Colder air rushing into Central Illinois
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Colder air rushing into Central Illinois

Illinois Public Media News is monitoring winds and storms on Tuesday. We will update this post with the latest forecast information. Updated Tuesday at 9:35 p.m. Temperature observations from the last three hours show sharply cooler air spilling into the area as a cold front moves through Illinois. Temperatures dropped about 20 degrees at Galesburg…

A new, divided Congress will have to take on a new Farm Bill with far-reaching effects
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A new, divided Congress will have to take on a new Farm Bill with far-reaching effects

WASHINGTON — The Congress that takes office next year will feature a Senate with a narrow Democratic majority and a House that, so far, has a slim Republican majority. What’s not clear is how that split in control will affect one of the biggest pieces of legislation on the agenda next year: the Farm Bill….

Midwest river towns looking for answers after forever chemicals found in water

Midwest river towns looking for answers after forever chemicals found in water

CORDOVA, Ill. – This fall, the towns and rural farmsteads along the Mississippi River received alarming news about their drinking water. Chemicals from a large 3M factory north of Cordova found a way into the river and their wells. Listen to this story here. The facility employs about 500 people and makes the adhesives used…

‘State of Change’ program focuses on the effect of carbon in Illinois

‘State of Change’ program focuses on the effect of carbon in Illinois

URBANA – Carbon is a key to life on Earth. Whether it’s animals, people, plants, or water, life on our planet would not be possible without carbon. Human use of carbon means Illinois and our planet are in a State of Change.  The second episode of State of Change premieres Thursday, November 17 at 7:30…

Live blog: Snow falling in Central Illinois
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Live blog: Snow falling in Central Illinois

Meteorologists are predicting snowfall on Tuesday, November 15. This is a live blog of stories and social media posts: Listen for coverage on WILL-AM 580 + FM 90.9 between 6-9am and 4-7pm. Also, follow meteorologist Andrew Pritchard here: Chambana Weather. Check current road conditions on Illinois highways here: IDOT Winter Conditions. Updated Tuesday at 8:00…

Mountain lion captured in Springfield settling in at new home

Mountain lion captured in Springfield settling in at new home

A young male mountain lion that traveled from Nebraska to Springfield is now a resident of the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Center Point, Indiana. “From our point of view, he’s doing surprisingly well,” said Joe Taft, the center’s founder and director. “When he came, he was pretty upset. He had been sedated and then, had to…

High Wind Warning in effect in Central Illinois
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High Wind Warning in effect in Central Illinois

Updated Saturday at 7:55 a.m. The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning in Central Illinois until 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. According to meteorologists, wind gusts over 50 miles per hour will blow through Central Illinois between 3:00-10:00 a.m. on Saturday. A Wind Advisory is in effect. People are encourage to bring lightweight items…

Illinois opens second round of EV rebates

Illinois opens second round of EV rebates

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois has again offered money to help individuals purchase electric vehicles. “The Illinois EPA saw a great deal of interest in electric vehicle rebates in the first round, with more than 2,000 applications received and over $8.7 million issued in rebates,” said Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director John Kim. “Electric vehicles represent the…

Buffalo are being restored to tribal lands throughout the Midwest

Buffalo are being restored to tribal lands throughout the Midwest

Hundreds of buffalo raised in preserves throughout the Midwest will soon begin their journey to tribal lands across the country. It’s part of an effort led by the InterTribal Buffalo Council, a network of 79 tribal nations that work together to distribute buffalo. This year the group plans to relocate some 1,500 buffalo to member…

Mountain lion makes its way into Springfield

Mountain lion makes its way into Springfield

A young male mountain lion is making its way through central Illinois and conservation officials are asking the public to let it continue to roam. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources said it was captured and fitted with a GPS collar in Nebraska last fall as part of a research project. IDNR is notifying residents…

Democratic candidate Paul Lange supports strong welfare state, gradual approach to climate change in IPM interview
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Democratic candidate Paul Lange supports strong welfare state, gradual approach to climate change in IPM interview

SPRINGFIELD — In Illinois’ newly redrawn 15th congressional district, Congresswoman Mary Miller is up for re-election. Miller topped fellow incumbent Rodney Davis in the Republican primary in June. Miller will face Democratic challenger Paul Lange, a former precinct committeeman and commodities broker from Quincy, Illinois, in the November midterm election. Lange spoke to Illinois Newsroom’s…

Normal council narrowly approves purchase of Rivian truck, SUV

Normal council narrowly approves purchase of Rivian truck, SUV

The Normal Town Council narrowly voted Monday night to add a pair of Rivian electric vehicles to the town’s fleet — but not before spending an hour debating the matter. “As the only location of where these cars are built, to have an example of their truck and the SUV is something that I think…

Rep. Robin Kelly supports the Green New Deal and strong gun control in IPM interview
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Rep. Robin Kelly supports the Green New Deal and strong gun control in IPM interview

URBANA — Congresswoman Robin Kelly is up for re-election in Illinois’ 2nd congressional district. She’s running against Republican challenger Thomas Lynch. Illinois Newsroom’s Harrison Malkin spoke with Kelly about ways to curb gun violence, the Green New Deal, and a range of other policy issues. Malkin: First, I wanted to ask you a little bit…

Students protest University of Illinois investments related to fossil fuels

Students protest University of Illinois investments related to fossil fuels

  Students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign staged a climate strike Sept. 23 to demand the institution divest from companies that profit from fossil fuel production.  The campus group Students for Environmental Concerns led more than 100 students around the U of I campus, chanting phrases like, “We will not rest until we divest.” …

Hurricane Ian strengthens to a Category 3 storm as it takes aim at Florida
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Hurricane Ian strengthens to a Category 3 storm as it takes aim at Florida

WASHINGTON — Hurricane Ian is projected to bring a perilous storm surge and winds as strong as 140 mph when it nears Florida’s Gulf Coast in the middle of this week, the National Hurricane Center said on Monday. Ian strengthened into a major Category 3 storm as of 5 a.m. ET Tuesday, recording maximum sustained…