AI in Drug Discovery & Cancer Care: A University of Chicago-led presentation at ASCO26 reports AI-designed drugs hitting higher early success rates (about 80–90% in phase 1) and improved physician prediction in lung cancer usability studies, with explainable AI boosting true disease-control and survival estimates. AI Governance in Illinois: Illinois continues moving toward AI oversight, including third-party audit requirements for AI models and new state guidance for schools on using AI safely. Quantum Computing Roadmap: A coalition of universities, labs, and companies published a neutral-atom quantum roadmap with concrete milestones aimed at reaching classically hard problems and potentially impacting encryption timelines within a decade. Cyber Safety Engineering: A National Academies summit highlights a gap in accountability for cyber-physical systems and argues for a clearer “cyber safety engineering” standard of care. Local Tech & Infrastructure: Illinois Secretary of State services will run a REAL ID and DMV-style tent at the Illinois State Fair, while NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic awarded major engineering and aviation construction contracts tied to Navy readiness. Education Policy: Loyola University Chicago will sunset its Hispanic Studies master’s program after a broad program review. Local Journalism Costs: A UIC finance professor points to research linking fewer local reporters to higher municipal borrowing costs.