Grass lawns are a landscape staple, but an environmental reckoning may change that

Grass lawns are a landscape staple, but an environmental reckoning may change that

The first English word for “lawn” dates back to the early 1500s, described as an “open space among trees.” Lawns today are a far cry from that description, but they’ve come to dominate our physical — and cultural — landscapes. Now concerns over environmental impacts are propelling yet another redefinition.

Tornado Watch for central Illinois until 8pm
|

Tornado Watch for central Illinois until 8pm

Meteorologists are forecasting two rounds of strong to severe storms crossing Central Illinois on Tuesday.  Much of central Illinois has been placed under a Tornado Watch until Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. This story will be updated with new postings on X (formerly known as Twitter) from IPM meteorologist Andrew Pritchard and NWS Central Illinois. Andrew’s…

How one southern Illinois town is preparing for its second total solar eclipse in 7 years

How one southern Illinois town is preparing for its second total solar eclipse in 7 years

Officials at the City of Carbondale, approximately two hours southeast of St. Louis, anticipate approximately 50,000 people will descend on the college town to experience this year’s total solar eclipse, dwarfing their population of about 21,700.

The Checkup: Are my eclipse glasses legit? How do I protect my eyes? And what symptoms to look out for

The Checkup: Are my eclipse glasses legit? How do I protect my eyes? And what symptoms to look out for

A total solar eclipse is when the moon completely obscures the sun’s bright surface. Parts of the Midwest including Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Illinois are in the path of totality, which means people there will be able to see the spectacular moment the moon totally covers up the sun. With the excitement and anticipation surrounding…

Flood Watch in effect until Tuesday at 1pm
|

Flood Watch in effect until Tuesday at 1pm

The National Weather Service in Central Illinois is tracking weather systems that will bring more than two inches of rain to our area. A flood watch is in effect until Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. Champaign, Christian, Coles, De Witt, Douglas, Macon, Piatt, Sangamon, and Vermilion Counties are included in the watch. Isolated flash flooding is…

April’s total solar eclipse is weeks away. Here’s why it’s worth the watch and how to stay safe

April’s total solar eclipse is weeks away. Here’s why it’s worth the watch and how to stay safe

The peak spectacle on April 8 will last up to 4 minutes, 28 seconds in the path of total darkness — twice as long as the total solar eclipse that dimmed U.S. skies in 2017. Aside from Carbondale, Illinois, in the crosshairs of both the 2017 and 2024 eclipses, it usually takes 400 years to 1,000 years before totality returns to the same spot.

Winter Weather Advisory for Central Illinois: Friday 6am-6pm
|

Winter Weather Advisory for Central Illinois: Friday 6am-6pm

The National Weather Service in Lincoln issued a Winter Weather Advisory for central Illinois, including Champaign-Urbana, Danville and Decatur. Meteorologists are forecasting two to four inches of snow. Click below for the latest from meteorologists. Click here for the latest winter road conditions. Tweets by NWSLincolnIL

Electric buses are coming to a school near you — but are they more than a fad?
|

Electric buses are coming to a school near you — but are they more than a fad?

The Environmental Protection Agency is beginning to send nearly 5,000 electric buses to school districts around the country after a nearly two-year ramp-up. A few Midwestern districts weigh in on how the new buses are working so far. https://cpa.ds.npr.org/s60/audio/2024/01/electricbuses-featureweb.mp3 The yellow buses lined up after school in the Ralls County School District look nearly identical….