Illinois
Against all odds, piping plovers keep making history in Illinois
The myth persists of the cute little piping plovers at Montrose Beach kicking the ass of big bad corporate entertainment in 2019.
A shot of the Sun-Times cover headline — “LITTLE BIRDS VS BIG FESTIVAL” — was even included in Bob Dolgan’s film, “Monty and Rose.”
Although true that JAM Productions canceled Mamby on the Beach, the music festival expected to draw 20,000, the cancellation had more to do with near-record water levels on Lake Michigan in 2019 than Monty and Rose at Montrose.
I thought that David vs Goliath victory would end the viral story of the piping plovers that could. But five years later piping plovers, a small stocky shorebird, and their stories keep making history.
Dolgan has made two documentaries on them. Tamima Itani, who leads volunteers who watch over the Montrose piping plovers, wrote two children’s books, which helped raise $12,000. Naming of the piping plovers continues to draw vast interest.
Brad Semel, endangered species recovery specialist for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, thinks this marks the first time since 1955 when two pairs of piping plovers successfully nested in Illinois.
On July 19, the three of four chicks that hatched at Waukegan fledged. On Tuesday, the lone surviving chick of four at Montrose fledged.
“This beautiful bird with a melodious call [is] foraging in the rare panne wetland and wind swept dunes with the backdrop of the third largest city in the country literally across the street,” Semel explained. “So much contrast people seem drawn to what is happening. And then on the isolated beach 30 miles to the north where the faint skyline is still seen and these birds are dealing with the same threats of peregrine falcons, botulism, storms, and yet so few people can see them directly because they are on a private beach without public access. All that happens `behind closed doors’ but still is happening: such contrasts again.”
The Great Lakes population of piping plovers was added to the endangered species list in 1984. This year the Great Lakes population had its most nesting pairs (81) since being listed. At least some credit should go to Monty and Rose. The eastern population is listed as threatened.
The mating of Monty and Rose at Montrose Beach in 2019 started an explosion of interest in the endangered piping plovers and nesting attempts by various couples ever since at Montrose.
The viral saga began when Monty and Rose tried to nest in a Waukegan parking lot in 2018, which Semel said was “a terrible spot with drag racing, and the city wasn’t responsive to closing off the area.”
Much changed quickly. This year Waukegan made piping plover the city bird the day before piping plovers returned to a restricted beach there. In 2019, Monty and Rose nested at Montrose, the first in Cook County since 1948.
And a true community was born.
“This community of volunteers, birders, photographers, agency personnel, media representatives and visitors is diverse on so many levels, with people hailing from vastly different walks of lives, professions, income levels, sexual orientation, national origin, geographic residence, etc.,” Itani said in an email.
She noted that in 2021, Monty and Rose’s son, Nish, who hatched at Montrose in 2020, nested in Ohio, the first there in 81 years. Their son Imani, who hatched in 2021, returned to Montrose in ’22 and ’23, “Becoming the most celebrated bachelor on Lake Michigan’s shores and commanding the most expensive and desirable lakefront real estate,” as Itani put it.
The sole surviving piping plover chick of four hatched this year at Montrose Beach to Imani and Sea Rocket on Thursday.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
This spring Imani found a mate in Sea Rocket. They hatched four, including the one who survived and just fledged.
Montrose has become a living education center with people asking, “What are you looking at?”
Semel said a guy was there last week who flew into O’Hare for a meeting and came to Montrose because he heard the plovers were around. Birders came from all over the world, “some from England the other day.” He often hears languages spoken that he doesn’t recognize.
“People visiting from out of town routinely stop at Montrose to see the plovers,” Itani emailed. “People make the trip into the city from the suburbs in order to see the plovers.”
Bird monitors at Montrose Beach on July 10 look out for an adult plover and her chicks.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
People offer binoculars to those who don’t have them. The monitors in their orange shirts answer questions. On social media there’s almost a constant news feed. Itani said that people from Great Britain posted condolences when Monty died in 2022; visitors came from Turkey this year.
Some credit goes to Montrose Beach.
“It is the juxtaposition of wonderful beautiful dunes with rare plants and stewards who care for them,” Semel said. “After it was fenced off for piping plovers, all these birds (willets, whimbrels, avocets, burrowing owl) were finding a wonderful place. There are all sorts of rare birds that show up and find this resting spot.”
Multicolored beach umbrellas shield beachgoers at Montrose Beach.
Montrose, also the epicenter for fishing, soccer and other recreation in Chicago, has become the single location with the third most bird species east of Mississippi.
“Montrose allows for easy access and viewing of the plovers,” Itani said. “People’s faces melt the first time they see a piping plover chick through a scope. These plovers are banded and can be followed as they travel across the United States. One can also follow who they mate with, who their parents and grandparents are, etc., creating a strong connection with each individual plover. Naming the plovers has had a great impact, making the birds relatable.”
I worried that the emphasis on the piping plovers would draw attention away from other environmental and conservation work. Instead they build broader public support.
“The piping plovers at Montrose have become an umbrella species providing protection to many other species,” Itani said. “Now, shorebirds have a place to stop, rest and refuel on the protected beach without being constantly flushed by humans. “I would love for the interest in them to fuel broader interest. In particular in Chicago, we have at least two pressing problems that need to be addressed in an urgent manner: 1) the issue of bird collisions with glass and 2) the issue of bird deaths by rodenticide. The City of Chicago governing bodies have not shown the level of commitment and action via ordinance that other cities have demonstrated, such as” New York City.
Piping plover mates Rose (left) and Monty walk near the area sectioned off for the endangered birds at Montrose Beach in April 2021.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times file
Illinois
Illinois Wesleyan to Launch First-of-its-Kind Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Quantum Science and Engineering Program
Fisher Center for Interdisciplinary Quantum Science & Engineering positions Illinois
as a leader in next generation quantum education
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Illinois Wesleyan University today announced the creation of the Fisher Center for
Interdisciplinary Quantum Science & Engineering, a first-of-its-kind undergraduate
program that brings together multiple areas of study to better prepare students for
careers in this emerging field.
The Fisher Quantum Center will make Illinois Wesleyan the first undergraduate liberal
arts university in the United States to offer an interdisciplinary quantum program,
positioning both the University and the state as leaders in the quantum space.
The Fisher Quantum Center is supported by a founding gift from Ann ‘82 and Alan Fisher,
providing the resources to establish the center and launch programming. Ann is a graduate
of Illinois Wesleyan University and serves on the university’s Board of Trustees.
The Fisher Quantum Center is designed to grow in phases and will expand its curriculum,
facilities, and partnerships over time.
“The Fisher Quantum Center represents a defining step forward as the first undergraduate
interdisciplinary quantum program. Quantum is reshaping industries and the way we
solve complex problems, and this complexity is an ideal fit with Illinois Wesleyan’s
cross-curricular approach to undergraduate education. We are especially grateful to
Ann and Alan Fisher for their generous gift that is making this distinctive program
possible,” said Illinois Wesleyan University President Sheahon J. Zenger.
What is Quantum?
Quantum science studies how matter and energy behave at the smallest scale, where
the differences can be used to create new, more powerful technologies. Because of
this, quantum has a wide variety of real-world applications and is poised to transform
everyday lives and revolutionize industries ranging from computing and cybersecurity
to healthcare, finance, and agriculture.
Most quantum programs are primarily offered at the graduate level and focus on a single
area of study. The Fisher Quantum Center takes a fundamentally different approach
by focusing exclusively on undergraduate education and bringing together physics,
chemistry, computer science, mathematics, biology, business, philosophy, and engineering
into one holistic curriculum. Instead of separating these fields and narrowing the
focus, it connects them to better reflect the broad applications of quantum. This
first-of-its-kind approach prepares students not only with the technical skills for
these emerging careers, but with an understanding of the economic, ethical, environmental,
and societal implications of quantum technologies.
and instrumental performance (euphonium). He has also conducted research on the ethical
implications of quantum computing.
Students will be able to engage with quantum in multiple ways, including through individual
courses, certificates, concentrations, hands-on experiments, projects, faculty-mentored
research, and internships. The Fisher Quantum Center is designed to be flexible, inclusive,
and accessible to undergraduate students from all areas of study to create a gateway
into quantum for students who might not otherwise encounter the field. It will also
serve as hub for visiting scholars, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty to collaborate
on strengthening undergraduate quantum laboratories and infrastructure.
“We are proud to support the creation of the Fisher Quantum Center and the unique
opportunity it creates for students coming to Illinois Wesleyan. The Fisher Quantum
Center will open the door for students from many different backgrounds to engage with
quantum in a way that is accessible and better prepares them for future careers. We
are excited to see how this program grows and the impact it will have on Illinois
Wesleyan students, the university, and the broader community,” said Ann and Alan Fisher.
The first courses through the Fisher Quantum Center will be available in Spring 2027,
alongside enhanced quantum lab space, with programming expanding throughout the year.
Beyond the classroom, the Fisher Quantum Center will support outreach initiatives
to engage high school teachers and students to strengthen pathways into quantum and
STEM fields. Beginning in Summer 2026, Illinois Wesleyan will host a fully funded
Quantum Day Camp for high school STEM teachers and counselors from surrounding counties,
with a residential Quantum Camp for high school students anticipated for Summer 2027.
“The Fisher Quantum Center represents a first-of-its-kind program that will create
new opportunities for students to engage with quantum across disciplines while preparing
them for the high-quality jobs of the future. Quantum technology is already shaping
the future of the global economy, and Illinois is positioning itself as a global leader.
To compete, we need to continue building a strong workforce pipeline, and Illinois
Wesleyan is playing a critical role by giving students the skills and training needed
to fill these emerging jobs and help keep Illinois at the forefront of innovation,”
said Gov. JB Pritzker.
At a time when Illinois is emerging as a national hub for quantum innovation, the
Fisher Quantum Center will play a critical role in developing the next generation
of talent, expanding awareness of quantum careers and opportunities, and ensuring
the state remains competitive in this rapidly evolving field.
“Developing the next generation of talent is essential to maintaining Illinois’ momentum
in quantum,” said Illinois Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Christy George. “Illinois Wesleyan’s new program creates opportunities for students in high demand
fields while helping build the workforce pipeline Illinois industries need. The Fisher
Center reflects the forward-thinking approach that has helped position Illinois as
a growing hub for quantum innovation and emerging technologies.”
For more information about the Fisher Quantum Center, visit www.iwu.edu/fisher-quantum-center.
Illinois Senate Democrats are trying to impose limits on artificial intelligence, or AI, in the final weeks of the legislative session.
The proposed package of eight different bills would target specific areas impacted by the emerging technology, including its effects on mental health and the usage of AI in schools.
State Sen. Bill Cunningham said because Congress has not put much regulation around AI, state lawmakers feel they have to step into the void.
“Artificial intelligence, or AI, can be a powerful tool for good, but currently there are minimal guardrails in place. It’s like the wild, wild west. Illinois needs to create a roadmap for responsible innovation to prevent catastrophic risks. And that is why we are all here today,” said State Sen. Mary Edly-Allen.
Edly-Allen’s proposal, which passed out of committee Wednesday and now heads to the full Senate, aims to increase transparency from big AI companies like ChatGPT and Claude. It would require large companies to make annual reports explaining what they are doing to prevent what lawmakers call “catastrophic risks.”
If a company learns about a critical safety incident, it has to report it within 72 hours, or 24 hours if the incident poses a serious risk of harm or death.
Another bill, led by Sen. Laura Ellman, aims to address the growing number of young people turning to AI during a mental health crisis, specifically people who confide in a chatbot about their suicidal thoughts. AI companies would have to implement methods to detect self harm and refer the user to a resource, such as the suicide hotline.
Other bills try to crack down on AI being used to fix rent prices, curb someone’s data from being used for targeted ads or sold to third parties, ban teachers from using AI to grade a student’s work and cut down on bots scooping up tickets to concerts and sports.
The current legislative session is set to end on May 31, with lawmakers working to pass a host of bills before that date arrives.
IKEA announces new locations opening for 2026
IKEA revealed plans to open 10 new stores in various U.S. cities by 2026 as part of its expansion strategy.
The Chicago metro area is getting its first Dutch Bros cafe this week, with additional Illinois locations set to open later this year.
The West Coast coffee chain announced the openings in a press release Wednesday, May 13, adding details about available freebies.
Dutch Bros coming to Melrose Park
Dutch Bros will be making its Chicago suburbs debut in Melrose Park, with doors set to open Thursday, May 14, at 1931 N. Mannheim Road.
The cafe will operate from 5 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Melrose Park customers will be able to snag a free keychain with any drink purchase on opening day, while supplies last, according to the chain.
“Opening in the Chicago area has always been a dream for us at Dutch Bros, and Melrose Park is just the beginning,” Dutch Bros Local Market Lead Allie Lahti said in the release.
Where else is Dutch Bros opening locations in Illinois?
The chain also announced plans to open cafes in Rockford, New Lenox and Buffalo Grove, with locations slated to open this summer. The chain lists the Rockford location as “coming soon” to 7103 E. State St. on its website.
Meanwhile, job listings for “Broistas” at 550 W. Maple St. in New Lenox and 80 McHenry Road in Buffalo Grove are available for applicants on the site.
But that’s not all.
A spokesperson for the Village of Oak Park told NBC News Chicago the chain “is also in the process of opening a location in Oak Park” at 316 Madison St.
The village approved plans for the new location in October 2025, and the chain told NBC the cafe is still “in the very early stages.”
Peoria City Councilman Alex Carmona told the Journal Star in April that a new Dutch Bros location will be built at the busy intersection of University Street and War Memorial Drive.
Construction is set to kick off in May at 3624 N. University St., with the location slated to open in the fall.
The Peoria Journal Star reached out to Dutch Bros about the upcoming Illinois locations and will update this story accordingly if a response is provided.
List of Dutch Bros locations in Illinois
The coffee chain has five existing locations in the following Illinois cities:
CONTRIBUTING: JJ Bullock, Peoria Journal Star
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