Latest ENVIRONMENT News From The Illinois Newsroom Team
U of I hopes a new greenhouse will be an incubator for bioenergy crops.
University of Illinois officials held ceremonial shovels Wednesday morning, for a groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of construction on a new greenhouse. It will open next summer in the Urbana-Champaign campus’ Research Park and be used for research into bioenergy crops.

EV innovation hub comes to Decatur
DECATUR — Governor JB Pritzker joined local leaders to announce plans to expand the state’s electric vehicle ecosystem: The TCCI Electric Vehicle Innovation Hub. A

8 dogs died from extreme heat in the Midwest during unairconditioned drive
Lake Station, Indiana police said Thursday the dogs were among 18 shepherds traveling from O’Hare International Airport in Chicago to a K-9 training facility in Michigan City, Indiana.

Buttigieg visits Savoy to tout infrastructure money for new underpass
After a decade of planning and lobbying, the village has put together enough money to build a new bridge so the train can pass over the traffic.

Strong thunderstorms race across Central Illinois overnight
The National Weather Service in Central Illinois is forecasting thunderstorms, some severe, late Friday into Saturday morning. Check here for the latest forecast and weather

Excessive heat warning in effect until Friday 8pm
The National Weather Service in Central Illinois is forecasting Heat Index values higher than 100 degrees this week. Check here for the latest forecast and

Heat waves aren’t just an inconvenience. They’re a threat to public health
The Midwest is experiencing rising temperatures this week, as heat waves become more frequent and deadly across the U.S. Experts studying the connection between climate

Drought, deluge and the climate curious farmers of central Illinois
The state’s largest industry can’t ignore global warming — but change can be slow and expensive. Here’s what farmers say is tipping the scales for them now.

Champaign, Coles, Douglas & Vermilion Counties under TStorm Watch until 10pm
The National Weather Service in Lincoln says thunderstorms are possible in Central Illinois on Thursday afternoon. [2:57 PM] The storms in Vermilion and Edgar Counties

Durbin applauds Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District’s zero-low emission bus fleet
The MTD retired their final four full diesel buses back in May, making their fleet full of 116 hybrid buses and two fuel cell buses that run on hydrogen.

Check the Air Quality across America
This AP interactive map shows forecast air quality across the United States, including areas affected by Canadian wildfires. This interactive map will update daily.

Champaign, Macon & Vermilion Counties under Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 11pm
The National Weather Service in Lincoln says thunderstorms are possible in Central Illinois on Monday afternoon. A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts