Tag: Environment

U of I alum Nick Offerman on why he finds solace in the outdoors

Nick Offerman is best known as Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation, and is perhaps the most famous actor who also owns a woodshop. He’s also a comedian, musician and author. And in his new book, he’s making it known that “outdoorsman” is also on his list of hobbies. https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/wesat/2021/10/20211023_wesat_nick_offerman_on_why_he_finds_solace_in_the_outdoors.mp3 Though he lives in Los […]

Animal Activists Encourage Non-Lethal Methods For Controlling Urbana Goose Overpopulation

URBANA- Subdivisions and parks throughout Champaign County have been trying to control the goose population for years– using methods ranging from hazing dogs to culling, or killing, geese. Now, a new goose rights organization named Friends of Geese is recommending non-lethal methods for controlling the population.  Susan Parenti, a Friends of Geese activist, says the […]

Illinois Researchers Using Image Recognition to Manage Invasive Asian Carp

EMIQUON PRESERVE – Fish and wildlife researchers are testing new image recognition technology on the Illinois River to manage invasive carp species. The system is located along the Illinois River, at the Nature Conservancy’s Emiquon Preserve in the Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge near Lewistown in Fulton County. The system first attracts fish onto a device […]

Illinoisans Advised to Watch Out For Toxic Algae

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Public Health are warning residents to be on the lookout for toxic blue-green algae for those planning summer activities in Illinois’ lakes and streams. The algae has already been detected in the Illinois River at the Starved Rock Lock & Dam.   According to the press release, summer […]

Union-Backed Coalition Outlines Broad New Energy Plan

SPRINGFIELD – As the clean energy conversation in Illinois continues, a coalition of lawmakers and labor unions introduced another regulatory overhaul bill that focuses on employing union workers as the state begins to transition to a clean energy economy. The Climate Union Jobs Act intends to put hundreds of union laborers to work on building […]

Environment Bill Would Ban Celebratory Balloon Releases

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House Energy and Environment Committee advanced a pair of bills in a Monday hearing, one that would ban ceremonial balloon releases and another that would make utility companies responsible for the response to gas leaks. House Bill 418, introduced by Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, would impose a $500 penalty for first-time […]

Arsenic Levels Remain High In Drinking Water, Especially In Smaller Communities

A new study out of Columbia University finds that drinking water nationwide—and in Illinois—continues to be contaminated with arsenic. This is especially prevalent among smaller community’s water supplies, often in rural areas. The study found that 12 water systems in Illinois, serving over 4,000 people, exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s maximum contaminant standard […]

Grafton Residents Still Reeling After Flooding Along Mississippi River, One Year Later

Grafton

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 […]

Vistra Energy To Close Remaining Coal-Fired Power Plants In Illinois

CHAMPAIGN – Texas-based company Vistra Energy announced it would close its remaining coal-fired power plants in Illinois within the next decade, taking a step toward clean energy. The plants scheduled to be shut down include Joppa Steam, Kincaid, Baldwin and Newton. The latest closures follow previous coal plant shutdowns in Illinois in recent years—including in […]

Illinois EPA To Begin Testing More Than 1,700 Community Water Supplies For PFAS

PFAS

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced this week that it will begin testing all community water supplies in the state for polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS—harmful chemicals found in firefighting foam, food packaging and household products that can leak into drinking water. This is the Illinois EPA’s first widespread sampling effort to monitor PFAS in […]

University Of Illinois Proposes Micronuclear Reactor To Cut Carbon Emissions

Katy Huff

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 […]

Court Battles Over Dakota Access Pipeline Continue In Illinois

DAPL

PATOKA – This summer, a district court ruled the Dakota Access Pipeline had to be shut down until a more thorough environmental review was done. That ruling was recently overturned, with the pipeline allowed to operate indefinitely. But multiple court battles continue. Reporter Lecia Bushak traveled to south-central Illinois to look into one of the […]

Environmental Groups Push To Strengthen Illinois EPA’s Proposed Coal Ash Rules

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois EPA (IEPA) testified last week in defense of proposed coal ash rules before the Illinois Pollution Control Board and the public. The rules would specify how the agency cleans up sites under the Coal Ash Pollution Prevention Act passed last year. That includes the cleanup and closure of coal combustion residual […]