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.
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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.
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As legislative session adjournment looms, a rush to regulate carbon capture industry
Environmentalists, business, labor groups deep in talks over nascent technology.
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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….
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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.
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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…
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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…
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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…
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State spends $73 million to protect Illinois’ only undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline
Breakwater structures at Illinois Beach State Park aim to mitigate erosion.
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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.
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Cargo ship lost power and issued mayday before hitting Baltimore’s bridge, governor says
The ship crashed into one of the bridge’s supports, causing the structure to break apart like a toy. It tumbled into the water in a matter of seconds — a shocking spectacle that was captured on video and posted on social media.
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Tornado Watch for Central Illinois now-9pm
The National Weather Service in Lincoln and IPM meteorologist Andrew Pritchard are tracking the potential for severe thunderstorms, including high winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes on Thursday.
