environment

It’s been another tough year for farmers in Illinois. Profits have plummeted and margins are razor-thin. Economists from the University of Illinois have been traveling around the state to meet farmers where they’re at and present their research findings. WNIJ’s Jess Savage recently caught up with the road show in DeKalb.

A proposed data center in DeKalb’s industrial district has been officially recommended by the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission. Many residents have concerns.

Commuters all across the Great Lakes region faced whiteout snow conditions this morning. The burst of snow was due to the so-called “lake effect,” and it’s unusual this early in the season.

We’re deep into fall here in northern Illinois, and a thick layer of leaves crunch underfoot. While many of us are gearing up for the annual chore of raking up the leaves in our yards, environment reporter Jess Savage has been learning about why many species benefit from the leaves staying put all winter.

An old factory in Aurora is getting a new life. The Pratt Building is slated to become an operations hub for TerraCycle.

Some might assume that birding is only for hikers that go deep into the wilderness to find the rarest birds. But some organizations host events to make the activity more accessible for everyone. WNIJ’s Jess Savage reports on one event taking place in Freeport this weekend in coordination with Birdability Week.

Construction has started at Davis Park in Rockford. WNIJ's Jess Savage catches News Director Jenna Dooley up on the latest.

There have been several solar projects proposed recently around DeKalb County, including Burr Oak Solar Farm and Peace Road Solar Project. Jess Savage catches us up on where they stand and some of the opposition.

The DeKalb Public Library has been hosting monthly plant swaps for two years. This week, they’re adding adult clothing to the mix. Jess Savage reports on what swappers can expect at the event.

Naperville is one of a few dozen communities that receives their electricity through a co-operative agency called Illinois Municipal Electric Agency, or IMEA. The city’s contract is set to expire in 2035, but the agency is asking them to sign on for an additional twenty years.