Environment

Cicadas' mass arrival is just a few weeks away in northern Illinois, experts say

People have spotted nymphs of the 17-year cicadas on the ground. That’s a sign the periodical cicadas are preparing to emerge. They should appear once the soil reaches 64 degrees, which is expected by late May.

By Kade Heather

Lomelok, the 15-month-old lion cub, plays with a cardboard roll in his outdoor enclosure at Lincoln Park Zoo, Tuesday, April 23, 2024. | Zubaer Khan/Sun-Times

Entertainment and Culture

Lion cub returns to Lincoln Park Zoo exhibit weeks after unprecedented surgery

The spinal surgery is common in dogs and older big cats, but it’s the first documented case in a growing lion cub, according to experts at Lincoln Park Zoo.

By Mary Norkol

Clouds of dust spread across the Little Village neighborhood after a smokestack was imploded April 11.

Environment

Judge OKs $12.25 million class-action settlement over Hilco's Little Village dust storm

Developer Hilco and its contractors agreed to pay the money to neighborhood residents for the 2020 botched smokestack implosion. Mayor Brandon Johnson was urged to release a report on the city’s “negligent” oversight.

By Brett Chase

Environment

Here's how some Chicagoans are taking an eco-friendly approach to funerals

About 60% of people are interested in exploring green funeral options, more than ever before.

By David Struett

Burnham Prairie - Landscape Wetland - Jul19 3.JPG

Editorials

Illinois wetlands deserve protection. Lawmakers should make that happen, while there is still time.

State lawmakers can pass legislation that would restore the safeguards the U.S. Supreme Court removed last year on wetlands, which play a key role in helping to mitigate the impact of climate change and are critical habitats for birds, insects, mammals and amphibians.

By CST Editorial Board

Environment

Hundreds protest in Global Climate Strike, demand that U.S. declare a climate emergency

Led by Fridays For Future, hundreds of environmental activists took to the streets to urge President Joe Biden to declare a climate emergency and call for environmental investments, according to youth speakers.

By Sun-Times staff

A woman shields herself from the rain as she crosses North Wabash Avenue near East Washington Street, in The Loop, as rain falls across the Chicagoland area, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023.

News

Showers, winds move through Chicago Thursday; temperatures to cool down through the rest of the week

Rain started moving through the area and is expected to continue into Friday, according to meteorologist Zachary Wack with the National Weather Service.

By Sun-Times Wire

Green cherry trees with no pink blossoms are seen against a blue sky in Jackson Park.

News

Cherry blossom trees in Chicago skip blooming for second year in a row

The Chicago Park District said April’s cold and wet weather has kept the buds of 190 cherry blossom trees at Jackson Park from fully opening.

By Cindy Hernandez

Environment

Early spring warming could be having an effect on bird migration: “A lot more, a lot earlier”

Bird experts say temperature fluctuations could impact available food supply and the timing of arrivals.

By Jessica Ma

City officials were warned of possible dangers months before the botched implosion of the Crawford smokestack in the 3500 block of South Pulaski Road in 2020.

Environment

Official who oversaw Little Village implosion gets City Council OK to head buildings department

Marlene Hopkins should have been disciplined for her role overseeing the botched Hilco demolition of the former Crawford power plant in 2020, a watchdog report said. On Wednesday, nearly two dozen alderpersons praised the new top buildings official.

By Brett Chase

Chicago

Brookfield Zoo to welcome its first koalas — 'one of the cutest animals on the planet’

Brumby and Willum, two 2-year-old koalas, will make their debut at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, starting Memorial Day weekend. The zoo is one of 11 accredited zoological facilities in North America to host the marsupials for the public.

By Jessica Ma

Columnists

Making a strong commitment to clean energy is good for American business and the environment

On Earth Day 2024, companies have a chance to show genuine support for the transition to an economy based on green energy. Federal tax credits and other incentives for manufacturing are helping to fuel the transition — and create thousands of new jobs.

By Ben Jealous

Obituaries

Chris Crane, former Exelon CEO and nuclear energy proponent, dies at 65

The company said Chris Crane will be remembered for his “transformational milestones” on safety and equity, specifically related to his work in the nuclear energy field.

By Violet Miller

Prisoners' rights advocates demonstrate at a press conference outside 77 W. Jackson Blvd on Monday, April 15, 2024. Advocates delivered a legal petition asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to address unsafe drinking water in Illinois prisons. | Zubaer Khan/Sun-Times

Environment

Rancid, unsafe water at Illinois prisons threatens health, violates human rights, groups allege

Advocates for the incarcerated filed a petition with the U.S. EPA, asking the environmental agency to step in and fix a crisis they say Gov. Pritzker is not addressing.

By Brett Chase

Transportation

Feds award Illinois $8.6 million grant to alleviate flooding on I-290, near Maywood

It’s one of 80 projects in 37 states, part of a new $830 million program for strengthening transportation systems against extreme weather events intensified by climate change.

By Violet Miller

Environment

Chicago climate lawsuit against Big Oil moved to federal court — for now

BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil and Shell argued city’s case belongs in U.S. District Court. A legal expert predicts it will move back to Cook County Circuit Court.

By Brett Chase

Transportation

Heavy traffic fails to cast shadow over eclipse travel experience: 'It was 100% worth the trip'

A few hours after the total eclipse brought thousands of spectators to downstate Illinois, traffic remained heavy on some interstates.

By Katie Anthony

Duane Short, wearing a blue shirt, views the beginning of the eclipse through his eclipse glasses next to a camera and tripod set to take photos and a blooming dogwood at War Bluff Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.

Outdoors

Nature dared not disappoint as southern Illinois experiences its second recent solar eclipse

As darkness descended Monday in the path of totality, the air cooled, a bullfrog hummed a bass line and birds of all kinds called out to mark the occasion.

By Dale Bowman

Environment

Sky high: Solar eclipse ‘holiday’ sparks exhilaration and emotions across Chicago, southern Illinois

With sunny skies and a high of 71 degrees, students, workers and families across Chicago took a break from their daily routines to marvel at the partial eclipse. Tinley Park resident made the trip downstate to view the total eclipse. “I don’t know how to describe it other than just the word ‘wow,’” King said.

By Kade Heather, Jessica Ma, and 2 more

Total Solar Eclipse BusinessesFILE - Viewers use special glasses to watch from San Antonio, as the moon moves in front of the sun during an annular solar eclipse, or ring of fire, Oct. 14, 2023. The total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 may be weeks away but businesses are ready for the celestial event with oodles of special eclipse glasses for sale, along with T-shirts and other souvenirs. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File) ORG XMIT: NYPM508

News

Want to see the solar eclipse in Chicago? Here's what to know, where to go

The Chicago area will experience a partial eclipse on April 8. Downstate, Carbondale will be in the path of totality, in which the view of the moon completely blocks the sun, for the second time in 10 years.

By Emmanuel Camarillo