Environment
Read more about the article Q&A: Claudia Lennhoff on the history of the contaminated Fifth and Hill site of former Ameren manufactured gas plantA. Oishii Basu
The warning 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.

Q&A: Claudia Lennhoff on the history of the contaminated Fifth and Hill site of former Ameren manufactured gas plant

A spokesperson for the utility and energy company Ameren said in October it is a few months away from finishing the lengthy environmental cleanup…

Continue ReadingQ&A: Claudia Lennhoff on the history of the contaminated Fifth and Hill site of former Ameren manufactured gas plant
Read more about the article Garbage trucks continue to speed through Danville’s Grape Creek neighborhood, but residents say efforts to slow traffic prove unsuccessfulMike Rock
A B&W Disposal garbage truck drives through the Grape Creek neighborhood in Danville, Illinois to get to the landfill on Nov. 7, 2025. Photo by Mike Rock.

Garbage trucks continue to speed through Danville’s Grape Creek neighborhood, but residents say efforts to slow traffic prove unsuccessful

Residents who live on Brickyard Road in Danville, Illinois said they are tired of the traffic, trash and noise from garbage trucks.  The Republic…

Continue ReadingGarbage trucks continue to speed through Danville’s Grape Creek neighborhood, but residents say efforts to slow traffic prove unsuccessful
Read more about the article Despite pledge to move, asphalt plant still operating in the East Urbana neighborhood; Company cites financial issuesMichael Sweeney
Emulsicoat’s long-standing location at 705 E. University Ave. in Urbana on Sep. 18, 2025. Photo by Michael Sweeney.

Despite pledge to move, asphalt plant still operating in the East Urbana neighborhood; Company cites financial issues

Emulsicoat Inc., an asphalt production plant in Urbana, promised residents to relocate most of its operations out of their neighborhood to reduce the irritating…

Continue ReadingDespite pledge to move, asphalt plant still operating in the East Urbana neighborhood; Company cites financial issues
Read more about the article Soil, site cleanup required for new apartment complex at site of demolished C.S. Johnson factoryPatrick Mahoney
The former CS Johnson factory site was recently demolished to make way for eight apartment buildings. Photo by Patrick Mahoney.

Soil, site cleanup required for new apartment complex at site of demolished C.S. Johnson factory

Site cleanup and soil work are part of the environmental work required to develop a new eight-building apartment complex on the site of the…

Continue ReadingSoil, site cleanup required for new apartment complex at site of demolished C.S. Johnson factory
Read more about the article Hundreds of flooding complaints rippled across Champaign in past decade: From Campbell Drive to viaducts to MattisDylan Tiger
One of the more common subjects of flooding calls has been for the viaduct located at the intersection of Kirby Avenue and Neil Street in Champaign. Photo by Dylan Tiger.

Hundreds of flooding complaints rippled across Champaign in past decade: From Campbell Drive to viaducts to Mattis

A block of basements covered in water on Church Street. A flooded locker room, briefing room, and hallway in the Champaign police station. A…

Continue ReadingHundreds of flooding complaints rippled across Champaign in past decade: From Campbell Drive to viaducts to Mattis
Read more about the article Thousands of tons of nuclear waste remain stored at power plants throughout Illinois; Some quietly transported on state highways
Spent nuclear fuel shipments are transported in shielded containers designed to withstand severe conditions. (Source: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission)

Thousands of tons of nuclear waste remain stored at power plants throughout Illinois; Some quietly transported on state highways

They are metal tubes that are about 12 feet long and less than an inch wide. Inside those tubes are 11,000 metric tons of…

Continue ReadingThousands of tons of nuclear waste remain stored at power plants throughout Illinois; Some quietly transported on state highways
Read more about the article Efforts continue to keep Illinois’ aging nuclear power reactors operating
Aerial photo of the Clinton Nuclear Power Plant facility. Photo from the Constellation Energy website.

Efforts continue to keep Illinois’ aging nuclear power reactors operating

The Clinton Power Station nuclear reactor, about 34 miles from Champaign, generates enough energy to provide heating and electricity for over 800,000 of Illinois'…

Continue ReadingEfforts continue to keep Illinois’ aging nuclear power reactors operating
Read more about the article Problems with leaking underground storage tanks persist in IllinoisDylan Tiger
A leaking underground storage tank was reported at the Citgo gas station at 1201 N. Mattis Avenue in March 2025. The location was formerly a Phillips 66 gas station. Photo by Dylan Tiger.

Problems with leaking underground storage tanks persist in Illinois

Last month, an underground storage tank located at the gas station on 1201 N. Mattis Avenue was reported as the latest leaking tank in…

Continue ReadingProblems with leaking underground storage tanks persist in Illinois
Read more about the article ‘Mission Accomplished’ for Rantoul air force base, yet $76 million of environmental clean-up work remains amidst its deteriorating buildingsJordan Butler
The exterior of the 909 Pacesetter Dr. building facing Arends Boulevard, with a blue car parked outside. Photo by Jordan Butler / CU-CitizenAccess

‘Mission Accomplished’ for Rantoul air force base, yet $76 million of environmental clean-up work remains amidst its deteriorating buildings

Numerous abandoned buildings still sit on the 2,125 acres of the former Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois. Some are boarded up —…

Continue Reading‘Mission Accomplished’ for Rantoul air force base, yet $76 million of environmental clean-up work remains amidst its deteriorating buildings