Chicago is seeking proposals to install solar panels on 30 acres of previously developed land in Austin, Englewood, West Pullman, Riverdale and South Deering.
Stories by alex ruppenthal
City Solicits Solar Energy Developers for Vacant South, West Side Lots
Oct 1, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
EPA to Host Chicago Hearing on Repeal of Obama-Era Clean Power Plan
Sep 28, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
Local public health experts are set to testify at a Chicago hearing next week on the Trump administration’s proposal to repeal the Clean Power Plan, which established limits on pollution from power plants.
EPA Awards Nearly $60,000 for Chicago River Education Project
Sep 27, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
A new federal grant aims to help educators use the Chicago River as a “living classroom” to teach students about water quality issues.
Advocates Celebrate Opening of Restored Horner Park Riverfront
Sep 26, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
An effort that began two decades ago to restore the banks of the North Branch of the Chicago River in Horner Park is finally complete.
Lincoln Park Zoo Names Megan Ross as First Female Director
Sep 21, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
The zoo’s former curator of birds becomes the first woman to hold the position of director in the zoo’s 150-year history, and the first zoo director since the institution privatized in 1995.
After Firing Previous CACC Director, Emanuel Names Permanent Head
Sep 21, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
Nearly three months after the controversial firing of Susan Russell, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has named Kelley Gandurski as executive director of Chicago Animal Care and Control.
Play With Dogs in River North ‘Bark(ing) Spots’ on Friday
Sep 20, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
Two parking spaces in River North will be transformed into a temporary dog-friendly area as part of PARK(ing) Day, a global movement calling attention to the need for more open space in cities.
Chicago Marathon Joins Shedd’s Initiative to Ditch Disposable Straws
Sep 19, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
Since the launch of #SheddTheStraw last spring, businesses across Chicago have taken steps to eliminate their use of single-use plastic straws. Now, one of Chicago’s biggest events is getting involved.
Field Museum to Release Gin Rooted in 1893 World’s Fair
Sep 18, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
To help mark its 125th anniversary, the Field Museum is preparing to release a gin made in the spirit of one of the biggest events in Chicago history.
Mauyak, 37-Year-Old Beluga Whale at Shedd Aquarium, is Pregnant
Sep 18, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
The aquarium is preparing for a new – and very large – resident whose arrival is expected next summer.
‘Warning High CO2’: Navy Pier Art Installation Heeds ‘Climate Crisis’
Sep 18, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
Pull over to the side of the road and consider the world-ending event taking place before your eyes. That’s essentially the message conveyed by the newest piece of public art on display at Navy Pier.
Shedd Aquarium Welcomes 24 Endangered Blanding’s Turtle Hatchlings
Sep 14, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
As part of a new partnership aimed at preserving the endangered Great Lakes species, the turtles will remain at Shedd until they are big enough to be released back into the wild at a protected site in DuPage County.
Illinois National Guard Deployed to Assist Hurricane Florence Response
Sep 14, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
Ten soldiers from the Illinois Army National Guard have been deployed to North Carolina to support relief efforts during and after Hurricane Florence.
City Animal Shelter Seeking Help With Influx of Rescued Cats
Sep 13, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
The number of rescued cats at Chicago’s Animal Care and Control shelter reached a high of 300 earlier this week, prompting the agency to sound the alarm on social media.
UIC Professor Developing Finger-Prick Blood Test for Toxic Metals
Sep 12, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
If successful, the portable, smartphone-sized sensor will measure human exposure to toxic metals like lead and manganese using a single finger prick of blood – and deliver results in minutes.
Rare Blind Salamanders Debut at Brookfield Zoo
Sep 10, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
The completely blind amphibians, found in Texas, are a translucent white color with bright red gills. Brookfield Zoo is one of just three North American institutions to host the rare creatures.
Chicago Becomes LEED-Certified for Green Building Initiatives
Sep 10, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
Chicago has become the seventh city in the world to receive top-level certification for its sustainability efforts focused on green buildings.
Bag Tax Study: Use of Disposable Bags Down But Still Above 50 Percent
Sep 7, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
Chicago’s bag tax has resulted in a decrease in the use of disposable bags since taking effect early last year, but a majority of shoppers still use at least one disposable bag per trip, a new study shows.
Illinois Sues Trump Administration Over Plan to Strip Protections for Migratory Birds
Sep 6, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
A lawsuit filed Thursday by Illinois and seven other states challenges a Trump administration plan to eliminate long-standing protections for migratory birds.
Shedd Aquarium Adds Extended Hours to Free Admission in September
Sep 5, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
The aquarium’s initiative to offer free admission to Illinois residents this month has a new twist that could help you avoid rush-hour traffic.
Climate Scientists Create Plan for Preserving Indiana Dunes
Aug 30, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
About 2 million people visit the Indiana Dunes each year for its hills of sand and sprawling beaches. But the beloved site on the southern shore of Lake Michigan is changing – and not in a good way.
Detainees Pair Up with Shelter Dogs for New Program at Cook County Jail
Aug 29, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
Cook County Jail detainees will train dogs from the city shelter as part of a new program aimed at preparing for adoption larger dogs that often struggle to find permanent homes.
Field Museum to Host ‘Science of Alcohol’ Series in Logan Square
Aug 28, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
Learn about the history, science and uses of alcohol during a discussion series in September at The Whistler as part of the Field Museum’s 125th anniversary celebration.
Rauner Signs Bill Legalizing Industrial Hemp in Illinois
Aug 27, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
A new law allows Illinois farmers to grow cannabis for non-drug uses, making Illinois the latest state to legalize a crop that experts say is growing in demand.
Grazing Goats, Sheep and 1 Donkey Help Clear Vegetation at O’Hare
Aug 24, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
For the fifth straight year, dozens of animals have returned to O’Hare International Airport, where they are helping to clear invasive vegetation that can harbor wildlife and pose risks to aircrafts during takeoff.
Brookfield Zoo Conference Examines the Pangolin, World’s Most Trafficked Mammal
Aug 23, 2018 | Alex Ruppenthal
More than a million pangolins have been poached from the wild in the past 10-15 years, according to Brookfield Zoo. What conservationists are doing to change that.