A new Illinois project is examining how healthier soils, trees and diverse plant life could help strengthen local water cycles, capture rainfall and cool the climate.
Photo: Steven Weeks/Unsplash
by Judith Ruiz-Branch Public News Service
A new venture in Illinois is highlighting how healthy farmland can help to address climate change and restore local rainfall.
The Nature Cools project, led by the Climate Land Leaders initiative, is studying how healthy soils, trees and diverse plant life work together to strengthen local water cycles.
Katie Ross, a scientist and researcher for Nature Cools, said regenerating land brings back diversity both above and below the ground. Then, living landscapes can release natural particles helping clouds form and bring rain back to the places where water first evaporated.
"In addition to carbon sequestration, restoring that local rain cycle includes several powerful processes, which is nature's way of cooling the climate," Ross explained.
Photo: Graddes/Unsplash
Central Illinois farms are helping researchers examine whether regenerative practices and healthier soils can improve water absorption and contribute to natural climate cooling. Researchers found that central Illinois farms with restored prairie and long-term regenerative practices absorbed rainwater much faster than conventionally cropped land.
Research shows by 2050, Illinois is projected to have at least 26 more days above 95 degrees and more frequent and rapid-onset droughts. With increasing incidents of wildfires and flooding, Ross stressed the project serves to remind farmers of how much agency they can have in the face of natural disasters.
Along with carbon emissions, Ross noted practices killing the microbial community in soils have stunted nature’s natural cooling processes.
This summer, Ross visited three central Illinois farms that are part of the project to measure soil temperature and test how quickly rainwater soaks into the ground. Farms with restored prairie and long-term regenerative practices absorbed water far more quickly than land with a long history of conventional row cropping.
The findings suggest healthier soils are better able to capture rainfall instead of letting it run off.
"What these farmers are doing is incredibly important," Ross emphasized. "That's part of the joy and purpose of this project, is to say you guys actually are superheroes more than is recognized."
The results revealed how difficult land recovery can be
Leslie Cooperband, co-owner of Prairie Oasis Farm near Champaign, said researchers found compacted soils with very little organic matter, even in areas covered by perennial vegetation for decades. Cooperband called it a reminder rebuilding soil damaged over generations takes time.
"It's like a paradigm shift. I will say though, it's a long-term proposition," Cooperband observed. "It's not like plant a bunch of trees and next year you're going to have rain clouds over your farm. The damage is so profound that it is going to take years to bring that soil life back."
Cooperband added with so many farmers feeling squeezed to maximize productivity, it can be hard for farmers to commit to sparing farmland for alternative uses. Still, Cooperband stressed as farmers crave greater climate predictability, the project's findings can help expand efforts beyond farmers already open to adopting regenerative practices.
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TAGS: Nature Cools project Illinois regenerative agriculture, healthy Illinois farmland and local rainfall, regenerative farming and soil health in Central Illinois, how healthy soil can help address climate change, Illinois farms using regenerative practices to capture rainfall
A study of legacy oil infrastructure near Summerland, California, has identified previously unknown connections between wells, methane plumes and additional seafloor faults and fractures that may provide pathways for hydrocarbons to reach the marine environment.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — A study of the Summerland seafloor and surrounding area is providing new information about legacy oil wells and hydrocarbon emissions that could help determine which wells should be prioritized for abandonment.
Heal the Ocean is conducting the Summerland Oil Mitigation Study, or SOMS, to map the geology and infrastructure of the Summerland seafloor and surrounding area while developing a detailed understanding of hydrocarbon emissions from the region's legacy oil wells.
The study is intended to provide information to the California State Lands Commission to help determine which wells should be prioritized for full abandonment. The commission has already abandoned eight legacy oil and gas wells in Santa Barbara County, but several hundred high-priority legacy wells in the Summerland area alone could leak oil into the marine environment.
Preliminary findings from SOMS are revealing previously unknown connectivity between wells, along with methane plumes and additional seafloor faults and fractures that may provide pathways for hydrocarbons to reach the marine environment.
“What we are learning in Summerland has significance far beyond this one oil field,” said Karina Johnston, executive director of Heal the Ocean. “SOMS is giving us the ability to connect emissions, geology, and infrastructure so we can identify which legacy wells are actually driving pollution and target abandonment where it can have the greatest benefit. Just as importantly, the team is developing a science-based approach that could be applied to aging oil infrastructure anywhere in the world, whether it is on land or underwater.”
SOMS researchers have been collecting time-series data from two Meteorological Air Quality Trailers to track emissions from the Summerland nearshore oil field. Analysis of the data has revealed previously unknown connectivity between wells, information that could help determine which wells should be targeted during different phases of abandonment.
During marine surveys this week aboard a research vessel, Heal the Ocean and its scientific partners at Bubbleology Research International also pinpointed several methane, or CH4, plumes using multiple technologies.
The technologies included methane detection systems, live-stream multi-beam sonar, water quality sensors and a crude-oil sensor capable of detecting concentrations down to approximately 1 part per billion.
Researchers also identified more faults and fractures on the seafloor than had previously been mapped. Those geological features may represent additional pathways for hydrocarbons to migrate toward the seafloor and surrounding waters.
SOMS combines air-emissions monitoring with seafloor mapping, water chemistry analyses, meteorological data, aerial observations and other measurements to create a more complete picture of legacy oil fields.
The goal is to develop a repeatable technique for identifying problematic wells and aging oil infrastructure based on their emissions and geological characteristics. The resulting methodology could potentially be used in other coastal oil fields around the world to help regulators and communities identify pollution sources.
For Summerland, the immediate objective is to provide the scientific information needed to help Heal the Ocean and the California State Lands Commission determine which legacy wells should be abandoned next and how abandonment can be most effectively sequenced.
The study is funded by the California Ocean Protection Council, Nora McNeely Hurley Foundation and Mericos Foundation. It is scheduled to be completed in December 2026, with findings to be shared publicly.
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Summerland Oil Mitigation Study legacy oil wells, methane plumes near Summerland California oil field, Heal the Ocean Summerland legacy oil study, California legacy oil well abandonment study, Summerland seafloor faults and hydrocarbon emissions
A new University of Michigan study finds that people of color, rural residents and uninsured populations living near Illinois concentrated animal feeding operations face measurably worse air quality and significantly higher rates of cardiovascular disease and lung cancer.
by Judith Ruiz-Branch Public News Service
As Illinois considers measures to tighten regulations on concentrated animal feeding operations, a recent study highlighted the disproportionate health and environmental impacts of meat production on vulnerable populations.
Several bills propose stricter rules on large- and medium-sized operations by increasing local control, expanding setback distances from residential areas, and requiring water supply reports for expansions. Data from the University of Michigan shows these facilities contribute to significantly worse air quality for surrounding communities.
Dimitris Gounaridis, assistant research scientist and lecturer at the University of Michigan, said people of color, rural residents and uninsured populations make up the majority of those residing in neighboring areas.
"The meat we are eating and consuming has some costs," Gounaridis explained. "We prove once and for all that proximity to those facilities means lower air quality and health issues."
It is estimated there are more than 21,000 concentrated animal feeding operations in Illinois. Gounaridis pointed out the research team has made their dataset publicly available for the first time in hopes of providing systematic evidence for targeted government or organizational interventions.
Meat production facilities produce various harmful chemicals, including ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, methane and particulate matter. Gounaridis noted fine particulate matter are extremely small particles, which linger in the air for extended periods of time, and no amount is safe to inhale.
"It's directly associated with (a) 4% increase in overall mortality and (a) 6% increase in cardiovascular mortality and (an) 8% increase in lung cancer," Gounaridis outlined. "That's very, very high."
Gounaridis added health effects have been observed in communities up to 10 miles away. He stressed the concentration of large operations and other meat processing farms in specific locations like the Midwest enables more targeted interventions.
He suggested increased regulations and infrastructure to prevent pollution spread adding public health information campaigns are also needed to provide education and resources for the high population of nearby uninsured residents.
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TAGS: Illinois factory farm air quality health risks, concentrated animal feeding operations near homes, CAFO pollution effects on rural communities, University of Michigan meat industry study, environmental justice Illinois livestock farms
A proposed $500 million data center in Sangamon County is drawing mixed reactions from residents and officials. Supporters point to economic growth, job creation and investment. Critics raise concerns about environmental impact, water use and rising energy costs.
I must say, the more I learn about them, the more concerned I am...
by Judith Ruiz-Branch Public News Service CHICAGO - Rural Illinois is another area where tech companies are looking to build massive artificial-intelligence data centers. Communities are split on whether they should welcome them.
A proposed $500 million data center by CyrusOne in Sangamon County that would utilize about 280 acres of farmland has sparked debate among residents, officials and lawmakers. Supporters highlight economic benefits such as construction jobs, permanent employment and local investment. Critics counter that there would be a limited number of local jobs, and also raise concern about environmental impacts, rising electricity costs and water usage.
Local activist Lori McKiernan with the Coalition for Springfield’s Utility Future called for more scrutiny.
"I’m not against data centers, but I must say, the more I learn about them, the more concerned I am," she said. "And I want our county board to do their due diligence to address all of these concerns and make sure they’re not impacting their constituents."
The Sangamon County Board voted to postpone a final vote on the proposed project after hours of public opposition. The decision delays the approval of what would be the county’s first major data center.
Meanwhile, Illinois lawmakers are considering new regulations, including the Power Act, which would require data centers to use clean energy, cover infrastructure costs, and disclose water and environmental impacts.
Scott Allen, a policy analyst for the Citizens Utility Board, said this comes amid broader concern that large data centers could shift utility costs onto residents.
"This legislative session that’s currently underway is going to be the data center legislative session," he said. "Especially at the legislative level, we’re not going to get anything done until this data center thing is figured out."
Sangamon County is just the latest community in Illinois to put a pause on data center projects. Neighboring towns and cities have passed moratoriums on data center applications and have turned projects down.
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TAGS: Sangamon County data center proposal Illinois debate, AI data centers rural Illinois environmental concerns, Illinois Power Act data center regulations explained, impact of data centers on electricity costs Illinois, community response to data center projects Illinois
Governor JB Pritzker recently halted tax incentives for data center construction in Illinois for two years due to energy concerns.
Photo: Geoffrey Moffett/Unsplash
Ireland has 134 data centers operated by 28 providers like Prescient Data Centres in Coleraine in Northern Ireland. Data centers are looking to expand in Illinois and environmental groups are trying to pass laws regulating them to prevent ecological and economic damage to the state.
by Judith Ruiz-Branch Public News Service CHICAGO - As data centers continue to expand rapidly, environmental justice groups are working to pass legislation to regulate them in Illinois.
The state is a top-five market for data centers and backers cited the tax revenue and jobs the facilities bring to some areas.
Lucy Contreras, Illinois state program director for the environmental policy group GreenLatinos, said the centers' increased demand for energy also brings concerns about utility affordability and environmental impacts for Illinois residents. She pointed out it disproportionately affects communities of color as more facilities are being built in or near low-income neighborhoods.
"If we don't mandate that they bring their own clean energy and that they pay for their own costs, then who ends up footing that bill tends to be the communities," Contreras explained.
Contreras noted legislation known as the Power Act, now in the General Assembly, would address the concerns by establishing accountability measures and mandating community benefits. She added the bill is one of the most ambitious for data center regulation. Advocates are aiming to pass it this spring.
Data center developers heavily rely on nondisclosure agreements to build, manage and operate facilities.
Mayra Mendez, executive director of the advocacy group Clean Power Lake County, said it often leaves local communities at a disadvantage. And as the proliferation of data centers has made people more conscious of potential effects, she stressed the Power Act would also require greater transparency.
"We hosted a workshop specifically going over bills, and people were like, ‘My bills are going up because of data centers.’ So, they're seeing the direct links," Mendez recounted. "And I think sometimes other environmental issues are a little more abstract, but we're seeing the real impacts of data centers here and now, and people are just more aware."
The federal government has identified data center development as a national priority and some states have offered companies incentives to build more facilities. But Governor JB Pritzker recently halted tax incentives for data center construction in Illinois for two years due to energy concerns.
Illinois consumer advocacy groups are demanding action as electricity bills rise and data centers use an increasing amount of power. But data center operators warn unfavorable state policies, combined with an existing biometric privacy law, could drive them away from Illinois to places like Wisconsin or Indiana.
Gabriel Castilho
Medill Illinois News Bureau / Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD - The debate over how to regulate data centers in Illinois is intensifying as lawmakers struggle to balance costs to consumers and the state’s need to be competitive economically.
Data centers house computer systems that store, process and distribute data but require large amounts of energy to power that workload. A growing number of these facilities are used to power AI.
Illustration: PromptPlay/Pixabay
Data centers house thousands of interconnected servers and storage systems that process, manage and deliver digital information through private networks and the internet. Their intensive energy demands can strain local power grids and contribute to higher electricity costs for surrounding communities.
A state report published in December projects energy shortfalls would begin in northern Illinois by 2029 and the rest of the state by 2031, driven in large part by data centers’ increased power usage. That’s led Gov. JB Pritzker to backtrack on a proposal he signed in his first year as governor to incentivize data center development in the state.
“With the shifting energy landscape, it is imperative that our growth does not undermine affordability and stability for our families,” he said, proposing a two-year moratorium on the incentives in his budget address Wednesday.
Illinois consumers blame data centers — which often receive generous tax incentives in Illinois — for straining the grid and driving up prices, and they want relief. But companies that operate the centers are seeking ways to build more quickly and pushing for looser regulation, arguing the centers are key to the state’s economic future.
Environmentalists want new data centers to build their own renewable energy sources on site
And the state, from the governor’s office to the legislature, is struggling with ways to balance the economic interests tied to data center development with environmental and consumer cost concerns.
“We don’t want them to overwhelm our electrical capabilities and our water resources,” Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Caledonia, said. “If we’re going to allow them and track them, how can we make sure it benefits Illinois residents and rate payers in the state?”
Data center negotiations continue
These are the same issues and tensions legislators hoped to address in their fall veto session. But no broad consensus was reached, and instead, Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, adding new air regulations for backup generators used by data centers.
Lawmakers in Springfield have already begun negotiating a new round of data center regulations.
Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, recently announced the introduction of Senate Bill 4016, known as the POWER Act, to place prohibitions on cost shifting, introduce “bring your own new clean capacity and energy,” guarantee transparent public engagement and implement water efficiency standards on data centers.
“By establishing policies that ensure data centers, not consumers, bear the increasing energy costs, and critical protections for our environment and sustainable water use, we can work toward a future built for technology to support our daily lives,” Villivalam said, “not deplete our resources and price us out of our homes.”
Environmentalists want new data centers to build their own renewable energy sources on site to prevent new projects from further stressing energy infrastructure and creating more pollution.
Pritzker said something similar earlier this month: “If they are, in any way, going to increase the price of electricity for consumers, they should pay for that increase, not the consumers.”.
The data center companies oppose such mandates, preferring a voluntary “bring your own energy” policy, according to Brad Tietz, director of state policy for the Data Center Coalition industry group.
“I think, ultimately, when you try to mandate something, you get less of it,” he said.
States are competing to attract investments from companies that want to build more data centers as they seek an edge in the artificial intelligence race. Illinois has the fourth-largest number of data centers — 222 — in the country, but Tietz said the state is in danger of slipping because other states have friendlier policies.
We're a leader in the country as far as protecting people's privacy rights and protecting their data
Illinois has provided tax incentives for data centers since Pritzker signed bipartisan legislation in 2019. According to the state’s 2024 report, at least 27 data centers had received incentives totaling $983 million in estimated lifetime tax breaks and benefits. That would stop for at least two years under Pritzker’s plan.
Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, said she would like to see “a change in our policy here in Illinois” so the state does not fall behind, though she hopes those centers bring their own energy.
“We want to be able to do that because if we don’t, China will. If we don’t, Wisconsin will, Indiana will,” she said.
‘Little type of war’
As negotiations progress, the Data Center Coalition has signified another point of contention: A 2008 law known as the Biometric Information Privacy Act that prohibits private companies from collecting personal data without informed consent. The law allows people to sue over the misuse of their biometric profile, such as fingerprint mapping, facial recognition and retina scans.
Stadelman said the privacy protections in the act, which Illinois put in place before any other state, are at the center of a “little type of war.”
“You have privacy rights advocates saying, ‘We're a leader in the country as far as protecting people's privacy rights and protecting their data,’” Stadelman said. “But the data (centers) say, ‘We're not going to have more projects in Illinois unless you change the BIPA legislation.’”
Tietz said these regulations have factored into operators’ decisions to bypass Illinois, although lawmakers in 2024 drastically curtailed the way damages accrue and the liability private entities are likely to face if found in violation.
But the data center industry wasn't satisfied, and its leaders say the legal liabilities are one reason they are building in other states.
Abe Scarr, state director of the Illinois Public Interest Research Group, said biometric information is uniquely sensitive.
“We should know who is collecting and commercializing information created from the stuff our lives are made of,” Scarr said. “And we should have to opt into — and be able to easily opt out of — pervasive, intrusive surveillance.”
Consumer backlash
The legislative debate comes as data centers have become increasingly controversial. In January, the Aurora City Council approved a moratorium pausing new data centers. The city had five data centers in development and had been receiving requests to build more even as residents and environmental groups complained about noise, water usage and rising utility costs.
Alison Lindburg, director of sustainability for Aurora, said the city passed the moratorium because it needed time to put requirements for data centers in place.
“We have tried to explain that to communities, that it’s not just about data centers in Aurora, it’s about the entire grid, but that doesn’t matter to them,” Lindburg said in an interview. “I think they’re just very frustrated overall with the rising electricity prices.”
Hannah Flath, Illinois Environmental Council’s climate communications director, said other communities are also opposing data centers.
“In that case (Aurora), the local government acted in accordance with what their local constituents were saying,” Flath said.
Tietz said he has been in conversations with officials from Aurora about the 180-day moratorium and is hoping he can help find a solution.
Lucy Contreras, GreenLatinos Illinois state program director, said communities should have a voice in whether, where and how these projects are built. She said developers must ensure host communities receive tangible benefits rather than bearing only the burdens of hosting these facilities.
“They contribute to air pollution and consume excessive amounts of water daily, which restrains local water systems that might already be struggling,” Contreras said. “Without strong and forceful regulations, data center expansion will deepen existing inequalities, harm public health and undermine our Illinois clean energy goals.”
Spreading the costs
Utilities are building billions of dollars of new power lines and plants to keep up with energy demand increases brought on by data centers — whether they’re built or in the process of being built. They, in turn, spread associated costs to ratepayers.
“Speculation about data center development has actually increased prices,” Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, said. “It’s not just the immediate demand, it’s anticipated future demand, so it’s really important to sift out the wheat from the chaff on what’s a real proposal and what isn’t.”
Cunningham said he expects fellow Democratic lawmakers to work on safeguards for consumers when pending data center projects go uncompleted.
Recently, northern Illinois utility Commonwealth Edison announced it will require a 10-year guarantee of revenues upfront from big energy consumers. ComEd said this will help protect ratepayers from bearing the costs of high-load projects and ensure, even if they don't come to fruition.
Maddie Wazowicz, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance policy director, said utilities function best when they can plan into the future.
“Whether or not data centers emerge — and how much, how many of them come, where and how long they last — does complicate utility long-term planning,” she said.
Gabriel Castilho is a graduate student in journalism with Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media and Integrated Marketing Communications, and is a fellow in its Medill Illinois News Bureau working in partnership with Capitol News Illinois.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
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Tags: unfavorable policies may drive data centers away, lawmakers want data center operators to use renewable energy, data centers raise electricity bills for area residents, Wisconsin and Indiana privacy laws are more relaxed than Illinois
Illinois’ 1% statewide grocery tax will end Jan. 1, though many municipalities will continue collecting a local version.
by Ben Szalinski & Brenden Moore Capitol News Illinois
Illinois’ statewide 1% grocery tax will go away on Jan. 1, though many people will continue to pay it at the local level.
Data compiled by the Illinois Municipal League shows that 656 municipalities — a little more than half of the state’s municipalities — have passed an ordinance establishing their own grocery tax. Those communities are home to 7.2 million people, or 56.5% of the state’s population. Three counties — Washington, Wabash and Moultrie — have also approved countywide grocery taxes.
Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill in 2024 eliminating the 1% statewide grocery tax, which he touted as a measure to ease residents’ tax burden. But because the revenue from the state grocery tax went to municipal governments, rather than state coffers, the measure allowed local governments to levy their own 1% tax via ordinance, rather than a referendum to voters.
Here are some other laws that will take effect in the new year:
Hotel soaps phased out
The phase-out of small, single-use plastic bottles in Illinois hotel rooms continues.
Senate Bill 2960, passed and signed into law in 2024, bars hotels from providing toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner and bath soap in less than six-ounce plastic containers unless specifically requested by the hotel guest.
The ban took effect in hotels with 50 or more rooms on July 1 and takes effect for all hotels starting in 2026. Hotels in violation will receive a written warning for the first offense and be subject to fines of up to $1,500 for each subsequent violation.
The legislation is intended to spur the state’s hospitality industry to reduce its plastic footprint by shifting to either refillable toiletry containers or larger plastic bottles.
Similar laws have been enacted in states like California, New York and Washington.
Squatter removal
Senate Bill 1563 will make it easier for authorities to remove squatters who are illegally staying at someone else’s residence.
The law clarifies that a court-ordered eviction is not required for police to remove squatters from a person’s home, and police can enforce criminal trespassing charges against a squatter.
Pritzker signed the bill in July after squatters moved into a home next door to Rep. Marcus Evans in Chicago. According to ABC-7, Chicago Police told homeowners they couldn’t remove the squatters from the home and the homeowners would have to go through the eviction process in Cook County court, which can take months.
Drinking water protections
Senate Bill 1723 bans carbon sequestration — the process of capturing and storing carbon by injecting it underground — within an area that "overlies, underlies, or passes through" a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-designated sole-source aquifer.
The new law applies to the footprint of the Mahomet Aquifer, which is the main source of drinking water for more than 500,000 people across a 15-county area in central Illinois.
It comes as Illinois, especially downstate, is targeted for carbon sequestration projects due to the state’s favorable geology and the availability of federal tax credits.
Studies, including those conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois, have found minimal risk to water sources from sequestration activity.
But the legislation was a priority for central Illinois community activists, environmental advocates and a bipartisan cadre of local lawmakers with zero risk tolerance due to the lack of a clear alternative water source if the aquifer were tainted.
Safer gear for firefighters
Illinois will take first steps towards requiring safer gear for firefighters.
Under House Bill 2409, manufacturers of firefighter turnout gear starting in 2026 must provide written notice if their products contain PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.”
Numerous scientific studies have linked exposure to PFAS to an increased risk of developing various forms of cancer.
Manufacturers will be banned from selling turnout gear and personal protective equipment containing PFAS altogether starting on Jan. 1, 2027.
Lift-assist fees
House Bill 2336 allows municipalities or fire districts to charge assisted living facilities or nursing homes for calls to fire departments requesting help lifting a resident when it is not an emergency.
The bill was an initiative of the Illinois Municipal League, which argued the calls to fire departments for the nonemergency service are a burden on local governments and shift liabilities for injuries that happen during the process to fire departments rather than the facility.
Stadium funding
Senate Bill 2772 adds women’s professional sports to the types of facilities the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority can oversee. Current law only allows the ISFA to oversee sports facilities for baseball, football and auto racing.
The bill is not designed to move any team’s stadium proposals forward, though the Chicago Stars women’s soccer team has previously been reported to be interested in building a new stadium with help from state funding.
The bill was the only one related to sports stadium funding that advanced in Springfield in 2025. The Chicago Bears committed earlier this year to building a stadium in Arlington Heights but are still waiting for approval from the village and struggling to find support in Springfield for funding.
Public official privacy
House Bill 576 allows state lawmakers, constitutional officers and state’s attorneys, among others, to request that their personal information be redacted on public websites.
Public officials would be able to use their campaign funds to pay for personal security services and security upgrades to their home, including security systems, cameras, walls, fences and other physical improvements.
Rewilding
House Bill 2726 allows the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to implement rewilding as a conservation strategy for the state.
This could entail the restoration of land to its natural state and the reintroduction of native species, especially apex predators and keystone species like bison and beavers.
Illinois is believed to be the first state to codify the strategy into law.
Reservation app regulations
State lawmakers voted this year to crackdown on third-party restaurant reservation apps.
House Bill 2456 prohibits third-party reservation services from selling reservations without a restaurant’s permission. Restaurants are still allowed to partner with the services.
Paid time off to pump breast milk
Senate Bill 212 mandates employers to compensate mothers who take breaks at work to pump breast milk for up to a year after their child is born. The bill prohibits employers from requiring employees to use paid leave time for pumping.
Naloxone in libraries
House Bill 1910 requires that libraries maintain a supply of opioid overdose medication, like naloxone. This drug is often administered through a nasal spray like Narcan. The law also requires that at least one staff member be trained to identify overdoses and administer the drug.
Police training on sexual assault
Senate Bill 1195, also known as Anna’s Law, requires police officers in training to participate in trauma-informed programs, procedures and practices that are designed to reduce trauma for victims. The bill is named after Anna Williams, a suburban resident who brought the initiative to lawmakers following her own experience with a sexual assault investigation. The bill takes effect in January.
Predatory towing
Senate Bill 2040 gives the Illinois Commerce Commission new powers to punish predatory towing companies which sometimes tow cars under false pretenses only to charge drivers afterwards. The ICC-backed law allows the agency to revoke towing licenses, impound tow trucks and more.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
Jerry Nowicki contributed to this story.
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TAGS: Illinois laws taking effect in 2026, Illinois grocery tax repeal impact, new Illinois public safety laws 2026, Illinois environmental legislation Mahomet Aquifer, Illinois consumer protection laws 2026
Co-ops still heavily depend on coal and other fossil fuels for the majority of their power. Twenty-five of them in Illinois still have an ownership share in the Prairie State Coal Plant.
Photo: İsmail Hamza Polat/Unsplash
Illinois has about 25 rural electric cooperatives that provide power to more than 300,000 rural homes, farms, and businesses in the state.
by Judith Ruiz-Branch Public News Service CHICAGO - A new scorecard shows rural electric cooperatives in Illinois are making improvements but experts said the majority of them are still helping to power the Prairie State Coal Plant, one of the top greenhouse gas polluters in the country.
The 2025 Illinois Rural Electric Scorecard from nonprofit Prairie Rivers Network grades eight Midwest state power cooperatives on 16 performance metrics.
Anthony Henson, rural energy organizer for the network, said there have been significant improvements since last year’s inaugural scorecard, with 20 cooperatives increasing their overall score. Henson explained co-ops originally formed to bring electricity to rural areas and are owned by the people they serve. He stressed the goal of the scorecard is to empower people with information about their co-ops.
"In the spirit of democratic participation in which these institutions were first created, we find that if member owners become more active inside their co-ops, the co-ops become responsive when making changes, whether it's transparency or operations," Henson outlined.
Hensen noted co-ops still heavily depend on coal and other fossil fuels for the majority of their power, adding the hope is the co-op scorecard, along with energy planning provisions and other legislation, will empower member-owners to help push their co-op toward a clean energy future.
However, nearly all the 25 co-ops in Illinois still have an ownership share in the Prairie State Coal Plant. Henson pointed out the first scorecard helped build momentum for the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act passed this fall, which created new standards for municipal and rural electric cooperatives.
"That is important because municipal and rural electric cooperatives have always been left out of the standards of these laws, and that has changed this year," Henson underscored. "We are now requiring co-ops in Illinois to do strategic resource planning."
It includes posting agenda minutes and election procedures online starting in 2026, conducting transparent long-term energy planning with public participation and making rooftop solar more accessible to ensure compliance with Illinois' goal of 40% renewable energy by 2030.
"Rural electric cooperatives are tasked with keeping the lights on in rural communities," Henson emphasized. "They do a very good job in being responsive to the needs of their member owners. And we expect them to continue providing clean and reliable electricity over the course of the next century."
Opponents say repealing the Roadless Rule would harm pristine forests, worsen climate change and endanger Midwest water supplies.
Photo: Tienko Dima/Unsplash
by Judith Ruiz-Branch Public News Service CHICAGO - Environmental advocates are urging residents in Illinois and across the Midwest to oppose the Trump administration's proposal to repeal the Roadless Rule. The conservation policy safeguards more than half a million acres of undeveloped land in National Forests across the Midwest from road construction and logging.
Kelly Thayer, senior policy advocate with the Environmental Law and Policy Center, said these lands have remained untouched for decades and represent some of America's most pristine wilderness. He stressed that cutting them down to allow logging, mining and roads would accelerate climate change and threaten the water source for many communities.
"So, ironically, the rule is preventing fires," he explained. "The Trump administration wants to repeal it in the name of fighting fires. The truth is that roads and people who use them are the greatest cause of forest fires."
Thayer added that the law includes flexibility for things like fire management, making the proposed repeal unnecessary. He emphasizes how critical it is for people to voice their concerns now given the U.S. Department of Agriculture only provided a 21-day public comment period which ends Friday. People can submit comments online at Regulations.gov.
The Roadless Rule was established in 2001. Thayer said after more than 600 public meetings and a record 1.6 million public comments, an overwhelming majority of people supported the protection of these natural lands. So far, more than 133,000 comments have been submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in response to the proposed repeal.
"We have some fantastic wild gems right in our midst," he said. "These areas are in our backyard and they can be lost, and lost forever if we don't stand up and take action now."
Those include Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest and the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Wisconsin. Thayer stressed these wildlands would be at risk should the Department of Agriculture move forward with ending the Roadless Rule. Supporters of the rollback say more roads will help firefighters reach hard-to-access areas and provide economic opportunities through logging.
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Dr. Ovadia says microplastics may have negative effects on testosterone in men and estrogen and progesterone in women. This could mean reduced muscle mass and libido for men.
Photo: Pete Linforth from Pixabay
A turtle makes his way over a mound of decaying plastic bottles on a beach. The byproduct from the decay are called microplastics or nanoplastics, which are incredibly small pieces of plastic that can get into our body. Scientists don’t fully understand microplastics’ impact on the human body. A lot of research is needed to determine the negative impact on our health.
by Tim Ditman OSF Healthcare
URBANA - From news reports to social media blurbs to medical studies, they’ve been in the public eye a lot lately. And experts say that likely won’t change.
We’re talking about microplastics or nanoplastics, incredibly small pieces of plastic that can get into our body.
Photo provided
Philip Ovadia, MD
So, how concerned should we be? Philip Ovadia, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon at OSF HealthCare, says this issue will continue to be studied for years. But there are things you can do now to optimize your health and reduce your risk of problems.
“We’re increasing our understanding of the toxins in our environment. Our environment has become more toxic, and that’s a challenge to our health,” Dr. Ovadia says. “The best thing for people to do is to control what you can control. What are you eating? What are you using on your body? What is your lifestyle like? How active are you?”
Where do microplastics come from? What harm can they do?
Dr. Ovadia says microplastics can be purposefully manufactured as part of a product. Toothpaste and skin exfoliants are examples. Or, microplastics can occur when larger plastic products, like water bottles, break down. The microplastics can then get into our environment, such as ocean water or our foods and drinks.
“There’s even some evidence that these things can spread in the air, and we can breathe them in,” Dr. Ovadia adds.
Dr. Ovadia points to three areas where ingesting microplastics could be cause for concern.
Intestines: Dr. Ovadia says microplastics can irritate our intestines, leading to inflammation of tissue and a condition called leaky gut.
“That’s when we get a breakdown of the barrier that lines our intestines. That allows some things in our food that aren’t supposed to get across into our bloodstream to get into the bloodstream. Many of these things set off inflammation in the body,” Dr. Ovadia says.
Endocrine system: Dr. Ovadia says microplastics may have negative effects on testosterone in men and estrogen and progesterone in women. This could mean reduced muscle mass and libido for men. For women, it could mean changes in the menstrual cycle, an increased infertility risk and, for young women, earlier start of puberty.
Blood vessels: Dr. Ovadia points to a 2024 study where experts looked at plaque removed from the carotid artery (located in the neck) of study participants.
“For over half of the people, there was evidence of microplastics in those plaques. Furthermore for the people who had those microplastics, over the next three years they had a four-and-a-half times increased risk for a heart attack, a stroke or dying,” Dr. Ovadia says.
“It doesn’t prove that the plastics are causing the problems,” Dr. Ovadia adds. “But it’s certainly concerning data. And I, as a heart surgeon, start to worry. If we see these in plaques in arteries in the neck, are they also in the plaques in arteries of the heart patients I operate on?”
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Heating food in certain types of plastic containers can be harmful due to the leaching of chemicals into the food. Microwaving food in plastic, especially those not specifically labeled as microwave-safe, can cause chemicals from the plastic to transfer to the food
What should I do?
So, do we need to panic about microplastics? Should the health concerns be akin to smoking?
Not now, Dr. Ovadia says. He reiterates that studies on this topic are in the early stages, and experts don’t fully understand microplastics’ impact on our health.
“It’s an unknown risk at this point,” he says.
But, there are small, everyday steps you can take to reduce the risk of microplastics entering your body.
Drink from a glass or stainless steel bottle, not a plastic bottle.
Use a good water filtration system. That could be built into your home’s water supply, or you could purchase a filter to attach to your faucet or water bottle.
Make food choices that minimize your exposure to plastic wraps and containers. Think the to-go boxes you get at a restaurant. Instead, eat more fresh, non-packaged food. Find these in the outer aisles of the grocery store.
“Eat the things that grow in the ground, and eat the things that eat the things that grow in the ground,” Dr. Ovadia says with a smile. “That’s how I always explain it to people. Try eating more whole, real food. That will minimize your exposure to microplastics.”
Look into the cosmetics and toiletries you use. Dr. Ovadia admits the jargon on a label can be difficult to understand. Instead, research the brands themselves. If, for example, a toothpaste brand is pledging to reduce microplastics in their products, it’s a green flag.
I Fuel is a breath of fresh air in the category of children’s books on energy sustainability.
by Esther Aardsma
"As dinosaurs thump about, my life begins," opens I Fuel, Kelly Rice Schmitt’s attempt to explain to children the complex web of energy topics.
Where do gasoline and jet fuel come from? How do our lights turn on? Why do we seek alternative energy sources? These questions are answered at a young child’s level in this 2024 picture book. Schmitt starts by describing the formation of crude oil, then delves into the harvesting, refining, and delivery processes, and finally explores alternative energy sources, hinting at possibilities for the future. Several pages of notes at the end of the book provide additional resources for older kids and adults interested in facts about different types of fossil fuels and descriptions of various careers in the energy industry.
The text of I Fuel is pleasant, almost poetic; the illustrations are colorful and simple, perhaps slightly reminiscent of a less fanciful Eric Carle. The book is devoid of foul language or romantic content. Graphic content is limited to cartoon-like illustrations: a man with a pacemaker in his heart (we see inside his body as a doctor listens to his heart); a boy with a bionic leg; rescue workers cleaning up an oil spill and rescuing oil-logged wildlife; and an overheated, dirty, reddened-sky scene intended to evoke sadness.
I Fuel is a breath of fresh air in the category of children’s books on energy sustainability. Schmitt’s book aims to present a balanced viewpoint on the topic, focusing more on teaching facts than on indoctrination into specific beliefs or actions. The negatives of careless fossil fuel usage are recognized and discussed, but Schmitt also creates space to celebrate the achievements recent generations have made through the use of fossil fuels.
"One day [people] may not need me [crude oil/fossil fuel] at all," Schmitt concludes, "but until then…I fuel!"
Esther Aardsma, a Champaign County native, currently resides in Thomasboro with her busy family. When she can, she pursues her passion for creativity, especially with words--and shares that love through editing, coaching one-on-one, and teaching classes.
Tagged: children's book about energy, teaching kids about fossil fuels, energy sustainability for kids, Kelly Rice Schmitt I Fuel review
by Judith Ruiz-Branch
