Organic Farmers Seek Successors, Stability After Strong Year
BLOOMINGTON — Organic food growers have seen a boost in demand since the pandemic began. There’s also demand for more people to farm the land. But as more farmers get set to retire, it’s unclear if there will be enough farmers to take their place. Ron Ackerman and his wife Angie grow corn, soybeans, grains […]
‘We Need To Be Concerned About This:’ New Report Details How Climate Change Will Transform Illinois
URBANA — 80 years from now, Illinois’ climate may be unrecognizable. Summers could get a lot hotter, with temperatures reaching up to 114 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas. The state could see up to 150% more rainfall per year than it does currently, with more storms dumping more rain more frequently. Snow days would mostly […]
Barge Industry May Be A Mixed Bag For The Green Energy Movement
ALTON — The Biden administration is fighting climate change in part by pushing for cars and trucks to be more fuel efficient and reduce emissions, but so far, that talk hasn’t landed in another mode of transportation: barges. https://cpa.ds.npr.org/kcur2/audio/2021/04/BARGE-WEB.mp3 Listen to this story here. In light of more pressure to advance the cause of green […]
Biden’s First 50 Days: Where He Stands On Key Promises
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden laid out an ambitious agenda for his first 100 days in office, promising swift action on everything from climate change to immigration reform to the coronavirus pandemic. On his 50th day in office, on Wednesday, his administration celebrated congressional passage of his massive $1.9 trillion coronavirus aid package. The bill […]
Midwest Can Tackle Farm Nitrogen Pollution Without Sacrificing Crops, Study Shows
Many researchers have looked at nitrogen pollution hotspots around the country. But a new first-of-its-kind, multi-year study from the University of…
Biden Moves To Have U.S. Rejoin Climate Accord
WASHINGTON – In one of his first acts in the Oval Office, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to have the United States rejoin the Paris climate agreement, the largest international effort to curb global warming. The U.S. officially withdrew from the accord to limit climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions late last year, after President Donald […]
Grafton Residents Still Reeling After Flooding Along Mississippi River, One Year Later
Scientists say climate change is already here, and it’s causing more frequent storms and flooding. Illinois Newsroom’s Lecia Bushak traveled to Grafton, where the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers come together to see how the town is still dealing with the physical and mental health effects of a devastating flood in 2019. GRAFTON – In the […]
Jupiter String Quartet To Perform New Piece Virtually Friday
URBANA — You can see the Jupiter String Quartet in concert Friday afternoon — virtually, of course — performing a piece commissioned in part by Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Composer Michi Wiancko wrote the piece To Unpathed Waters, Undreamed Shores as a tribute “to the beauty and vitality of the natural world.” After […]
U Of I Publishes Latest Version Of Illinois Climate Action Plan, Outlines Steps To Achieve Carbon Neutrality By 2050
URBANA – The University of Illinois published the latest version of its Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP) this week, and it’s officially been signed by Chancellor Robert Jones. The sustainability plan includes steps for the Urbana-Champaign campus to achieve carbon neutrality — reaching net zero carbon dioxide emissions — by 2050. iCAP outlines a to-do […]
University Of Illinois Proposes Micronuclear Reactor To Cut Carbon Emissions
URBANA — University of Illinois researchers have proposed investing in a micronuclear reactor to help fight carbon emissions—and reach a goal of making the Urbana-Champaign campus carbon neutral by 2050. The proposed micronuclear reactor would contribute about 13% of campus energy and help reduce the university’s carbon footprint. The proposal is being submitted to the […]
A Flood Devastated This Town In 2019, And Residents Are Still Struggling
Floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters can devastate a town in just a few hours. But the impact on residents can linger for years in the form of…
Driven By Climate Change, Heavy Precipitation Brings Flood Risk To Illinois
Last year, Illinois saw record-breaking flooding across most of the state, and this spring’s recent heavy precipitation is causing communities near the Illinois River to prepare for further rises in water levels in the coming days. Floods in Chicago last week and flood risk along the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers are another sign of growing […]
University of Illinois Reveals Draft of Updated Climate Action Plan for Earth Week
This year, the University of Illinois is updating its climate action plan for the first time since 2015. In celebration of Earth Week, the university is releasing a draft of the plan Thursday. The main goal of the Illinois Climate Action Plan, or iCAP, is for the university campus to become carbon neutral by 2050. […]
News Around Illinois – February 18, 2020
President Commutes Prison Term Of Former Gov. Blagojevich CHICAGO – President Donald Trump says he has commuted the 14-year prison sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The 63-year-old Democrat is expected to walk out of prison later Tuesday. Trump told reporters the sentence was “ridiculous.” The former governor was convicted of political corruption in […]
University Of Illinois Joins Campaign Against Climate Change
URBANA — The University of Illinois has joined more than 200 higher-education institutions worldwide in a letter declaring a “climate emergency” ahead of a major United Nations global warming conference in Madrid. The “SDG Accord” is an effort by colleges and universities to support global sustainable development goals and urge action to prevent climate change. […]