Champaign County approves a temporary ban on carbon sequestration, citing water contamination fears
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Champaign County approves a temporary ban on carbon sequestration, citing water contamination fears

Champaign County Board members voted Thursday night to approve a zoning ordinance amendment that will pause all carbon sequestration in the county for 12 months. The moratorium will allow the board time to develop a more comprehensive, and potentially permanent, ban.

Wind turbines stand on a field.
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Illinois is transitioning to cleaner energy. Here’s how it is impacting some rural communities

Up to 50 wind turbines are set to operate in Piatt County, Illinois, as part of the Prosperity Wind project from Apex Clean Energy. Standing more than 600 feet tall, they are the largest turbines in the state.

A man in a yellow jacket stands in front of a wetland landscape
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Amidst a biodiversity crisis, these Champaign County groups are working to restore native ecosystems

The Midwest has seen an incredible loss of native prairies and wetlands over the past few centuries. The changes have been driven primarily by farming and urban sprawl. But in east-central Illinois, several initiatives aim to bring back native ecosystems. 

Senate President Don Harmon,

Plan to ban carbon injections near aquifers stalls in Senate

Legislation was proposed after a pair of leaks at an ADM injection site near Decatur An Illinois Senate committee hit pause on a bill to ban carbon sequestration injections near aquifers after more than an hour of debate Wednesday. Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, asked that the Senate Executive Committee to wait to act…

beetle

A Midwest beetle that needs corpses to survive is dying out. But there’s still hope

The couple moving the body only have the moon to light their way. And this isn’t a mere coverup. “They’re taking this body into this underground bunker that they made,” said Bob Merz. Once in there, they’ll roll it into a ball and cover it in preservatives. Then, they’ll cut off pieces of flesh to…

Mississippi River

Upper Mississippi River refuge celebrates 100 years of protection for fish, wildlife and habitat

The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is the core of a major flyway for migrating birds and one of the most visited refuges in the U.S. Anglers and outdoor enthusiasts saved it from being drained 100 years ago, but the next century brings new challenges. High up on a bluff above the…

Cicadas impacted some apple harvests in Central Illinois, but Curtis Orchard was spared
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Cicadas impacted some apple harvests in Central Illinois, but Curtis Orchard was spared

This summer, three broods of cicadas emerged at the same time in parts of Illinois. Cicadas lay their eggs in the bark of small trees, which can damage or stunt their growth. The volume of cicadas varied from town to town.