updating its clean energy jobs training hubs to match shifting workforce needs, including potential spillover into housing and data centers. Infrastructure: The Cedar Street Bridge in Peoria–East Peoria closes for joint repairs through November, with detours posted. Community & Culture: Springfield welcomed the Women’s Pro Baseball League’s inaugural season, and Chicago’s free jazz festivals continue this month.