AGP Executive Report

Funeral Home Fallout: Chicago authorities finished removing remains from South Chicago Chapel after more than 50 decomposing bodies were found improperly stored; Illinois suspended a director’s license amid allegations of “deplorable conditions,” while investigators work through identifications and death records. Insurance Regulation: Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed new Illinois laws giving the state authority to review and approve home and auto rate changes, with notice rules for big premium hikes and potential rebates if rates are excessive or unfair. Agribusiness & Trade: Pakistan’s U.S. soybean imports topped 1 million metric tons annually, with officials citing growing Pakistan–U.S. cooperation after meetings tied to USSEC’s Soy Connext in Chicago. Higher Ed & AI: UChicago’s sweeping ban on first-year law students using phones and other devices is fueling debate over how AI should be handled in legal education. Local Economy: Illinois researchers say winter canola could boost profits and sustainability in corn-soy rotations, while Naperville welcomed its first Dumont Creamery & Cafe location.

Baby Formula Litigation: A federal judge rejected Mead Johnson’s attempt to end an upcoming Enfamil trial, keeping alive claims that defective baby formula design contributed to severe illness and deaths tied to NEC. Healthcare Equity: Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed Illinois laws requiring menopause training for providers and expanding insurance coverage, plus adding workplace protections against menopause-related discrimination. Public Safety & Accountability: Illinois officials suspended a South Chicago funeral director’s license after investigators found more than 50 decomposing bodies improperly stored, while police and medical examiners work through identification and documentation. Energy & Jobs: Federal prosecutors indicted four southern Illinois coal mine managers over alleged concealment of deadly underground conditions after a 2021 fire. Transportation Costs: The Illinois Tollway’s proposed 2027 rate hike and future inflation-based increases drew sharp criticism at a hearing, with drivers questioning affordability and long-term compounding. Labor Market: The U.S. job market stalled in July as employers cut 23,000 jobs, with revisions also trimming payrolls—an economic signal that could shape policy debates. Aviation Oversight: The FAA ordered crack inspections for hundreds of Boeing 737 Max jets, targeting specific models after reports of structural issues. Illinois Business Watch: Amtrak says ridership is at an all-time high nationally, but Illinois growth is more mixed. Corporate Growth: Employee-owned Berger Financial Group took a majority stake investment from Investcorp to expand across more states while keeping meaningful employee ownership.

Funeral Home Fallout: Chicago authorities are investigating after more than 50 bodies were found improperly stored at South Chicago Chapel on the Southeast Side, with the funeral director’s license suspended over alleged unrefrigerated, rodent- and maggot-infested conditions. Statehouse & Workplace Rules: Illinois lawmakers signed new laws codifying disparate impact liability and requiring employers to pay workers for jury duty time starting in 2027—both big shifts for HR and compliance. Energy & Development: A Fulton Market high-rise is drilling geothermal wells to run an all-electric building, aiming to cut emissions and energy costs and set a new standard for Chicago development. Illinois Economy Watch: July state revenue came in strong, up 5% year over year, driven by corporate and sales taxes, even as officials remain cautious about hitting another record. Consumer & Travel: American Airlines is ending a popular free upgrade path from coach to business on key domestic routes, replacing it with premium economy. Tech & Education: UIS is co-hosting an international AI video competition for high school students, with a virtual symposium and cash prizes. Sports Business: Racing Louisville FC is seeking new investment as low attendance pressures owners, while Chicago’s Bears are leaning on a dominant run game heading into the season.

Industrial Development Funding: Gov. JB Pritzker and DCEO announced $35 million in Regional Site Readiness Program awards to prep 22 industrial sites across Illinois, including planning grants and “capital ready” infrastructure support, building on $115 million already awarded for 63 projects. Tariffs and Cost Relief: Pritzker sent a follow-up letter to President Trump demanding direct relief for Illinois families after tariff refunds went to corporations, arguing there’s no practical way for households to claim money and pushing for legislation to pass refunds through to consumers. Labor Market Watch: Ahead of Friday’s jobs report, economists expect hiring to rebound in July while unemployment holds near 4.2%, with healthcare likely driving most of the gains. Personal Finance and Advice: A Chicago conference highlighted how advisors are increasingly expected to handle the emotional side of planning, not just the numbers. Higher Ed Housing Setback: SIU’s Foundation paid $2.2 million to cancel a new Greek Row dorm plan after buildings deteriorated, leaving the project stalled. Business Earnings: Century Aluminum reported $249.3M Q2 net income; Kingsway posted a Q2 loss of $617K.

Geothermal Development: Fulton Market’s 33-story, all-electric geothermal-powered apartment project at 410 N. Elizabeth St. is drilling 65 wells to cut fossil-fuel reliance and lower operating costs—an early test of whether Chicago will scale this kind of clean-energy building. Consumer Finance: A new analysis says CFPB credit-report complaints surged from 283,716 (2020) to 4.81 million (2025), with “mixed files” now the biggest issue—highlighting rising identity and reporting errors that can hit borrowing costs. Insurance M&A: Rolling Meadows broker Arthur J. Gallagher is buying Canada’s Apollo Insurance Solutions, expanding its tenant-insurance reach via Apollo’s AI-driven platform. Workforce & Policy: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed laws requiring businesses to accept cash and pay employees for jury duty, plus other consumer-protection updates. Tech & Data: Beyond Key was recognized as a Microsoft Fabric partner for helping enterprises build AI-ready data platforms. Local Economy: Illinois Lottery players keep landing big wins, including a $1 million prize from a $2 ticket in Plainfield.

Illinois Business & Economy: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker urged major oil CEOs to return Iran-war windfall profits, arguing Illinois families and businesses are paying higher prices while companies “profiteer.” Corporate Earnings: Chicago-based Motorola Solutions topped expectations with Q2 profit of $557M and raised outlook; Northbrook’s Allstate reported Q2 net income of $3.27B; Pekin’s Alto Ingredients posted Q2 profit of $11.7M. Healthcare & Tech: Assort Health named Sunny Eappen, MD, as its first chief medical officer to help health systems deploy AI agents that improve patient access and use clinical capacity. Education & AI: An AI company is moving into mastery-style grading, aiming to help teachers evaluate “soft skills” beyond A-F marks using uploaded student work and recorded presentations. Legal & Public Policy: Legal aid groups criticized a Trump administration $150M migrant-child legal contract awarded to a small Texas firm, warning it could leave children without meaningful due process. Local Food System: Illinois distributed nearly $4M through a Local Food Infrastructure Program to boost storage, processing and distribution for locally grown products. Business Finance: WTW and SEI partnered to bring private-market offerings into defined-contribution plans with managed, conservative allocations and daily liquidity. Sports Business (Chicago): Cubs added Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes to the rotation after the trade deadline, with Gausman expected to debut Friday in Kansas City.

Markets & Rates: The Dow and S&P 500 closed at record highs Tuesday as AI-linked earnings lifted sentiment, while crude prices and Treasury yields eased on hopes for an Iran deal. Tariffs Fight: A coalition of 25 states, including Illinois, sued the Trump administration over new Section 301 tariffs tied to forced-labor claims. Chicago Baseball & Local Business Mood: At Wrigley Field, the Cubs beat the Dodgers 5-1 in Tarik Skubal’s debut, with fans booing the “villain” arrival; the Dodgers also face catcher Dalton Rushing’s slight UCL tear and a Will Smith neck injury that keeps them shuffling lineups. Ag & Commodity Watch: CME cattle futures firmed on a technical bounce as slaughter slowed and heat affected placements; hog futures also rose. Illinois Real Estate Oddity: A “colossal” 100-year-old Princeton, IL mansion hit the market for under $100,000, priced at $95,000 “as is” and aimed at buyers ready for major renovations. Workforce/Tech Hiring: Talentuch expanded SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, and international recruiting support via Employer of Record partnerships and new HR community webinars.

Chicago Public Schools Funding Fight: Mayor Brandon Johnson says he’ll “do anything and everything necessary” to keep CPS afloat, but argues Springfield must approve a $150M education funding increase built into the district’s budget. City Hall Stability: Johnson also faced fresh political heat as budget director Annette Guzman resigned, and Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias used the turnover to argue the administration needs new leadership. Insurance Regulation: Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed laws giving Illinois more oversight of homeowners and auto rate hikes, aiming to stop “excessive” or unfairly discriminatory pricing. Health & Safety: Chipotle removed jalapeños from some locations after a salmonella investigation linked the peppers to an outbreak. GLP-1 Warning: Calls to Illinois poison centers tied to GLP-1 misuse have surged, with experts warning about overdosing and unregulated online “compounded” versions. Tech for Students: The Mark Cuban Foundation and Youth Advocate Programs are bringing a free, three-day AI bootcamp to Chicago this fall. Business & Markets: Paylocity and Accel Entertainment posted quarterly results, while U.S. stocks hit record highs on AI-linked earnings and hopes for an Iran deal. Sports Business: The Bears agreed to a record four-year, $116M extension with right tackle Darnell Wright.

MLB Deadline Fallout (Illinois teams): The 2026 trade deadline ended in a flurry, with the Dodgers’ Tarik Skubal blockbuster driving most of the buzz and more deals following, including Freddy Peralta to the Rays and Kevin Gausman to the Cubs. Local Sports Watch: In Chicago, the Cubs kept rolling after the deadline, handing the Dodgers a 10-5 loss as Tarik Skubal prepared for his Dodgers debut at Wrigley. Higher Ed & Affordability: Rice University expanded its free-tuition plan for families earning up to $200,000, aiming to reduce reliance on student loans. AI in Schools: Illinois passed a law restricting AI use in teacher evaluations and also signed the Children’s Social Media Safety Act, requiring age verification and tighter controls for minors’ feeds and notifications. Workforce & Business Climate: Illinois reported layoffs tied to contract losses and plant closures, including a Rockford school transportation contract ending and Eklind Tool’s Franklin Park shutdown. Consumer Tech & Legal Risk: TikTok agreed to settle three teen lawsuits alleging addictive design and mental-health harm, while other social media cases continue.

Tariff Fight: A coalition of 25 states, including Illinois, sued the Trump administration to block a new round of sweeping tariffs, arguing they’re illegal and will raise prices for families and small businesses. Chicago Politics: Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias launched a Chicago mayor bid while Mayor Brandon Johnson stayed noncommittal on re-election, as fundraising and ethics questions swirl. Cubs Deadline Moves: Chicago’s MLB front office kept spending late in the trade window, acquiring Mets pitcher Clay Holmes and outfielder Tyrone Taylor (for top prospect Jefferson Rojas) to shore up an injury-hit rotation and lineup. White Sox Catching Upgrade: The White Sox added catcher Joey Bart from the Braves in exchange for pitcher Duncan Davitt, aiming to strengthen behind-the-plate depth. EV Charging Expansion: EVgo and Brixmor are expanding their partnership with 500+ new fast-charging stalls, including Illinois sites, as retail centers become charging hubs. Local Business & Community: Century Bank and Trust closed a Coldwater drive-thru to move into a remodeled main facility, while Chicago’s food-desert debate resurfaced amid calls to fix grocery access.

MLB Trade Deadline: The Dodgers made the biggest splash by acquiring two-time AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal from the Tigers, a move expected to reshape their postseason rotation as he debuts Tuesday at the Cubs. Chicago Cubs: The Cubs also landed Kevin Gausman from Toronto for two prospects, aiming to upgrade a rotation that has struggled with strikeouts and run prevention. Chicago White Sox: Chicago added bullpen help, agreeing to acquire Mets reliever Huascar Brazobán for minor-league pitchers Gabe Davis and Zach Franklin, while also shifting Erick Fedde to the bullpen after earlier pitching moves. Retail & Consumer Policy: Illinois’ new law forces major retailers like Walmart and Aldi to accept cash payments up to $500, limiting signage that cash isn’t accepted and carving out specific exceptions. Business & Finance: Atkore, based in Harvey, announced third-quarter results and a deal to be acquired by Prysmian for about $3.8 billion in cash at $95 per share. Workforce & Immigration: An H-1B visa holder in Illinois described how tech layoffs and AI-driven change are pushing workers into constant career-prep mode amid strict job-loss timelines. International Business: Chinese and U.S. business leaders met in Washington to discuss deeper cooperation despite ongoing trade restrictions.

WNBA Deal: The Sparks traded five-time All-Star Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury for Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick, and a 2028 second-rounder—one of the rare midseason All-Star swaps. MLB Trade Deadline (Illinois angle): The Yankees acquired Luis Garcia Jr. from the Nationals to boost a power-starved lineup, while the Chicago White Sox beat the Rays 9-1 behind Anthony Kay’s 6 1/3 scoreless innings. Chicago Politics: Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias formally entered the Chicago mayor’s race with a reported $22 million war chest, setting up a progressive-vs-moderate Democratic fight. Business & Industry: Prysmian is in advanced talks to buy Illinois-based Atkore in a deal that could be worth about $4 billion. Local Economy: Stella’s Diner in East Lakeview closed after a sale in negotiations, with the owner saying it wasn’t tied to a recent city health shutdown. Travel/Travel Biz: Condor will add nonstop Chicago–Frankfurt service starting May 2027, challenging United and Lufthansa on the route.

MLB Trade Deadline (Chicago): The Chicago White Sox made a late push for pitching help, acquiring right-hander Luis Castillo from the Seattle Mariners for reliever Seranthony Domínguez, outfielder Nolan Jones and catching prospect Boston Smith—an aggressive move as Chicago tries to hold its AL Central lead. MLB Trade Deadline (Biggest Splash): The Detroit Tigers reportedly sent ace Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a blockbuster, with Zyhir Hope, River Ryan and Brady Smith heading to Detroit—another reminder that the Dodgers keep upgrading their rotation. WNBA Deadline (Chicago): The Chicago Sky were affected by the WNBA’s churn as Chloe Bibby left after a short stint, while the Sparks’ Kelsey Plum was traded to the Mercury in a major deadline deal. Illinois Policy & Business: A Chicago-area debate over affordability continues as a city-owned supermarket proposal faces pushback on whether municipalities can outcompete entrenched grocery giants. International Trade (Chicago): Chicago hosted the China-US Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum, drawing business leaders and officials focused on expanding cross-border opportunities.

MLB Deadline Moves: The Yankees shipped disappointing reliever Camilo Doval to the Pirates for prospects Omar Alfonzo and Luis Cruz, clearing bullpen space as the Aug. 3 trade deadline nears. Chicago Sports & Business: The Cubs are weighing pitching upgrades as rumors swirl, while local fans and bettors gear up for Yankees-Cubs at Wrigley. Trade Enforcement: The DOJ’s Trade Fraud Task Force topped $1 billion in recoveries and charged losses in under a year, targeting customs violations like mislabeling and false declarations. Corporate Accountability: Kahn Swick & Foti opened investigations into Skyworks and Microsoft over alleged disclosure and performance issues tied to Azure and AI capacity constraints. Illinois Policy: A federal judge blocked Illinois in-state tuition and aid for undocumented students, and Illinois lawmakers are reacting. Energy & Growth: TSMC Arizona highlighted university partnerships to build its semiconductor workforce pipeline. Community & Local Impact: Midland States Bank donated $7,500 to an Illinois Valley brain injury clubhouse program. Scam Watch: The BBB warned Chicago-area residents about fake “big-box” customer service messages designed to steal identity and payment info.

Counterfeit Crackdown: U.S. Customs seized 200 counterfeit Audemars Piguet watches worth about $28M at the Port of Louisville, with another 375 fake watches also seized there. CPS Funding Crunch: Chicago Public Schools approved a nearly $10B budget that depends on an extra $150M from Springfield, but CPS leaders warn the money may be uncertain enough to threaten short-term borrowing and even the Aug. 24 start date. Kids Online Safety: Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Children’s Social Media Safety Act, requiring new limits on how platforms interact with users under 18, with enforcement starting in 2028. Power Costs vs. Data Centers: Illinois residents are pushing back as data centers drive higher electricity demand and bills; some localities have paused new projects and the state is moving to freeze certain tax breaks. Healthcare Workforce Impact: A healthcare company is closing an Illinois pharmacy and laying off workers. Local Business & Community: Rehab Edge Pro rebranded as Practice Edge Pro as it expands beyond physical therapy; Illinois Route 66 launched a centennial coloring/activity book for families.

Energy & Grid Expansion: ComEd, Solar Landscape and Public Storage announced 60 new rooftop community solar sites across northern Illinois, with 10 already live, delivering 44 MW and targeting about 6,150 households powered annually plus estimated subscriber bill savings. Statehouse Tech Rules: Gov. JB Pritzker signed Illinois’ Children’s Online Social Media Safety Act, requiring age verification and limiting addictive feeds and nighttime notifications for minors, with implementation set for 2028. Education Funding Pressure: The Chicago Board of Education approved an amended $9.96B CPS budget that removes about 1,000 planned job cuts by assuming an extra $150M from Springfield—while board members warned the money isn’t guaranteed. Agriculture Economics: A University of Illinois and Illinois Soybean Association analysis says an Illinois glyphosate ban could cost farmers up to $609M per year, even under modest yield-loss assumptions. Local Enforcement: Illinois AG Kwame Raoul secured a consent decree against a closed Mount Prospect animal feed plant, ordering $185K in civil penalties over excessive odor claims. Business & Housing: AvalonBay and Equity Residential named their merged firm Vivmark Residential, projecting a $53B market cap and owning 180,000+ apartments. Sports Business/Trade: The Mets sent lefty reliever A.J. Minter to the Twins for prospects Bruin Agbayani and Billy Amick as Minnesota looks to shore up a struggling bullpen.