Severe Weather & Safety: Tornadoes confirmed in towns outside Chicago, including Merrillville and Streator, left homes damaged and power knocked out for hundreds of thousands, with warnings and watches stretching across parts of Illinois and the Midwest. Power Restoration: ComEd reported more than 14,000 Will County residents without electricity after the storms, with restoration targets and another round of severe weather possible. Rural Health Access: Keokuk residents packed a city hall forum on a proposed rural emergency hospital, with organizers explaining the stabilization-focused model and what services may (and may not) be offered. Lead Exposure Watch: New research finds childhood lead levels have dropped overall, but disparities persist for children of color and low-wealth families, including Illinois data. Data Center Rules in Central Illinois: McLean County approved stricter zoning requirements for data centers, including monitoring impacts on water, wastewater, electricity use, and emergency response planning. Microplastics in Drinking Water: California AG Rob Bonta joined a multistate letter urging the EPA to expand monitoring of microplastics as a potential public health concern. Illinois Assisted Suicide Legal Fight: Disability rights advocates filed a federal lawsuit challenging Illinois’ right-to-die law ahead of its September start. Nursing Workforce Pressure: Nurses at St. Mary Hospital in Chicago announced a one-day strike tied to staffing and working conditions.