AGP Executive Report

Chicago Public Schools Budget Fight: The Chicago Board of Education approved a revised $9.96 billion CPS budget that cancels more than 1,000 layoffs, but it hinges on an extra $150 million in state funding that hasn’t been committed yet—raising warnings about legality, balance under state law, and possible midyear cuts. Utility Watchdog vs. Ameren: The Citizens Utility Board challenged Ameren Illinois over a proposed rate increase and grid spending, arguing customers shouldn’t pay for what it calls excessive costs. Storm Damage Update: The National Weather Service confirmed seven tornadoes touched down in the Chicago area during Monday’s severe storms, with cleanup still underway. Lollapalooza Safety & Traffic: As Lollapalooza draws more than 100,000 daily, Chicago traffic officials say driver aggression has made traffic aide work riskier after two injuries this summer. City Oversight: A new Chicago inspector general audit says the city’s rat control strategy is “unlikely” to achieve long-term control because it’s mostly complaint-based, not prevention-focused. Sports—Local Spotlight: The White Sox beat the Yankees 2-1 in 11 innings on Tristan Peters’ bases-loaded walk-off, extending Chicago’s lead in the AL Central.

CPS Budget Showdown: Chicago Public Schools will vote Thursday on a nearly $10 billion budget plan, with CEO MacQuline King warning a failure could mean payroll delays and no short-term financing; the proposal includes layoffs (over 1,600 positions, including 700+ teachers), higher student-teacher ratios, and $143 million in raises, while the Chicago Teachers Union says Illinois owes CPS $2 billion and wants cuts dropped. SNAP Relief in Illinois: Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the FRESH program, a $70 million one-time $400 payment per eligible household member for about 100,000 people who lost SNAP benefits, starting Aug. 1 with no application required. Gun Violence Update: Police say a 17-year-old was fatally shot early Thursday in South Chicago’s 8300 block of South Oglesby Avenue; detectives are investigating. Lollapalooza Weather: Thursday’s festival start in Grant Park looks dry and in the 80s, but rain is expected Friday afternoon into the weekend, with possible flooding. Illinois Immigration Court Fight: An Illinois federal judge struck down state laws allowing undocumented students to get in-state tuition, setting up another political and legal clash over access to higher education. Tech & Health: UW Health reports an Illinois woman’s liver transplant experience led her to switch from Bears to Packers fandom; separately, a physician-led “Digital Toxicity Awareness Day” is set for Aug. 2 in Westmont and online.

Severe Weather & Recovery: The National Weather Service confirmed a fifth tornado from Monday’s storms, an EF-0 in Wheaton, as crews keep cleaning up and restoring power across the Chicago area. Power & Daily Life: ComEd says power is mostly back, but thousands still lack electricity in pockets around Chicago, leaving residents dealing with spoiled food and backup-generator limits. Public Safety: Two teens were shot in Greater Grand Crossing; police say shots were fired from a hallway into an apartment, with one teen in critical condition and no suspect in custody. Crime & Community: The NAACP announced a $20 million voter registration push at its Chicago convention, aiming to mobilize voters ahead of midterms. Food Insecurity: Cook County residents face rising hunger as SNAP work-rule changes leave some families without benefits, with local pantries stepping in. Politics & Labor: Trade union LiUNA accused Mayor Brandon Johnson of hypocrisy as petition season ramps up. Sports: Chicago Bears training camp is underway at Halas Hall, while the Chicago Sky are pushing for a turnaround in the second half of the season.

Traffic Safety & Injuries: Three people were hurt Tuesday night when an SUV collided with an ATV in Chicago’s Belmont Cragin; the ATV driver was in critical condition. Public Safety: A man was stabbed in Hegewisch and another man was killed in West Pullman after being found with a gunshot wound; police reported no arrests in either case. Crime Update: Three men were wounded in a drive-by shooting in Little Village, and Chicago police are searching for two suspects tied to a Hermosa neighborhood shooting. City Services: A new inspector general audit says Chicago’s rat program leans too heavily on reactive poisoning instead of proactive, long-term fixes. Food Access: Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Lyft and United Way of Metro Chicago will help older residents get free rides to grocery stores after Save A Lot closures. Sports & Culture: Lollapalooza 2026 is set for July 30-Aug. 2 with updated set times and streaming info, and the “Memphis to Peoria Run” began Wednesday to raise money for St. Jude.

College Football Playoff Push: Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti kept pressing for a 24-team CFP at media day in Chicago, saying the league could drop its conference title game if expansion happens and that talks with partners like the SEC are moving. Illinois Education Law: Gov. JB Pritzker signed a statewide “bell-to-bell” cellphone ban for public and charter schools, with exceptions for medical and special education needs, starting with the 2027-28 school year. Illinois Politics: A GOP candidate for attorney general asked the U.S. Justice Department for federal oversight of the November election in Champaign County, citing charges involving the county clerk. Chicago Public Safety & Weather: After Monday storms, officials confirmed four tornadoes across the Chicago area and reported widespread damage and power issues. Chicago Transit/Community: Chicago launched a new center to help rideshare drivers find support, run by a nonprofit, amid app and immigration-related pressures. Aviation: American Airlines flights were briefly grounded nationwide after a tech outage, and Chicago Executive Airport reopened after a plane got stuck off a runway. Sports Spotlight: Illinois QB Katin Houser is being positioned as the Illini’s leader heading into 2026, while Bears training camp opened with Ben Johnson saying the team is “starting all over again.”

Severe Weather & Power: Storms battered the Chicago area again, with flooding, downed trees, and hundreds of flight cancellations as dangerous heat and humidity lingered. Road Safety: A semi crash on I-74 near Champaign tied up traffic in the eastbound lane for hours. Scam Watch: The Better Business Bureau warned Lollapalooza fans about ticket scams, urging safer buying options and cautioning against fake listings. Lottery Win: An Illinois man in Kewanee turned a $5 scratch-off into a $1 million prize just before his birthday. WNBA in Chicago: The Indiana Fever’s All-Star weekend included a historic visit to the Obama Presidential Center, while off-court drama flared after DiJonai Carrington accused NaLyssa Smith of cheating. Sports—Cubs: The Cubs kept rolling with a 7-3 win over the Cardinals and head into Tuesday’s matchup with momentum. Higher Ed: The University of Illinois System launched a national search for a new president. Business & Tech: Illinois Tool Works raised its full-year outlook after strong Q2 results.

Cubs Move: Chicago designated struggling RHP Jameson Taillon for assignment and recalled Andrew Wantz as the veteran’s season hit a career-worst 5.92 ERA. WNBA All-Star: Caitlin Clark helped Team Spoon beat Team Coop 129-122 in Chicago, while the Lynx’s Olivia Miles and others made their mark during the weekend festivities. In-State Tuition Ruling: A federal judge struck down Illinois laws that gave undocumented students in-state tuition and aid, calling them unconstitutional and invalid. Transit Crime Push: Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke launched a CTA campaign warning violent offenders she’ll seek pretrial detention. Storm Damage & Safety: Severe storms battered the Chicago area with flooding, downed trees, and widespread outages; in Downers Grove, one contractor was trapped in a storm sewer while another was rescued. Food Access Shock: Seven Save A Lot stores closed on Chicago’s South and West sides, with the company citing financial strain and SNAP cuts. Sports Injuries: Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger is out 4-6 weeks with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain.

Extreme Heat + Storm Risk: Chicago and much of northern Illinois are under heat advisories and extreme heat warnings, with heat index values pushing 105–115 degrees Monday and a level 3 severe weather threat as storms could bring damaging winds and large hail. Fatal I-57 Crash: Illinois State Police report a woman was struck and killed on the shoulder of I-57 on the South Side, and a man who stopped to help was also hit by another vehicle. WNBA All-Star Buzz: The WNBA All-Star Game wrapped in Chicago with Team Spoon beating Team Coop 129–122, plus big fashion moments and a Mattel/Barbie tie-in for Angel Reese. Sports & Local Teams: Chicago Fire center-back Mbekezeli Mbokazi is ruled out of the MLS All-Star Game in Charlotte with a thigh injury. Public Safety: Police say a man was shot by a scooter gunman in Austin and hospitalized; in Rogers Park, a woman was grazed by a bullet during a fight. Business/Community: Illinois Athletics announced Busey Bank as the inaugural jersey patch sponsor, and Channahon Park District opened a free outdoor fitness court with a digital coaching app.

AI Oversight: Gov. JB Pritzker signed Illinois’ Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act, requiring major AI developers to submit to annual independent third-party audits starting in 2028—raising the big question of who will be qualified to do the checks. White Sox Moves: Chicago acquired RHP José Urquidy from the Pirates for minor-league pitcher Félix Doroteo as the Aug. 3 trade deadline nears, while Munetaka Murakami powered a 12-3 win with two homers and a career-high six RBIs. Cubs Pitching Woes: Jameson Taillon’s return start didn’t help—Pittsburgh hit three more homers in an 8-7 win, and the Cubs now say his rotation spot is “in jeopardy.” Severe Weather Watch: Heat and humidity continue across Illinois with scattered showers and a possible storm threat through Tuesday, including damaging-wind risk. Public Safety: A woman was fatally hit by a Metra train near Palatine station; police are investigating. WNBA in Chicago: The league’s All-Star festivities delivered big moments, including Nneka Ogwumike becoming the All-Star Game’s all-time leading scorer and the WNBA adding an NBA-style replay center next season. Community Help: A Central Illinois nonprofit is offering free pet food and supplies to help families keep pets at home.

WNBA All-Star in Chicago: Team Spoon beat Team Coop 129-122 at the United Center, drawing a record 19,783 fans. Sports Spotlight: Jonquel Jones won All-Star MVP after a 22-point, 13-rebound, eight-assist performance, dedicating the moment to her late aunt. More Heat, More Risk: Northern Illinois faces dangerous heat Sunday and Monday, with heat indexes near 110 and a chance of severe storms that could bring damaging winds and heavy rain. Chicago Violence: Three people were killed in separate South Side shootings overnight, and six more were wounded in a Humboldt Park mass shooting. Cubs Update: Pete Crow-Armstrong powered the Cubs to an 11-0 win over the Pirates with a 4-for-5 night, while Chicago looks for a series sweep Sunday. Weather/Travel Note: If you’re heading out, plan around heat and storm chances, and consider indoor cooling options like park district sites and libraries.

Federal Court Ruling: A judge struck down Illinois laws that gave illegal immigrants in-state tuition, financial aid, and scholarships, saying the state violated federal law and the Supremacy Clause. WNBA in Chicago: Commissioner Cathy Engelbert dodged questions about her 2027 future but announced a centralized replay center for next season, aiming to make officiating more consistent. All-Star Spotlight: The WNBA All-Star Game is set for tonight at the United Center, with big-name stars and major demand driving ticket prices sharply higher. Heat Alert: Dangerous heat returns to central Illinois with heat indexes around 100–110 degrees and a storm chance Sunday into Monday. Cubs Roll: Pete Crow-Armstrong powered an 11-0 Cubs rout of the Pirates, while Shota Imanaga limited Pittsburgh to four hits. Local Safety: A 7-year-old girl died after a pool drowning in Gladstone Park, and the Fox River was closed after a fatal boating incident in McHenry County.

WNBA All-Star in Chicago: The 2026 WNBA All-Star Game is set for Saturday night at the United Center, with Team Coop (Paige Bueckers) vs. Team Spoon (Caitlin Clark) and a $100,000 prize pool benefiting two Chicago-based girls-in-sports groups. Public Safety: Chicago police say a drive-by shooting on the Near West Side left a 5-year-old boy critically injured and a 39-year-old man wounded; no arrests yet. Health Watch: CDC says the multistate Cyclospora outbreak now includes Illinois, and Illinois health officials also confirmed the state’s first West Nile Virus positive case in far-southern mosquitoes. State Policy: A new Illinois law starting Jan. 1 will require police to tell sexual assault survivors they can request an officer of their sex or gender and have a support person during interviews. Community & Education: Illinois Reads Together launches a statewide summer reading challenge with a chance to be recognized at Wrigley Field and throw a first pitch. Weather: Northern Illinois is seeing a wild mix of heat, storms, and smoke impacts, with officials urging caution as conditions shift.

WNBA All-Star in Chicago: Azzi Fudd made history as the first rookie to win the WNBA 3-point contest, scoring 30 in the title round, while Elena Delle Donne, Shakira Austin and high schooler Jezelle Banks led Team Washington to win the new Shooting Stars event. Presidential visit: Former President Barack Obama surprised the All-Stars at the Obama Presidential Center, telling Caitlin Clark to protect her joy amid the noise. Sports injury update: Astros starter Spencer Arrighetti left his start against the White Sox in the second inning with right foot nerve irritation. Community safety and youth voice: Chicago teenagers held a peace walk in Bronzeville to push violence prevention and ask leaders to take their research seriously. Fraud crackdown: Cook County authorities arrested a Chicago man in a $250,000 luxury fragrance return scheme, seizing hundreds of bottles and resealed boxes. Public health: Illinois was added to the CDC’s cyclosporiasis investigation tied to shredded lettuce, with hundreds of cases reported statewide. Local services: The Chicago Park District reported major reforms after a pool shooting, and residents in Morgan Park are bracing for the permanent closure of a Save A Lot. Travel disruption: United’s planned nonstop service to Chicago from Central Illinois Regional Airport was delayed again, now pushed to 2027. Hockey news: Patrick Kane returned to the Blackhawks on a two-year, $16 million deal.

WNBA All-Star Weekend: The league’s 30th All-Star festivities are underway in Chicago, with Skills and the Three-Point Contest at Wintrust Arena tonight and the All-Star Game at the United Center tomorrow; rosters include stars like A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, plus first-timers such as Caitlin Clark, Marina Mabrey, and Jessica Shepard. Chicago Sports: Patrick Kane is back with the Chicago Blackhawks on a two-year, $16 million deal, returning to the team that drafted him in 2007. Energy & Policy: Illinois is weighing where new nuclear plants could go as it seeks more power capacity, after lifting the long-standing ban on large-scale nuclear in recent legislation. Public Safety: A 21-year-old was fatally shot in Uptown early Friday while sitting in a vehicle; in Hyde Park, a man died and a woman was hurt in a drive-by shooting near Promontory Point. Local Business & Community: The Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation is offering $5,000 grants to small Chicago-area businesses hit by immigration raids, with applications opening Aug. 24. Weather: The Old Farmer’s Almanac is calling for a cool, dry fall for most of Illinois.

Sports & Local Pride: Patrick Kane is back with the Chicago Blackhawks on a two-year, $16 million deal, returning to the team where he won three Stanley Cups and became a franchise icon. Public Safety: Two people were found dead in a vehicle on the University of Chicago campus after gunshot wounds; police recovered a weapon and are investigating. Education & Money: Chicago Public Schools says Cook County shorted it $250 million tied to property tax system problems, on top of a roughly $730 million budget gap. Community & Culture: Indian Seniors Chicago held its annual summer picnic in Warrenville, bringing about 380 members together for food, games, and fellowship. Health & Accountability: Illinois’ ethics panel voted to release the Harry Benton sexual harassment report, with redactions and review before it’s made public. Crime & Courts: Six men charged with promoting prostitution across five northern Illinois counties were denied release pending trial. Business & Daily Life: QuikTrip opened a new travel center in South Holland with space for 16 gas vehicles and diesel bays for trucks.

WNBA All-Star in Chicago: Caitlin Clark won’t take part in the 3-point contest at All-Star weekend, and the league’s event schedule still runs Friday Skills Night and Saturday’s main game at the United Center. Leadership pressure: A crisis-management expert says WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert should step aside as she faces tough questions during the weekend. Hockey homecoming: Patrick Kane is back with the Chicago Blackhawks on a two-year deal, returning to the team that drafted him and helped deliver three Stanley Cups. Soccer spotlight: Inter Miami beat Chicago Fire 3-2 in Lewandowski’s MLS debut, with a viral early own goal and Messi and De Paul absent. Power grid watch: Federal officials will grill PJM, which serves Illinois and Indiana, over rising electricity demand and costs. EV expansion: Illinois opened its first federally funded EV charging station in Casey. Public safety: An Indiana police chase ended in a Morgan Park crash with multiple injuries.