Environment
Read more about the article Champaign County seeking legal counsel to regulate data centers following failure of Illinois POWER ActChampaign County
Committee members of the Champaign County Board's Data Center Activities Task Force met on June 22, 2026. Screenshot captured July 2.

Champaign County seeking legal counsel to regulate data centers following failure of Illinois POWER Act

The failure to pass a proposed state law on data centers has pushed Champaign County officials to develop their own regulations to address concerns…

Continue ReadingChampaign County seeking legal counsel to regulate data centers following failure of Illinois POWER Act
Read more about the article Bloomington postpones algal bloom treatments as issue blooms across IllinoisIsabella Lazansky
Lake Bloomington in May 2026. Photo by Isabella Lazansky.

Bloomington postpones algal bloom treatments as issue blooms across Illinois

For years, Bloomington, Ill. has fought algal blooms in its two main lakes, which provide the city with its water. Algal blooms result from…

Continue ReadingBloomington postpones algal bloom treatments as issue blooms across Illinois
Read more about the article Potential contamination sources surround Monticello wells, but testing shows water meets standardsMadyson Magnus
The City of Monticello water tower near the center of town on June 3, 2026. Photo by Madyson Magnus.

Potential contamination sources surround Monticello wells, but testing shows water meets standards

Residents in Monticello received a cross-connection water survey in the mail this past spring, as questions continue to circulate in the community about the…

Continue ReadingPotential contamination sources surround Monticello wells, but testing shows water meets standards
Read more about the article While $55 million cleanup continues, Rantoul reaps revenues from leases at former Chanute Air Force BaseGoogle Earth
A view of the former Chanute Air Force Base campus in Rantoul, Ill. Image from Google Earth as of May 6, 2026.

While $55 million cleanup continues, Rantoul reaps revenues from leases at former Chanute Air Force Base

While dozens of businesses are leasing property from the Village of Rantoul on the former Chanute Air Force Base, the Air Force is still…

Continue ReadingWhile $55 million cleanup continues, Rantoul reaps revenues from leases at former Chanute Air Force Base
Read more about the article A tale of two Illinois coal plants: One is a major polluter, the other limits pollution University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Abbott Power Plant at 1117 S. Oak St. in Champaign, Ill. Photo from the University of Illinois website.

A tale of two Illinois coal plants: One is a major polluter, the other limits pollution 

At 1117 S. Oak St. in Champaign, the Abbott Power Plant has evolved from a traditional coal power plant to one that burns coal…

Continue ReadingA tale of two Illinois coal plants: One is a major polluter, the other limits pollution 
Read more about the article Champaign County put brakes on “mystery” data centers; joins state, other communities’ efforts to pause construction of centersChampaign County Board
Andrew Rehn, director of climate policy at Prairie Rivers Network, speaks at the April 23, 2026 county board meeting about data centers. Screenshot from meeting video captured April 28.

Champaign County put brakes on “mystery” data centers; joins state, other communities’ efforts to pause construction of centers

Last week, Champaign County officials voted to establish a one-year moratorium on new data centers on April 23, following “serious” inquiries into new developments…

Continue ReadingChampaign County put brakes on “mystery” data centers; joins state, other communities’ efforts to pause construction of centers
Read more about the article Plan for storm shelter in Shadow Wood mobile home park no longer under discussionRoger Morales/Hoy
The entrance to Shadow Wood Mobile Home Park. File photo.

Plan for storm shelter in Shadow Wood mobile home park no longer under discussion

City plans made over a decade ago to incorporate a storm shelter for vulnerable mobile home park residents at Shadow Wood in Champaign have…

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Read more about the article Plan called for major improvements to Copper Slough waterway two decades ago, but Champaign has had to focus on upstream flooding
A map of the Copper Slough waterway from the 2007 master plan.

Plan called for major improvements to Copper Slough waterway two decades ago, but Champaign has had to focus on upstream flooding

In 2004, an engineering study for the City of Champaign called for a $25.9 million overhaul of a central waterway and watershed called the…

Continue ReadingPlan called for major improvements to Copper Slough waterway two decades ago, but Champaign has had to focus on upstream flooding
Read more about the article Illinois relies on complaint-driven enforcement as pesticide drift concerns grow
Organic farmer Patsy Hopper examines an apple tree on her property in November, pointing to late-season leaves she says show signs of pesticide drift damage.

Illinois relies on complaint-driven enforcement as pesticide drift concerns grow

Organic farmer Patsy Hopper, who lives five miles south of Urbana, has filed at least 11 complaints about pesticide drift with the Illinois Department…

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Read more about the article Ameren states contaminated gas plant cleanup in Fifth and Hill neighborhood nearly complete, but advocates question resultsA. Oishii Basu
The “No Trespassing” sign on the fence of the former manufactured gas plant site at the corner of Fifth and Hill streets in Champaign, Illinois on Sept. 15, 2025. Photo by A. Oishii Basu.

Ameren states contaminated gas plant cleanup in Fifth and Hill neighborhood nearly complete, but advocates question results

Read an extended Q&A with Claudia Lennhoff, executive director of Champaign County Health Care Consumers, about the history of the site and the research…

Continue ReadingAmeren states contaminated gas plant cleanup in Fifth and Hill neighborhood nearly complete, but advocates question results