Watch: Alton sinkhole, estimated 100 feet wide, collapses in the middle of park
Security camera footage shows the sudden collapse engulfing bleachers and a light pole in the middle of the soccer field.
Eating cicadas became a thing after the massive emergence. Will trying other insects follow?
Researchers and bug enthusiasts are cooking up cicadas as sweet snacks or pizza toppings this summer. Some hope cicadas will help entomophagy – the practice of eating insects – catch on.
Severe storms possible Thursday evening and overnight
From the National Weather Service in Central Illinois: A line of t’storms will affect the area late Thursday afternoon into the overnight hours. Some severe storms are in the forecast, with damaging wind gusts and large hail. Stay weather aware and be ready to take shelter when storms approach.
Professor blends nature and music with the sounds of cicadas in Illinois
David Rothenberg has a keen interest in how humans and nature can connect in ways some may have never thought of before, specifically through music. A professor of philosophy and music at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rothenberg has written books about the musicality behind humpback whales, birds, and even bugs, playing instruments with…
As cicadas emerge, nature lovers travel thousands of miles to converge on Illinois
For tourists, Illinois is the place to be for the historic cicada emergence. The 17-year brood in the state’s northern half and the 13-year brood in the southern part are set to converge near Springfield.
A big start to wildfire season could mean another smoky summer in the Midwest and Great Plains
Drought and some holdover wildfires from last year in Canada are already sending smoke into the Midwest and Great Plains.
Tornado devastates Iowa town, killing multiple people as powerful storms rip through Midwest
Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Alex Dinkla says at least a dozen people were injured amid widespread devastation in Greenfield. Tuesday saw multiple tornadoes, giant hail and heavy rain in several states.
As legislative session adjournment looms, a rush to regulate carbon capture industry
Environmentalists, business, labor groups deep in talks over nascent technology.
Coal ash is polluting Illinois rivers. Environmentalists want the state to move faster to stop it
DANVILLE — On a recent afternoon in early May, Danville resident Germaine Light leashed up her poodle Pippin to take a walk around Kickapoo State Park, along the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River. Light lives just a few miles from where a coal-fired power plant operated for over five decades until it closed in 2011….
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
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…
Urbana Park District hosts Earth Day event to engage more people with the environment
Earth Day will be celebrated around the world on April 22, 2024.
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.
Eclipse weather forecast: Clouds could spoil view along much of the path
Eclipse watchers who get clouded or rained out can still watch the spectacle online via broadcasts from The Associated Press, NASA and others.
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…