AGP Executive Report

Bears Stadium Push: Gov. JB Pritzker says a veto-session push could be key to keeping the Bears in Illinois, after talks with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and legislative leaders. Sports Business: Kalshi and Coinbase scored a partial win in their fight over Illinois sports contract rules, with a judge finding some state licensing requirements likely clash with federal derivatives law. MLB Playoffs: A quick “casual fan” primer breaks down what to know for the postseason, from ballpark must-dos to the big matchups. Chicago Arts & Culture: A Chicago jazz history spotlight looks at Muggsy Spanier’s cornet and the early sound that shaped the city’s style. Food & Community: A Rock Island catering business was ordered to shut down after a football-team dinner sickened dozens. Local Spotlight: The Illinois Innocence Project at UIS marks 25 years, highlighting its work helping exonerate wrongfully convicted people. Weekend Picks: Chicago’s fall arts calendar highlights events like the Chicago Horror Film Festival and the West Town Art Walk.

AI vs. Music Creators: Chicago artists rallied outside the Federal Center, demanding “Pause AI” rules and warning of a late-October streaming “blackout” over AI-generated music. Local Arts & Film: The Chicago Horror Film Festival returns with 150 films from 650+ submissions, spotlighting a new wave of Midwestern indie horror. Music Spotlight: Buddy Guy celebrated his 90th birthday with a sold-out “Buddy’s Got the Blues” show at Radio City Music Hall, with major guests and a new album teased. Stage & Screen: CIBC Theatre’s “Operation Mincemeat” lands as a WWII spy musical through Oct. 11, while Nashville-based Cinema Country begins development on “Made Clean,” a faith-inspired addiction drama starring Penelope Ann Miller. Sports Betting & Culture: Illinois sports betting rose 22% in July to $1.05B, still the lowest month of 2026 so far. Illinois Sports Talent: Plainfield-Central’s Marshall DeGraff was named Gatorade Illinois Boys Soccer Player of the Year.

Astrology in Chicago: A visit to the United Astrology Conference in downtown Chicago shows how the “star-reading” world has gone mainstream—less cloaks, more apps, charts, and businesslike networking. Arts & Culture (Chicago): DCASE rolled out free fall/winter programming at the Chicago Cultural Center, with exhibitions, films, workshops, and live music. Libraries (Central/Southern IL): The 8th annual Illinois Heartland Library System Library Crawl runs Oct. 1–31, encouraging residents to visit at least five libraries with a passport stamp. Music (Chicago area): Monophonics brings psychedelic soul to the Knick Music Lab in Illinois, with Taylor Williams opening. Film (Puerto Rico): “Esta Isla” was named Puerto Rico’s official Goya Awards candidate for Best Ibero-American Film. Sports (Chicago): The Padres swept the Cubs in the NL wild-card series, setting up a Brewers matchup in the NLDS. Local TV/Pop Culture: Jean Bruce Scott’s life and Airwolf legacy get a fresh spotlight, 40 years after the show’s fame.

Local Arts & Entertainment: Marsha Warfield and Martha Wash team up for “It’s Raining Queens” at City Winery Chicago on Oct. 3, mixing comedy, music, and storytelling. Pop Culture/Film: Taraji P. Henson stars in Netflix’s “Give Me Some Sugah,” with a few Chicago-shot scenes tied to the real South Shore bakery story; it premieres Dec. 16. Music & Community: South Side R&B artist Manasseh Croft releases “R&Beyond” and celebrates with an Oct. show at Pitch & Pour. Sports Media/Streaming: Fans are frustrated trying to watch the White Sox and Cubs on Peacock, with access and costs driving people to bars and other options. Chicago Food Fun: Aurelio’s Pizza launches a limited-edition “Poperoni Pizza” box for Pope Leo XIV, with a punch-out photo feature. Local Sports Culture: The Chicago Bears surprised North Lawndale College Prep’s girls flag football team with new playoff gear and a $1,000 donation. Arts & Travel: Southwest Illinois’ Route 66 “Last Hundred Miles” festival runs Oct. 9-11 in 13 communities.

Chicago Arts & Culture: Sotheby’s is set to auction a rare Vincent van Gogh and a Paul Cézanne from the same private collection, with estimates totaling about $450M—big news for art lovers watching major sales. Local Arts: A Gertrude Abercrombie discovery from a Michigan estate sale is headed to auction in New York, continuing the buzz around the Chicago painter’s introspective works. Community Arts: SouthWorks’ Ithaca Mural Jam returns with a free two-day festival (Oct. 3-4) featuring live music, food trucks, poetry, and mural artists. Sports (Chicago): The Cubs and White Sox both opened MLB wild-card play, with the Sox beating the Astros and the Cubs getting shut out by the Padres—plus a viral Bears fans cosplay engagement moment. Local Civic Life: The 30th Ward launches participatory budgeting for 2026 infrastructure projects, inviting residents to help choose how $500,000 gets spent. Business/Tech (Illinois): GE HealthCare hires a global chief AI officer as it expands its AI-enabled medical tech.

South Side Arts & Learning: LEARN Hunter Perkins in Auburn Gresham is unveiling a $10.5M expansion with dedicated art, music, and hands-on science labs—plus more classrooms and a new gym—at a 9 a.m. ribbon-cutting. Community Music & Wellness: iHeartMedia Chicago’s seven stations are teaming up for the 9th annual “Sista Strut Pink Celebration” Oct. 3, a free 3K walk for Sisters Network Chicago, with ABC7 as the exclusive TV partner. Local Arts Fundraiser: The Spectrum Center for the Arts is seeking sponsors for its 11th Plein Air Paintout on Oct. 10, inviting the public to watch artists paint outdoors and buy works during a 5–6:30 p.m. sale. Sports Pop Culture: Pope Leo XIV sent a blessing letter to White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf ahead of the team’s Wild Card opener vs. the Astros, continuing the team’s Pope-themed promotions. Family Entertainment: Chuck E. Cheese’s Adventure World concept is coming to the Chicago suburbs, with a planned Crestwood location slated for next year.

Chicago Bears: Case Keenum stepped in for Caleb Williams and led Chicago to a 27-7 Monday Night Football rout of the Eagles, shutting down Jalen Hurts and turning turnovers into momentum. Chicago TV & culture: WTTW’s “Chicago Stories” returns with fresh documentaries, including a look at the 1893 World’s Fair and its mix of innovation and inequity. Music releases: Stevie Wonder marks 50 years of Songs in the Key of Life with four previously unreleased recordings, while Nothing But Thieves drops Stray Dogs and kicks off a 2027 tour. Local arts & learning: Pilot Light uses food to teach science in Chicago classrooms, and a new digital hub expands free lesson plans for educators. Sports beyond Chicago: Ho-Chunk Gaming Beloit is set to open Oct. 23 near the Illinois border, adding a new 24/7 gaming and dining destination. Arts industry: ARTnews announced nominees for its 2026 ARTnews Awards, spotlighting museums, galleries, and emerging and established artists. Wrestling tragedy: AEW’s PAC (Benjamin Satterley) died at 40 after being found unresponsive in a car outside an Illinois restaurant.

Sports History: On Sept. 28, 1920, the Chicago White Sox scandal led to baseball’s first commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, after a grand jury indicted eight players over the 1919 World Series. Local Sports: Edwardsville’s Dia Kannan rallied from a set down to power a Quincy sweep in girls tennis, winning No. 1 singles and teaming for doubles. Community & Arts: Illinois River Jam closed with a bigger crowd despite weather, with music, kids’ activities, and fireside hangs. Health Watch: Illinois reports 23 measles cases this year; Peoria officials urge MMR checks and boosters as needed. Music & Live Shows: Slipknot announced the (Sic)est Stadium Tour, including Soldier Field in Chicago, plus support from Bring Me The Horizon. Theater Spotlight: John Cariani headlines “A Broadway Cabaret” at the Heritage Center in Dubuque with local student performers. Sports Betting (MNF): Bears host Eagles at 8:15 p.m. ET with Caleb Williams out, and multiple previews point to a lower-scoring game. Pop Culture: Karol G’s Viajando Por El Mundo Tropitour keeps rolling with major guest names on the 2026-27 run.

Presidents Cup Buzz (Medinah, Illinois): Scottie Scheffler handled fan heckling with sportsmanship, even conceding a long putt after a spectator disrupted Nico Echavarria’s swing, while the U.S. team kept rolling to a 17-13 win. Local Arts & Community: “That’s What She Said” returns to Danville Area Community College Oct. 3 with eight local women sharing stories, with CASA of Vermilion and Edgar counties benefiting. Museum Spotlight: The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is using hands-on exhibits to spark climate-change conversations, from clean energy to glacier melt and lung impacts. Illinois Policy Watch: Illinois’ Climate Displacement Act is facing delays as officials haven’t convened the task force and reporting deadlines are slipping. Sports (Monday Night Football): Eagles visit Bears at Soldier Field (8:15 p.m. ET) with Caleb Williams sidelined by a hamstring injury. Pop Culture/Global Music: Filipino pop group SB19 was honored for becoming the first Filipino act to perform at Lollapalooza Chicago. Public Safety: A wrong-way crash on DuSable Lake Shore Drive killed a woman; the driver is in custody.

Presidents Cup (Medinah, IL): Scottie Scheffler drew headlines for classy sportsmanship after a fan heckled Nico Echavarria mid-swing—then Scheffler conceded a long putt to halve the hole as the U.S. completed a record final-day comeback to beat the Internationals 17-13. Illinois Sports Coaching: Illinois parted ways with defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck after the Illini fell 42-19 at Ohio State, with Bret Bielema saying the change was made for the defense and student-athletes. MLB Playoffs (Chicago angle): The Astros clinched the AL West as the first non-winning team to reach the playoffs, setting up a wild-card series vs. the White Sox; meanwhile, Chicago fans also face streaming-only hurdles for early wild-card games. Arts & Culture (Chicago): The Cleveland Orchestra strike ended with a new three-year deal, and Chicago’s music calendar keeps rolling with major performances and community events. Public Health: Measles cases climbed in both Wisconsin and Illinois, with Illinois reporting 23 cases this year and urging residents to check vaccination status.

College Sports Spotlight: Ohio State’s Julian Sayin leaned into a dual-threat game in a 42-19 win over Illinois, while WR Jeremiah Smith exploded with 12 catches for 217 yards and four TDs—tying an OSU single-game record. Local Arts & Culture: Springfield’s Lincoln Land Community College hosts “Unboxed: A Study in Black and Primary,” a mixed-media exhibit by Austin Wells running Sept. 28–Oct. 23. Music & Performance: The Handel and Haydn Society opens its 2026-27 season with “The Art of Living,” featuring new spoken word by Clark poet Regie Gibson at Boston’s Symphony Hall. Entertainment & Film: A review spotlights Martin Scorsese’s “The Color of Money,” praising its place in Newman/Cruise/Scorsese careers. Sports Business/Community: State Farm plans to add about 3,000 claims workers in 2027, including roles in Central Illinois. Pro Sports: The Cleveland Guardians clinched their third straight AL Central title with a win over Kansas City, setting up a postseason bye.

Performing Arts Watch: The Kennedy Center is facing fresh scrutiny after former employees allege officials delayed repairs despite known structural problems, leading to a temporary closure and a judge-ordered status report. Music & Pop Culture: Imperial Teen’s Roddy Bottum and Will Schwartz talk their long-running bond and new album “All Over You,” ahead of a multi-city tour stop. Local Sports Spotlight: Patrick Kane is set to return to Chicago with the Blackhawks, while Bears backup Tyson Bagent cleared concussion protocol steps and could be in the mix vs. the Eagles. Big Ten Football: Jeremiah Smith torched Illinois with four touchdown catches as Ohio State cruised 42-19, turning the game into a record-setting showcase. True Crime Debate: A Loyola student weighs in on how murder cases have become entertainment across streaming and social media. Chicago Community: Weekend shootings left 1 dead and 5 injured, according to CPD. Powerball: Jackpot climbs to $360 million for Saturday’s drawing.

Local Arts & Culture: Chicago’s theater scene gets a fresh spotlight with a staging of The Last Five Years at the Fringe Center of Beit Mazia, directed by Sarit Brown and starring Brown as Cathy and Avi David-Rene Cohen as Jamie—an intimate musical where love unravels fast. Arts & Entertainment (Film/TV): The movie By Any Means lands with a warning label: it’s a disturbing, violence-heavy true-story account of a 1960s voter drive in Mississippi. Fashion: Elisabetta Franchi’s Spring 2027 leans into sheer layers, corset-inspired details, and sports-meets-tailoring styling. Sports (Illinois): Illinois football looks ahead to Ohio State with passing-game focus and defensive notes from coordinator Bobby Hauck. Sports (Chicago): The White Sox’s playoff surge gets a global wink from Pope Leo XIV: “Great things happen in Chicago.” Sports (Baseball): Red Sox clinch a Yankees Wild Card setup after sweeping the Cubs, even as injuries and Willson Contreras’ hand uncertainty loom. Education & Community: Illinois’ new cellphone ban in classrooms is framed as a push for deeper focus—no more screens competing with learning.

Chicago Soccer: Vlatko Andonovski is taking over as Chicago Stars FC’s first-ever Chief Soccer Officer, signaling a major rebuild after his Kansas City Current exit. Music & Culture: The Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Joliet is celebrating this weekend’s inductions—and the return of its iconic “Gigantar” guitar after storm repairs. Local Sports Buzz: Cubs and White Sox both clinched playoff spots, and the city’s hype is real—plus Ian Happ’s “Beers on me” bleacher toss went viral. MLB Schedule Shake-Up: A nor’easter has pushed the Cubs-Red Sox game to Tropicana Field in Florida on Sunday. Community Events: The 19th Illinois River Jam keeps rolling along the Illinois River, and Cherokee Day returns Oct. 3 at Eastern Trails Museum in Vinita with music, crafts, and cultural demos. TV Pop: Lionel Richie is back as an American Idol judge for season 25 after a heart procedure.

Streaming & TV: Hulu and Disney+ are rolling out a big October slate, including MCU’s “VisionQuest” (Oct. 14) and FX’s “American Horror Story: 13,” plus Hulu’s “Clown Panic.” Chicago TV: “Chicago Fire” is gearing up for Season 15 on NBC (Oct. 7 in the U.S.), with major cast exits and a new showrunner. Live Entertainment: The Rocky Horror Picture Show original cast is touring Michigan and Illinois for special screenings around Halloween. Theater Spotlight: Arlington Heights’ Metropolis Performing Arts Centre is back on track with “Ride the Cyclone,” a cult-favorite musical. Sports-Entertainment Crossover: The 2026 Presidents Cup returns to Medinah with Friday Day 2 TV coverage on Golf Channel (2–7 p.m. ET) and streaming via GC Mobile. Local Arts & Community: My Block, My Hood, My City’s teen survey says young Chicagoans want more jobs and businesses on the South and West sides.

MLB Playoff Push (Chicago): The White Sox clinched a playoff berth with a 9-1 rout of the Royals in Kansas City, becoming the first team to reach October right after back-to-back 100-loss seasons. NL Wild-Card Race (Chicago): The Cubs locked in a postseason spot by beating the Marlins 2-1, with Pete Crow-Armstrong joining the 40-40 club (40 homers, 40 steals). Local Sports Context: A quick guide explains what it means for fans that both Chicago teams are in the playoffs again, and when they could realistically share a “cross-town” day. Arts & Culture (Chicago): The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry’s planned entry hall still needs final construction approval from the Chicago Park District, a potential hurdle for the project at Jackson Park. Faith & Community: Archbishop Fulton Sheen was beatified in St. Louis, with Illinois Catholics traveling for the ceremony. Weekend Fun (Northwest Illinois): Jordbruksdagarna returns to Bishop Hill with free craft demos, food, music, and hands-on activities Sept. 26-27.