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George Wendt has served the largely rural and very Republican leaning McLean County Board District three for 14 years. In an unusual event, Wendt faces a primary challenge from Brian Loeffler, a farmer in the southern and western part of the county.
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A central Illinois conservation group has acquired one of the few remaining remnants of Hill Prairie habitat in Illinois. It's called the "devil’s backbone," an old-time name for the jagged geography of the 55 acres near the Mackinaw River in Woodford County.
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The mayor of Bloomington said he's glad the community had the discussion about spending public dollars on services to migrants who might be bused from the border to central Illinois. Mboka Mwilambwe said he's also pleased the McLean County Board rejected the proposed ban on such spending last week.
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Since 2015, the state has released a biannual report detailing its progress in curbing nitrogen and phosphorus pollution into the Mississippi River.
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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 Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District is moving toward issuing $100 million in bonds for improvements to sewage treatment and runoff in the area. District executive director Tim Ervin said that is roughly a third of a larger effort to modernize the system and comply with tighter federal standards on phosphorous and other nutrient emissions.
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Prisoner rights groups have complained about unsafe water. In recent months, the state has sent water violation notices to nearly a dozen prisons.
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The Main Street Water Main project is big, more than 5,000 feet in length. Two stretches of Main Street would see pipes replaced — between Division Street and Virginia Avenue, and from Beaufort Street to College Avenue.
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Illinois water issues are legion. They are pressing. And those who deal with those issues face serious challenges meeting them: Rapidly shifting science, a legacy of underfunded agencies, a reluctant public, and an ever-changing environment.
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The Normal Town Council will consider giving $500,000 to Marcfirst to buy land for the Central Illinois Bridge Academy when the council meets on Monday. The money would come from federal pandemic relief aid via the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and allow Marcfirst to partner with the Regional Office of Education.