A man with is bent over playing a saxophone with insects covering him.
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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…

Coal ash is polluting Illinois rivers. Environmentalists want the state to move faster to stop it

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

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
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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
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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.