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Last month was the planet’s warmest August in the 174-year record of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Like other communities, Bloomington-Normal really noticed the impact of that heat. The August heat wave didn't just cause people to droop. City Manager Pam Reece said the town's shade cover wilted too.
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Efforts are ramping up at the state and federal levels to create more green energy infrastructure. There’s a lot in the federal Inflation Reduction Act and the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act in Illinois to stimulate creation of infrastructure, and advocates are increasingly trying to get public buy-in of what will change the landscape — sometimes literally.
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The Green Screen Film Series continues at the Normal Theater on Tuesday with "The Human Scale," a documentary about how developing mega-cities change human behavior.
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The McLean County Board's Land Use and Development Committee has approved a zoning ordinance amendment that would regulate the placement of CO2 sequestration wells 1,500 feet away from occupied homes, livestock shelters, school or community buildings and commercial/manufacturing buildings.
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The veto of a law to end a moratorium on new nuclear power plant construction in Illinois sets up a battle in the fall veto session. In his veto message, Gov. JB Pritzker appears to be saying the bill isn't ready for prime time.
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A lot of attention has gone to state and federal policy initiatives to address climate change, but some measures need to happen at the local level, including so-called "smart surfaces" that could become a larger part of the look of the Town of Normal.
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State Farm's annual accountability report details efforts the Bloomington-based insurance giant is trying to make across three areas: sustainability in the environment, society, and governance.
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The Town of Normal is exploring ways to remove some ammonia from its drinking water. If the ammonia-eating bacteria works at scale, the town could save some money by reducing the chlorine it uses and labor expense.
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The massive influx of federal money for Amtrak from the infrastructure law will help the Chicago-to-St. Louis corridor — even though much of the rolling stock on the corridor has been replaced over the last decade, says Normal Mayor Chris Koos, a nominee to serve on the board of the passenger rail system.
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A bill to lift a moratorium on construction of new nuclear power plants in Illinois is moving through the state legislature. But an environmental science expert said that doesn't mean there will be a rush to put up new reactors for the first time in decades.