* ICYMI: AI bumps power cost 60% as Chicago’s grid fails to hit supply goal. Bloomberg…

- Power-hungry data centers have increased supply costs for the largest US electric grid by more than 60%, the system watchdog said.
- PJM Interconnection LLC, which serves 13 states stretching from the East Coast to Chicago, said Tuesday that its auction to procure power for the year starting June 2028 tied a $16.4 billion record set in late 2025. Data centers accounted for roughly $6.3 billion of that total, said Joseph Bowring, president of Monitoring Analytics, the grid’s independent market monitor.
- The auction fell 6.8 gigawatts short of what PJM will need to guarantee system reliability during demand spikes. The shortfall is equivalent to almost seven traditional nuclear reactors.

* Related stories…

• NYT: Data Centers to Add Billions in Power Costs in 13 States
• Utility Dive: PJM stakeholders advance data center backstop procurement plan
• Newsweek: Maps Show Data Centers in Areas Where Power Grids Struggling

* Gov. JB Pritzker has no public events scheduled today.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Tribune | Illinois raises limits on wrongful conviction payouts under new law Gov. JB Pritzker has signed: Illinois has had the most exonerations of any state for six of the past seven years, according to the National Registry of Exonerations. But until now, compensation for exonerees through the state court of claims was limited to an inflation-adjusted cap of about $300,000. The change marks “a major stride in criminal legal reform and accountability to those who are wrongfully convicted and imprisoned,” Pritzker said in a video statement. It eliminates the overall $300,000 limit and raises the cap to $50,000 per year of wrongful incarceration, including time in jail or juvenile detention before a wrongful conviction, and $25,000 per year for those wrongfully placed on parole, probation or the sex offender registry.

* Block Club | Ex-Loretto Exec Gets Deal That Could Keep Her Out Of Jail: Bergdahl and prosecutors have agreed on a deferred prosecution agreement — a type of agreement where, if Bergdahl follows the terms outlined in it, the government will dismiss charges against her in about a year. Prosecutors did not detail the conditions Bergdahl must meet during Tuesday’s court hearing.

*** Data Center News ***

* WGLT | Bloomington sets date at BCPA for public forum on data centers: Bloomington is in the midst of a six-month moratorium on proposals for data centers. It started in late May, following similar action by Town of Normal. Bloomington is planning to take several months to develop regulations and plans for facilities that use 5 megawatts or more of energy.

* WSJ | Data-Center Builders Are Racing to Offload Stakes Worth Billions: America’s data-center developers are ready to cash in on the AI boom. Data-center builders and operators across the U.S. are working with bankers to sell majority equity stakes worth tens of billions of dollars in their companies this summer, according to people familiar with the efforts.

*** Statehouse News ***

* The Center Square | Illinois state diversity leader resigns amid criticism: The head of the embattled Illinois diversity commission has moved to a different state job after a series of investigative stories by The Center Square exposed failures at the agency and prompted bipartisan criticism. Alexandria Wilson held the job at the Commission on Equity and Inclusion for about three years and oversaw a switch to a new computer system that upended its mission to increase access to government contracts for businesses that are owned by racial minorities, women and people with disabilities.

* Reuters | Illinois Senator: Bears ‘50-50′ to stay in state: State Sen. Sue ​Rezin said Tuesday that she ​considers the Bears’ stadium search a ⁠close race between staying in Illinois ​and moving across the state line. ​Her assessment came about five weeks after the team’s board approved a proposed development ​in Hammond, Ind. “I would give it ​a 50-50 chance to have the Bears stay ‌in ⁠Illinois,” Rezin said during a legislative update.

* WTVO | Collin Corbett certified for Illinois gubernatorial ballot as legal challenge is dropped: The challenge, filed by Republican nominee Bailey’s campaign, contested Corbett’s petition to appear on the ballot. The complaint was officially dropped on Tuesday, clearing the way for Corbett to run. Independent candidates for governor are a rarity in Illinois. In the last 86 years, only three have qualified for the ballot.

* WGN | Jesse White: Tumbling Team overcomes tragedy while competing on ‘America’s Got Talent’: Jesse White, founder of the Jesse White Tumbling Team, joins Lisa Dent to talk about his current team’s advancement on America’s Got Talent. Their advancement coincided with the death of longtime tumbling team member Jeff Williams, who was killed in a car crash the same day. Jesse takes a moment to spotlight Jeff and his contributions to the team. Despite emotions being high, both Jesse and the team maintain a positive attitude regarding the competition and hope to continue providing entertainment and doing good for others.

*** Chicago ***

* WBEZ | Mayor Johnson’s controversial plan to crack down on ICE agents now faces City Council scrutiny: Police were directed to form new procedures within 30 days to implement the mayor’s order. But nearly five months after that deadline, it’s unclear what the decree has accomplished or what more needs to be done to enforce it. Those questions will be the topic of a City Council hearing this week as enforcement intensifies in the Chicago area, with advocates reporting at least 17 arrests last week by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

* Crain’s | Midway’s private-aviation facilities are getting a $100M+ makeover: The City Council will vote today on plans to extend the contracts of two companies who operate hangars, fueling and other facilities for non-commercial aircraft at Midway for 20 years. As part of the new deal with with the city, Signature Flight Support and Atlantic Aviation will invest more than $100 million in new hangars, office space and customs facilities.

* Block Club | Plan For Loop’s 2nd Weed Dispensary Could Go Up In Smoke: The recent ruling blocked Bloc Dispensary from opening a shop in the South Loop at 400 S. Wells St. after a nearby dispensary sued, arguing that the location, only 470 feet away, violated state law, Crain’s reported. State law generally prohibits a cannabis dispensary from opening within 1,500 feet of another dispensary. The restriction is intended to prevent cannabis businesses from clustering too closely together and saturating the market. The law includes limited exceptions for some social equity licenses, allowing them to open near dispensaries that are not operating under social equity licenses.

* CBS Chicago | Immigration rights groups say ICE halting most vehicle stops “a very good first baby step”: Immigrant rights advocates in Chicago said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s move to halt most vehicle stops nationwide is “a very good first baby step,” but believe much more needs to be done to obtain real change in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Except in cases of serious criminal targets, ICE agents nationwide will temporarily stop pulling people over, multiple law enforcement sources told CBS News.

* CBS Chicago | Air Quality Alert issued for Chicago area due to high ozone pollution during hot, stagnant weather: The National Weather Service has issued the alert for McHenry, Lake, Kane, DuPage, Kendall, Grundy, Cook and Will counties in Illinois and for Lake, Porter, Newton and Jasper counties in Indiana through midnight. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has also put an Air Pollution Action Day into effect, which is declared when widespread ozone or particulate levels are expected to be at or above the level deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups for multiple days.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Driver gain or wallet pain? Tollway hits the road to sell rate hike, capital plan at statewide hearings: Multiple speakers belonged to labor unions or were affiliated with construction and engineering firms. “Since the last toll adjustment in 2012, the cost of building and maintaining highways has increased between 75 and 85% — far outpacing general inflation,” Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association President Michael Sturino noted Monday.

* Paulick Report | ITHA: Hawthorne Sold To ‘Non-Racing Entity’: The announcement comes just over two weeks after Hawthorne, which has been operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since February, disclosed it had received a $90 million “stalking-horse bid” for the 108-acre property from an unidentified buyer widely expected to redevelop the site rather than continue horse racing. The identity of the stalking horse bidder has not been made publicly available: court documents indicate the bidder is a Delaware-registered limited liability corporation, whose identity is shielded by Delaware laws. The documents for the stalking-horse bid indicated that the prospective purchaser had no plans to operate a racetrack or pursue Hawthorne’s long-delayed racino project.

* Shaw Local | AID funding loss leaves gap in Kane County mental health service; agency blames technical glitch: The Association for Individual Development announced it closed its 24/7 Living Room crisis respite program in Aurora on June 30 after losing a $1.4 million state grant due to a technical funding glitch. “The Living Room is for anybody in mental health crisis to have some place to go that doesn’t rise to the level of the need for hospitalization,” AID President and CEO Lore Baker said. The Living Room provided 1,200 visits for people experiencing mental health crises since opening in January 2024. Baker said AID is asking people to call the governor’s office at 312-814-2121 on Tuesday, July 14 to urge its application to be considered for the grant funding.

* Daily Southtown | Thornton Reservoir down to 73% capacity as drainage continues:
Odors from the 450-feet deep pit full of combined sewer and rainwater appeared to have largely dissipated by Monday evening. Thornton Village Clerk Nikki Kitakis last week complained of a “horrific” stench in the surrounding area. […] Thornton Village Administrator Vivian Payne said Tuesday reports of bad odors coming from the reservoir were sensationalized by the media and “a lot of residents don’t ever smell it.”

* Fox Chicago | DuPage County rat infestation isn’t over, and neighbors say they’re facing backlash: Residents first contacted FOX Chicago in May, saying rats from a neighboring property were spreading into their yards and homes and claiming the county wasn’t responding quickly enough. Now, several neighbors allege county code enforcement targeted them with citations after they spoke out. DuPage County officials strongly deny those claims.

*** Downstate ***

* Journal Courier | Tensions flare as Morgan commissioner accuses board of sidestepping agenda rules: The Open Meetings Act is legislation that requires business of a government body only to be discussed during formal, regular meetings as a point of public transparency. After Monday’s meeting, Woods sent an email to Morgan County State’s Attorney Gray Noll about issues with the agenda. “Over the past several months, I have repeatedly requested that chairman Wankel place specific items on the agenda for public discussion,” Woods said. “Those requests have not been accommodated. I have also requested that meeting materials be distributed electronically in advance of meetings so commissioners have adequate time to review information before being asked to vote. Those requests have likewise not been honored. I remain concerned that substantive discussions and direction to staff are occurring outside of properly noticed public meetings.”

* WSIL | Mounds Community Begins Cleanup After Floodwaters Recede: While the American Red Cross has visited the neighborhood, several residents say they do not qualify for assistance because floodwaters inside their homes did not reach the required threshold. Thomas says local community members came out to help him.[…] The Housing Authority of Pulaski County held a meeting at 2:00pm on Monday for residents to share concerns and discuss what resources are still needed. Mounds fire officials estimate about 25 people were rescued from flooded homes, including residents at the apartment complex.

* WCIA | Rantoul will vote on cannabis coming to the village, how board trustees are voted in during November election: Neither ordinance creates any immediate change, according to the board. Instead, it approves placing these referendums on the ballot in November, allowing residents to vote in favor — or against — either of these changes coming to the village. […] Now, however, voters will be asked in the November 3, 2026 election if the village should elect trustees on a village-wide basis instead.

* WCIA | Champaign County Forest Preserves looking to expand Homer Lake property: The conservation organization says they’re in talks to buy nearly 34 acres of land across from the entrance. Officials say the new land would allow them to add to the area — while maintaining the three tenants they’re built around. “Those are conservation. We would restore the land to be a native prairie. Education will help people to understand more about the land and the residents like the wildlife that use it. And recreation by putting a trail in there. I know that trails are always things that people want more of in our community, and quite frankly, most of our forest preserves are pretty built out in terms of trails.” said Executive Director Laurie Pearson.

* WGLT | ISU Solar Car Team will speed alongside the competition in newest solar car: “It gets a little boring in there sometimes, I’m not going to lie, if there’s not a lot of things going on around you, then you just kind of zone out,” said Mac Brody, president of the team. “There’s no music in there, and there’s no air conditioning… but it’s a lot of communicating with the pit crew.” As the car makes its journey, starting in Minnesota down to Texas and partially along historic Route 66, it is escorted by lead and trail vehicles to alert motorists. Along the 1,500-mile journey, competitors do not forget it’s still a race.

*** National ***

* Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Wisconsin election officials refer 2 complaints against Elon Musk: The motion approved by the commission states that it “finds probable cause” Musk violated the state’s election bribery statute “by making a social media post that offered one million dollars to individuals who voted in the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court Election in order to induce them to vote in that election.”

* Reuters | Inside RFK Jr.’s push to dismantle decades of U.S. vaccine policy: Early this year, Kennedy went to his director of the NIH, Jay Bhattacharya, with a costly proposal, according to two officials familiar with the request: The research agency should spend $5 billion studying the link between vaccines and autism. That would have dedicated more than a tenth of the NIH’s annual budget to investigating a hypothesis already refuted by scientists worldwide.

* Reuters | Trump cuts to clean energy linked to $83 billion in delayed or canceled projects: The analysis found that 223 manufacturing and clean energy projects representing $82.9 billion in investment and 111,765 jobs have stalled or been cancelled during President Donald Trump’s second presidency.