AGP Executive Report

Afrobeats Spotlight: Nigerian women are driving the genre’s global surge, with stars like Tems (recently performing in Chicago), Ayra Starr, and Tiwa Savage leading the charge. Meta Lawsuit: A federal complaint alleges Meta’s AI systems helped pick workers for layoffs in a way that disproportionately hit people who took maternity, medical, or disability leave. MLB All-Star (Chicago tie-in): The American League shut out the National League 4-0 in Philadelphia; Chicago White Sox’s Miguel Vargas homered, and Cody Bellinger won MVP. Hulu Picks: Streaming guide highlights July standouts on Hulu, including Titanic, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and Moonlight. Live Music Update: Lily Allen says she’s canceling most arena dates on her West End Girl tour in cities including Chicago, moving to smaller venues and offering refunds/presales. Chicago Soccer: Whitecaps visit the Chicago Fire this week, setting up a key matchup for local fans. Art & Culture: Venice Biennale coverage spotlights Azerbaijani artists exhibiting at Palazzo da Mula. Illinois Sports (college): Illinois State players Victor Dawson and Tye Niekamp land preseason FCS award watch lists.

Local Politics Fallout: Illinois Rep. Carol Ammons faces a fresh federal indictment alleging she funneled campaign funds and state grant money to herself and her daughter, with her husband also accused of trying to obstruct the probe—prompting Speaker Chris Welch to bar her from House Democrats. Stage & Screen: Corn Productions’ The Best Musical Ever skewers Broadway-style tropes at the Cornservatory, while Surging Films & Theatrics’ Newsies brings high-energy choreography (with uneven sound and acting) to Theater Wit. Music: Queens of the Stone Age return with “Easy Street,” featuring Nikki Lane, plus a video concept from Josh Homme. Chicago Arts/Community: Woodlawn Central’s massive South Side church-backed megadevelopment cleared key zoning approval, adding housing, a hotel, and retail/entertainment plans. Sports Spotlight: The Wizards shut down rookies AJ Dybantsa, Tre Johnson, and Will Riley for the rest of Summer League. Big Pop Culture: A T. rex fossil nicknamed “Gus” sold for a record $50.1M at Sotheby’s.

Music & Tours: Alice Cooper is extending his Alice’s Attic North American Tour with a new fall leg (Sept. 17–Nov. 21), adding stops from Louisville and Ottawa to San Diego, San Jose, and Reno; tickets for non-festival dates go on sale July 17. Baseball Buzz: Cardinals slugger Jordan Walker outlasted Kyle Schwarber to win the 2026 Home Run Derby in Philadelphia, silencing the booing with six homers in his final swings. Chicago Arts: Louie Jones’ Elmhurst solo exhibition “Light As Language” opens at the Elmhurst Artists’ Guild Gallery, using single-exposure light works on view through Aug. 23. Immersive Fun: Chicago is pushing residents toward indoor, immersive ways to cool off, with one-of-a-kind experiences highlighted for heat-wave days. Local History & Film: Niles is looking back at film history through the Essanay Silent Film Museum’s annual celebration of movies made in and around the area. Community & Mentorship: Heart of Illinois Big Brothers Big Sisters launches “60 Bigs in 60 Days” to recruit mentors across the Peoria region. Safety Note: Chicago issued guidance for extreme heat and possible severe weather, pointing residents to cooling centers and city alerts.

Chicago Music Scene: Vocalo’s “The Vocalo Hotline” launch got a big all-ages moment at Bottom Lounge, with Adamn Killa and Taylor Bennett leading a pink-themed crowd and a lineup built around Chicago DJs and local rap. Illinois Arts & Culture: The Butler Institute’s National Midyear Exhibition returns with 84 works by 79 artists across 15 states, continuing its long-running mission to champion contemporary American art. Sports & Entertainment (MLB): The Chicago White Sox grabbed UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky No. 1 in the MLB amateur draft, and the Futures Game spotlighted impact shortstops as the AL rolled 6-1. Local Community Events: Rosemount Leprechaun Days released its tentative schedule, including the Run for the Gold and Shamrock Sprint plus a rib-cooking contest. Music News: Noah Kahan’s “The Great Divide” hit Platinum status fast, and his tour continues with a stop at Wrigley Field. Pop Culture: Pitbull set a Guinness World Record in London for the largest gathering of people wearing bald caps.

MLB on Netflix: The 2026 Home Run Derby is tonight at Citizens Bank Park, with Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber among the eight hitters—plus the big TV/streaming note: the Derby streams exclusively on Netflix as part of MLB’s new deal. Chicago Comedy Milestone: John Mulaney made history at Wrigley Field, becoming the first comedian to perform there, with David Letterman, Buddy Guy, Fred Armisen and Richard Kind joining the sold-out night. Local Community Fun: Evanston’s Glow in the Park brought families to Ingraham Park for glow paint, black-light photo fun, games, and live music. Arts & Culture Spotlight: The Rep marks 60 years with stage, education and a new 2027 premiere (“Avaaz”) at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Sports Notes for Illinois Fans: Former Franklin standout Luke Guth was drafted by the Chicago Cubs, while the Reds put Nick Lodolo on the IL with a finger blister. Music Radar: Smashing Pumpkins’ “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness” gets fresh attention as a major alt-rock statement, and new singles to watch include Confidence Man and Ceebo.

WNBA Shake-Up: The Los Angeles Sparks have fired GM Raegan Pebley after years of missing the playoffs, with assistant GMs Zach Knowlton and Nate Nielsen stepping in as interim leaders. Chicago Music & Culture: Chosen Few Picnic & Festival is widening its house-music spotlight, adding Chicago ghetto house and juke voices like DJ Slugo and Boolu Master. Alt-Rock Spotlight: Chicagoland native Keaton Schiller leans into catharsis on her EP “The House That I Built,” pairing raw lyrics with high-energy alt-rock. Local Sports Draft Buzz: The Chicago White Sox selected Xavier’s Clay Burdette in the seventh round, a Moeller grad now headed to pro baseball. Community Events: Mariano’s South Loop is aiming for a world record with a 50-foot Chicago-style hot dog for National Hot Dog Day. Arts & Entertainment History: A look back at Pat Morita’s short-lived ’70s sitcom “Mr. T and Tina,” originally tied to George Takei’s “Star Trek” fame. Chicago Safety Update: Police released video seeking a suspect in the South Side shooting of a 6-year-old.

MLB Draft & Local Sports: The Chicago Cubs and White Sox made headlines in the 2026 MLB Draft, with the Cubs taking Ole Miss pitcher Cade Townsend and the White Sox selecting UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky as the No. 1 pick—plus plenty of draft-day buzz around commissioner Rob Manfred’s on-air mispronunciation. Baseball Sunday Spotlight: The White Sox host the Athletics on a Sunday matchup after a rough stretch for Oakland, while the Cubs and Reds meet with the series on the line. Arts & Culture (Illinois): Rare Book School brought a free lecture to the University of Michigan State area on how newspapers became industrial products—using Chicago Tribune archives to trace the labor behind “dead tree” media. Music & Pop Culture: Mick Jagger pushed back on political lectures at concerts, arguing fans come for an escape, not speeches. Sports Entertainment: Peoria’s USL 2 team closed strong and Chicago’s summer sports scene keeps rolling, with events and local leagues drawing crowds.

MLB Draft Buzz (Chicago): The White Sox kicked off the 2026 MLB Draft by taking UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky No. 1 overall, ending a long wait for a top pick and turning the day into a social-media moment when MLB commissioner Rob Manfred mispronounced Cholowsky’s name on stage. Local Sports Star Power: Chicago rookie outfielder Tristan Peters (a former Savannah Bananas player) earned an All-Star nod hours after hitting for the cycle, giving the White Sox another feel-good headline. Chicago Arts & Culture: A new two-person show, “Fleeting,” opens in Camden, featuring Adam Umbach and Giacomo Piussi, exploring memory and imagined ideal lives through contemporary painting and sculpture. World Cup Fashion/Identity: Norway’s bold red kit leans into the Nordic Cross as a centuries-old Christian symbol, showing how soccer jerseys double as cultural storytelling. Community Wellness Event: Veggie Fest Chicago returns Aug. 8–9 in Lisle with free admission and parking, plus speakers, international cuisine, and live entertainment.

Sports (Chicago): Tristan Peters went 4-for-4 and hit for the cycle as the White Sox crushed the Athletics 14-1, snapping a skid and keeping Chicago tied atop the AL Central. NBA Summer League (Illinois): Memphis rookie Cedric Coward posted a double-double in a 97-96 win over the Bulls in Vegas, while Caleb Wilson poured in 35 points for Chicago. WNBA (Chicago): Nneka Ogwumike scored 25 with 12 rebounds as the Sparks beat the Sky 102-87, with Chicago missing Skylar Diggins again. Local arts & culture (Chicago): The family of slain creator Bibiano Ruano (“BIBI THE KING”) renewed its plea for answers more than a year after his 2025 killing. Health & community (Illinois): Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill requiring human review of insurer “downcoding” decisions (effective 2028). Music (Illinois): Milwaukee jazz pioneer Manty Ellis died at 93, remembered as a key teacher and builder of the local scene.

Big Screen Buzz: Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” is set for a July 17 worldwide release, starring Matt Damon as Odysseus with Anne Hathaway and Tom Holland, and shot entirely on IMAX film with real locations and ships. Local Arts & Culture: Ravinia’s Hunter Pavilion near Chicago reopens after a $70 million gut renovation, and Chicago murals keep growing—like an Albany Park artist drawing inspiration from science. Sports Travel Drama: The Red Sox were stuck on the ground in Chicago before a Mets game after multiple flight problems, finally taking off less than five hours before first pitch. Chicago Baseball Watch: White Sox get a boost with Munetaka Murakami returning from the IL, while the MLB Draft is looming with Chicago holding the first pick. Music & Entertainment: Usher and Chris Brown’s co-headlining “R&B Tour” is packed with deep cuts and fan favorites, and Jay-Z’s “Jay-Z 30” shows hit Yankee Stadium this weekend. Illinois Community Events: Papa Hops 16-inch Softball Tournament returns on the South Side, and the Illinois State Fair announces major Grandstand supporting acts.

WNBA in Chicago: The Indiana Fever beat the Phoenix Mercury 92-89 in a wild, back-and-forth game that ended with clutch free throws, setting up more high-stakes Sky matchups as the league leans into big Chicago moments. Local hoops: Stanley-Boyd’s Charlie Hoel committed to North Dakota State, while Illinois College named alumnus Dylan Dudley its new men’s basketball coach. Music & live shows: Brutal death metal band Devourment dropped a new live performance video for “Pious Impiety,” with a Chicago stop at Cobra Lounge on July 17. Theater: “Middle Raged – A Musical Meltdown” turns menopause and middle age into a funny, heartfelt stage conversation at The Playhouse through July 11. Sports (MLB): Eduardo Valencia homered in his first MLB at-bat as the Tigers swept the Athletics, while the White Sox look to halt their slide as they host Oakland. Media & AI: News outlets asked a judge to sanction OpenAI in a copyright fight, alleging the company hid key materials.

Local Rules Watch: Elgin is kicking off an early public education push ahead of Illinois’ Jan. 1 e-bike/micro-mobility law, with new age, speed, and where-you-can-ride rules (and higher-speed devices treated more like motorcycles). Reality TV Spotlight: “Love Island USA” host Ariana Madix earned her first Emmy nomination for outstanding reality host. Broadway & Chicago Theater: Shaina Taub’s “Suffs” is drawing big reactions at CIBC Theatre, while Oak Park Festival Theatre’s “Hamlet” is getting a fresh take in rotating rep. Music & Pop Culture: Dolly Parton announced her autobiographical Broadway musical “Dolly: A True Original Musical” for this winter. NHL News: The Anaheim Ducks matched the Flyers’ offer sheet for Leo Carlsson, keeping the young star in place. Chicago Arts & History: An Emmett Till exhibit at Blanc Gallery marks what would’ve been his 85th birthday. Tech in Everyday Life: Chicago’s first robotic manicure experience is now live at 7AM Nail Care.

Local Media: Chicago Public Media is launching chicago.com this fall, a new digital hub meant to mix local news, community resources, and cultural content for residents. Music Spotlight: Lucy Dacus shared a self-directed “Planting Tomatoes” video, filmed in Richmond, with a sold-out July 30 screening at the Byrd Theatre. Arts & Community: A Guadalupe muralist is one step closer to opening The Yellow House Arts Academy, aiming to bring dance, art, and music classes to the area. Arts Calendar: New Ulm’s The Grand Center opens “A Living Legacy of Lace…The Tradition Continues,” a free knippling exhibit running through Aug. 7. Sports & Entertainment Crossover: Dylan Cease’s no-hit bid ended in the ninth, but Toronto still beat the Giants 10-0. Public Safety/Politics: A fresh Trump-Pritzker spat keeps Chicago violence in the spotlight, with Illinois leaders urging focus on what’s actually being done. Health Access: A Caravel Autism Health clinic opened in Lake Zurich with sensory-friendly ABA therapy spaces.

Emmys Buzz: “The Pitt” and “Hacks” led the Emmy nominations with 25 and 24 nods, with “Beef” topping limited series at 16. Chicago TV & Streaming: Hulu’s “The Bear” wraps Season 5, and the finale leans hard into the show’s emotional, kitchen-chaos payoff. Sports Spotlight: Blackhawks star Connor Bedard will miss the start of the season after left-shoulder surgery, with a four-month recovery timeline. WNBA in Chicago: All-Star Weekend events are set for the Obama Presidential Center, with the Sky not expected to have a player in the game. Local Arts & Theater: Highland Park Players brings “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” to Wilmette (July 17–26). Music & Community: NIU WNIJ Hola’s free Familia Fest returns July 11 with bilingual activities and soccer. Pop Culture Reality: “Big Brother” Season 28 premieres July 9 on CBS and Paramount+. Illinois Arts Business: Warhol Foundation announces $5.2M in grants to 78 arts orgs, including 33 first-time grantees.

WNBA Spotlight: Chicago Sky snapped Phoenix’s three-game streak 77-66 behind rookie Sydney Taylor’s 16 points, while Skylar Diggins sat out with a knee injury. Theatre & Arts: Johnny Galecki is back after a seven-year hiatus, starring on Chicago’s stage in Lookingglass Theatre Company’s “Kowalski” (Sept. 19–Oct. 25). Music & Pop Culture: NASCAR teamed with the Rolling Stones for “Foreign Tongues,” using a custom listening lounge at Chicago’s Navy Pier and Plaza of the Americas. Sports (Chicago Baseball): The Cubs head to Baltimore again Wednesday, aiming to keep their road win streak going with Colin Rea on the mound. Local Culture: Shadow puppetry duo Shadow Girls Cult brings “Unraveling” to Theatre Off Jackson July 16–18. Illinois Policy (Arts-adjacent): Gov. Pritzker signed a landmark AI regulation bill requiring third-party safety audits for frontier models.

Chicago Music: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame drummer Danny Seraphine brings the band’s biggest hits to Hillside Commons for “Summer Nights in Hillside,” a free July 14 concert with DJ Frankie “Hollywood” Rodriguez kicking things off at 5:30 p.m. Local Arts & Culture: Riga Contemporary’s second edition wrapped up with 40 galleries from 15 countries, leaning into affordable participation and free visitor entry. Reality TV: “Big Brother” Season 28 is set to premiere July 9, with 14 houseguests revealed and more “surprise” players promised. Streaming Picks: July streaming guide highlights include Peacock’s “The Five-Star Weekend” starring Jennifer Garner and Netflix’s “Little House on the Prairie” reboot arriving July 9. Illinois Live Music: Springfield’s Levitt AMP series returns Thursdays through July 30, plus the Springfield Municipal Band starts its 90th season. Music Biz & Fashion Pop: Charli xcx drops the “Music, Fashion, Film” tracklist and announces global listening parties, including Chicago. Chicago Spotlight: Eli’s Cheesecake celebrates Taste of Chicago’s 46th birthday with a 1,000-pound cake cut at Buckingham Fountain Saturday.