Wednesday means it’s already the middle of the week. Stay on top of it with these local stories from WTTW News.
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A data center owned by CyrusOne in Aurora is pictured in a 2025 file photo. (Andrew Adams / Capitol News Illinois)
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Data centers are a hot topic in Illinois and around the country.
Alongside more construction comes more public scrutiny — of their economic and environmental impacts, their strain on the electrical grid, and their role in the development of artificial intelligence models.
Data centers pack rows upon rows of computer chips and other hardware into climate-controlled warehouses. These facilities support cloud data storage, computing, smartphone use and more. But with AI occupying a growing slice of this infrastructure, the build-out of data centers has exploded around the country.
“The data center industry has been around for decades,” said Brad Tietz, state policy director of the Data Center Coalition. “We’re going to use twice the amount of data in the next five years that we used in the past 10 years … and it’s not just entertainment. It’s hospital records, bank records, government, schools, public safety, remote work, telehealth, the list goes on.”
In 2018, data centers accounted for 1.9% of all electricity consumption in the U.S., according to a 2024 report from Lawrence Berkeley National Labs. By 2023, that jumped to 4.4% of all electricity in the country. And the trend is not slowing down, with estimates for 2028 ranging from 6.7-12%.
Environmental advocates see an opportunity to meet this energy demand with new clean energy sources like wind and solar power.
“If we are using the power sector in a way that we’re bringing more carbon sources online, or keeping them online longer, it’s going to be problematic,” said Jen Walling, CEO of the Illinois Environmental Council.
More context:
This spring, state lawmakers introduced the Protecting Our Water, Energy and Ratepayers (POWER) Act to regulate the construction of large data centers. Within the bill is a requirement for new data centers to supply their own capacity to generate clean energy — the so-called “bring your own new clean energy,” or BYONCE provision.
Additionally, the bill would establish new requirements for monitoring water usage, complying with energy codes and negotiating agreements between communities and data center developers. Notably, it stops short of proposing a moratorium on data center construction.
“It’s not a moratorium, it’s not a ban — it’s guardrails on data centers,” Walling said.
But Tietz predicts the stringent regulations might practically stop data center construction.
“Quite frankly, they would have saved themselves a lot of time had they just drafted a moratorium bill,” Tietz said.
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(WTTW News)
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Chicago Public Schools is kicking off a series of community roundtables as the cash-strapped school district works to fill a $732 million budget shortfall.
Tuesday marked the first community engagement session as CPS continues working to address its fiscal challenges ahead of an Aug. 29 deadline to pass a balanced budget for the 2027 fiscal year.
“Creating the space to share and listen to our families and community members across the city helps the District make the best possible decisions for today’s students and those yet to walk through our doors,” CPS CEO Macquline King said in a statement. “Our focus remains on providing a high-quality education despite the projected fiscal challenges.”
According to CPS leaders, the district currently faces a budget deficit of $732.5 million, which they said is driven by a lack of state and federal funding, decreasing student enrollment and an increased need to provide for those students with the greatest needs.
The Chicago Teachers Union is again calling on Springfield legislators to provide CPS with the funding they are owed after the district has said it is only getting 73% of what is considered “adequate” under the state’s evidence-based funding formula.
On Tuesday, the district said it has nearly completed its allocation process for individual schools after principals submitted their budget proposals in June.
According to CPS, the community roundtables will include a brief overview of the district’s budget and will allow participants to ask questions and hear directly from CPS leaders. In addition to Tuesday’s meeting, CPS has scheduled five more roundtables in the coming weeks:
June 27, 10 a.m.-noon, Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School, 2111 W. 47th St. (Spanish Presentation)
June 30, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Walter Henri Dyett High School For The Arts, 555 E. 51st St.
July 1, 5:30-7:30 p.m. (Virtual)
July 7, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Theodore Roosevelt High School, 3436 W. Wilson Ave.
July 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy, 250 E. 111th St.
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Antonio King appears on “Chicago Tonight” on June 9, 2026. (WTTW News)
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June is a time for many celebrations and milestones in the city of Chicago.
While the city continues to celebrate Pride, June also marks a milestone in Chicago history — it’s been six months since Mayor Brandon Johnson named the first-ever director of LGBTQ+ affairs: Antonio King.
“This is important now more than ever, as the community faces increasing attacks from the Trump administration,” Johnson said in a statement.
King is a longtime advocate and a former liaison for the Chicago Department of Public Health. His priorities include supporting LGBTQ+ youth and elders and keeping trans and nonbinary Chicagoans safe.
King joined “Chicago Tonight” to reflect on his first six months in the position and his hopes for the future.
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Back in the Day: June 24, 1999 - The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team’s 7-1 World Cup Victory at Soldier Field
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The United States was the host nation of the 1999 Women’s World Cup, the third-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup. On this day 27 years ago, the United States women’s national soccer team played the Nigerian women’s team at Chicago’s Soldier Field. The tournament favorites and home team performed above expectations to 65,080 fans in a massive 7-1 victory. The result catapulted the women into first place in their group. Five players scored, including a brace from Tiffeny Milbrett, alongside individual scores from Kristine Lilly, Michelle Akers, Cindy Parlow and Mia Hamm. The USWNT would go on to win its second-ever World Cup at the Rose Bowl in front of a crowd of more than
90,000 people, marking a watershed moment for women’s sports.
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Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for June 24-30
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Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.
Wednesday, June 24:
Julie Doiron, Carson McHone, Fran at Empty Bottle. Tickets.
A midweek evening of excellent folk songwriters.
Thursday, June 25:
Patrice Rushen, sparklmami at Millennium Park. Free.
A jazz, disco and R&B legend graces the Millennium Park stage.
Friday, June 26:
Porches, Glass-Beagle, OK Cool, more at Logan Square Arts Festival. Free.
After a year's hiatus (due to neighborhood construction), one of the city’s best street festivals is back in full force.
Porches, Mackeeper at Beat Kitchen. Tickets.
Got plans during Aaron Maine’s headlining set at Logan Square Arts Fest? He’s playing later in Roscoe Village.
Guster, Eggy at Gallagher Way. Tickets.
Want to see a concert outside Wrigley Field? If so, get there for the Connecticut jam band openers.
The Mountain Goats at Fitzgerald’s. Tickets.
The prolific and verbose folk rockers hit Berwyn.
Andrew Sa, HC McEntire at Hideout. Tickets.
The golden-voiced local country crooner is finally releasing a debut album.
The Hoyle Brothers at Empty Bottle. Free.
Want a matinee show? This honky tonk residency is always on Fridays at 5:30 p.m. and always free.
Saturday, June 27:
Bad Bad Hats, Accessory, Crashwolves, Abel at Logan Square Arts Fest. Free.
After a year's hiatus (due to neighborhood construction), one of the city’s best street festivals is back in full force.
Bertha: Grateful Drag at Gallagher Way. Tickets.
Like the Grateful Dead? How about the Grateful Dead performed by talented drag queens? The most fun cover band touring makes a stop outside Wrigley Field.
Shallowater, Cancer House, mail. at Beat Kitchen. Tickets.
Pummeling slowcore from a rising Texas band.
“Weird Al” Yankovic at United Center. Tickets.
Pop music’s foremost parodist plays an arena show.
Sunday, June 28:
The Dead Bolts, Catie Turner, Sophia Cruz, Billy Joel Jr., more at Logan Square Arts Fest. Free.
After a year's hiatus (due to neighborhood construction), one of the city’s best street festivals is back in full force.
Old 97s, The Back Alley at Fitzgerald’s. Tickets.
An outdoor alt-country show.
Tuesday, June 30:
Oyeme, Daarling, Hither, Flower Problem at Empty Bottle. Tickets.
A collection of local talent on a sleepy weekday.
Will Miller at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Free.
The Chicago producer and trumpeter plays the museum’s free “Tuesdays on the Terrace” series.
Nora O’Connor at Hideout. Tickets.
The veteran local songwriter finishes her June residency.
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What's the best place for deep-dish pizza? Tell us why.
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published.
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5:30 PM | 10:00 PM
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Want more WTTW News content? Follow WTTW on
Instagram to check in with us daily, go behind-the-scenes, and more.
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry
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