Looks like we’re going to have to come up with replacements for terms like “starstruck” and “starry-eyed.” Scientists say the visibility of stars is rapidly fading as light pollution increases.
Stories by patty wetli
Pullman National Monument Upgraded to National Historical Park — and the Name Change Makes a Big Difference
Monuments can be created by the stroke of a president’s pen, and undone by the same. As a national historical park, Pullman now has added protections.
Chicago’s Urban Forestry Advisory Board Officially Takes Root With City Council Approval of Members
The board will help ensure the growth, maintenance and health of Chicago’s tree canopy for generations to come, officials said. The group’s first meeting could come as early as February.
Voting Now Open to Name Chicago’s Snowplows. Salter Payton, Chance the Scraper and Little Dibbie All in the Running
The Department of Streets and Sanitation has announced the 50 finalists in the contest. Voting is open to Chicago residents through Jan. 31.
Landmark Bid for '70s-Era Netsch House Could Redefine the 'Old' in Old Town
The preservation community is coming around to considering the 1970s and 1980s to be historic, ushering in a new wave of buildings up for landmark consideration.
This Week in Nature: Cougars on the Comeback Trail and Their Road Leads to the Midwest
Remember the pair of mountain lions (aka cougars, aka pumas, aka panthers) that wandered into Illinois last fall? Scientists say folks east of the Mississippi should expect more of such sightings.
Move Over Bears, It’s Eagle Watching Season
January and February are prime months for bald eagle watching in Illinois, with some 3,000 of the raptors hanging out in the state during the winter.
It's Not Written in (Lime)Stone, Yet, But Promontory Point Is One Step Closer To Becoming a Chicago Landmark
Supporters of Promontory Point can breathe a sigh of relief that the peninsula's much loved stair-step limestone wall is poised, finally, to become protected from attempts to replace it with concrete.
Promontory Point’s Bid for Landmark Status Gets Preliminary Hearing Thursday
The road to city landmark status for Promontory Point starts at Thursday’s meeting of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks. Supporters have been fighting to protect the lakefront peninsula for more than 20 years.
How Much COVID-19 Is in Your Wastewater? New Online Tracker Shares Illinois Data With Public
Wastewater sampling has been a key early-warning tool for detecting spikes in the spread of COVID-19, and now Illinois is making its data available to the public through an interactive online dashboard.
It's Triplets! Lincoln Park Zoo Welcomes Three Lion Cubs
Lincoln Park Zoo announced it welcomed not one, not two, but three lion cubs on Monday. The zoo had been on lion watch since early December, when staff confirmed 4-year-old African lion Zari was pregnant.
Chicago Forestry Board Nominees Announced After 18-Month Delay. ‘We Really Need This Board To Hit the Ground Running’
The six recommended appointees to the board, which was created in June 2021, all received unanimous support during a key committee hearing. Next up is a full Chicago City Council vote.
Bald Eagle Rescued New Year’s Day Has Died, Wildlife Center Announces
"Despite promising signs of recovery the first 48 hours, the bird took a very rapid turn for the worst," Willowbrook Wildlife Center shared on social media.
This Week in Nature: A Michigan Wolf Went on a 4,200-Mile Walk. How’s Your Step Count?
A GPS collar allowed researchers to track the wolf from Michigan all the way to Manitoba, Canada. That's just one of the wild stories we followed this week.
Chicago’s Christmas Tree Recycling Program Is Open Fir Business
Live trees — well, not so live anymore — can be recycled at any one of 26 citywide locations, Jan. 7-21.
Dramatic Bald Eagle Rescue New Year’s Day in Waukegan Harbor Captured on Video
Rescuing a bald eagle floating on ice in open water raises the stakes exponentially, but volunteers with Chicago Bird Collision Monitors proved up to the task with a New Year's Day recovery effort.
Recyclable or Trash? We’ve Got the Dos and Don’ts for Christmas Wrap
We checked in with the experts at Streets and Sanitation, and here's what's accepted in the city's blue recycling carts and what isn't.
All Is Still Merry and Bright: Holiday Events Going Strong Through New Year’s
There's still plenty of holiday merriment to be made through the New Year.
Merry Cosmic Christmas. The Planets Are Aligning With the New Moon for Some Holiday Magic
Enjoy a cosmic Christmas, with all five naked-eye planets visible in the sky. The moon, Mercury and Venus will form a sparkling triangle on Christmas Eve.
This Week In Nature: Zebra Shark’s ‘Virgin Birth’ Could Hold Key to Species Preservation
From industrious sharks to the bird of the year, here’s what caught our attention this week on the climate and nature beat.
Updating: Brutal Cold Grips Chicago, Temps Will Stay Below Zero
The snow total from Thursday was a mere 1.3 inches at O'Hare (though northwest Indiana and lower Michigan have been hammered with lake effect), but the real danger of this system was always the wind and cold, meteorologists said.
Chicago Public Schools Will Be in Session Thursday as Chicago Prepares for Bomb Cyclone
Classes are not canceled Thursday, CPS CEO Pedro Martinez announced. Chicago is expecting to get hit with a dangerous combination of high winds, extremely cold temperatures and blowing snow, creating whiteout conditions.
Chicago’s New Climate Infrastructure Fund Aims To Kick-Start Climate Action Among Nonprofits and Small Businesses
The fund will award grants in amounts ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 for projects, including energy efficiency upgrades, green infrastructure or the purchase of electric vehicles.
What Exactly Is a Blizzard? Probably Not What You Think
Let’s talk ‘bomb cyclone’ while we’re at it.
What will be the hallmark of the impending Christmas blizzard of 2022? Probably not a lot of snow, but that’s not what blizzards are about anyway.
Growing Pressure for Park District To Demolish Unauthorized Museum Construction on Site of Landmarked Building in Humboldt Park
The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture leases a historic landmark building in Humboldt Park. It began construction on an adjacent archive facility without obtaining permits.
Lake County Forest Preserves Waiting for Signs of Life, Joins Global Tracking Network
Lake County Forest Preserves has now joined a global wildlife tracking network, expanding the ability of researchers to follow the movement of migratory birds through the Chicago region.
