Meet ‘Chonkosaurus,’ the Chicago River’s massive, fat snapping turtleThe turtle spotted sunning in the restored Chicago River got its name because it is "fat and chonky," botanist Joey Santore said. May 11, 2023
Unmanned electric lawn mowers tested at 3 Naperville parks as district checks out new robotic techNaperville Park District has begun testing new electric, autonomous mowers at several parks to see if it's a labor-saving option that could divert staff to other work. May 11, 2023
St. Charles to dim light on top of Municipal Building to raise awareness about plight of migrating birdsSaturday is World Migratory Bird Day, so city officials will be turning off the light that sits on top of the Municipal Building tower at 2 E. Main St. from 7 to 10 p.m. May 11, 2023
New EPA regulations could force power plants to install new technology or stop using coal and gasIn Illinois, the biggest outlier is a coal-fired plant in southern Illinois owned by five Chicago suburbs and dozens of other municipalities in Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states. May 11, 2023
Officials: Criminal charges for wetlands violations a rarity as Union Township man faces six feloniesA Union Township man has been charged with six felony counts related to wetlands violations after, according to court documents, he was told multiple times by county and state departments not to fill in the wetlands but did so anyway. May 10, 2023
Mining company wins approval for drilling in WisconsinA mining company has gotten conditional approval to begin exploratory drilling for copper and gold in northern Wisconsin, but state regulators say it must still meet additional requirements before the work can begin. May 10, 2023
Illinois environmentalists point to crucial role of wetlands in Supreme Court case that pits ecology against property rightsDevelopers and landowners say broad definitions of protected wetlands infringe on private land rights and hinder development. May 10, 2023
Could 3M lose its spot in the prestigious Dow Jones index?For nearly 50 years, the successes and failures of 3M have been part of an exclusive report card for the entire American economy. May 07, 2023
America’s nuclear waste capital wants more of it, against state wishesA half-mile underground beneath a windswept field in the southeast corner of New Mexico, hundreds of workers haul drums of radioactive waste into a salt mine that will entomb them for at least 10,000 years. May 07, 2023
Migrating birds set to risk their lives flying over Chicago, most dangerous city for migratory birds in North AmericaMigratory bird movement is in full swing, and experts are urging Chicagoans to turn off their lights at night to help protect the migrating birds over the next few days from fatal window collisions. May 05, 2023
Arbor, Earth and service days get students outdoors to plant trees, including one named ‘Michael Jordan’Groups of high school students have been deployed throughout the south suburbs in recent days, spending some time outside the classroom and getting a bit dirty through some hands on learning while helping the environment a bit in the process. May 05, 2023
Eco-friendly cemetery plan with no caskets, embalming has residents with wells worried in Homer TownshipA proposed cemetery in Homer Township that would include natural, eco-friendly burials with no caskets has residents, many who use private water wells, concerned about the effects the development would have on their drinking supply. May 04, 2023
Proposed carbon dioxide pipeline that would end in Illinois hits legal road bump in IowaNavigator’s planned pipeline would cut through five states — Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota — and carry carbon dioxide from ethanol and fertilizer processors to a site in Illinois. May 04, 2023
Lake County’s ban on single-use plastics is expected to eliminate a million pieces of plastic waste this yearLake County officials are touting the elimination of an estimated one million pieces of single-use plastic that is being prevented from entering landfills as a result of the Lake County Board's decision to ban single-use plastics from county operations in cases where there are alternatives. May 03, 2023
Photos: Mississippi River floodingNational Weather Service officials issued a flood warning for the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities area of Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. May 01, 2023
In a big blow for cherry blossom fans, erratic spring weather wipes out Chicago’s signature display at Jackson ParkMost of the trees went from the bud phase to leafing out, without blossoming, according to the Chicago Park District. April 30, 2023
High school students compete in Midwest’s first hydrogen-powered grand prix: ‘Problem-solving is our favorite’Students from Illinois, Missouri and Michigan built their own hydrogen-powered cars for an endurance race to see whose car could log the most laps. April 30, 2023
A decade into the work, Chicago is finally taking out toxic lead pipes when it replaces water mains With fewer than 90 miles of water mains still to be replaced, state law is forcing city workers and contractors for the first time to pull out toxic pipes at the same time. April 28, 2023
California launches legal battle with railroads that could lead to reduced train emissions in ChicagoAs California cleans up locomotives at BNSF, many will find their way back to Chicago along the railroad’s busiest intermodal route, the Southern Transcon, which begins in Los Angeles. April 28, 2023
Three’s a crowd? Imani, son of piping plovers Monty and Rose, joined by a female and another male at Montrose BeachGreat Lakes piping plovers are federally endangered, with only about 250 summering in the region. April 27, 2023