With utility rates hiking about 50% by 2029, the city of St. Charles is turning to state and federal lawmakers seeking relief from the state's unfunded lead pipe replacement mandate.

Several residents have united to form a community-based organization, “Preserve Our Yorkville & Community LLC” to file lawsuits against the city of Yorkville to halt data center construction.

DeKalb elementary students celebrated the Earth this Arbor Day by planting a new tree and even giving it a name: Lincoln Legend.

The City of Joliet hosted its annual Arbor Day event at Lynne Thigpen Elementary School on Friday, April 24.

Column: The founders staked this country’s future on its land, and what we do with that land now tells the truth about whether we meant any of it, writes Shaun Langley of DeKalb's Citizens' Environmental Commission.

For decades, a colony of monk parakeets have called the ComEd substation that abuts the Great Western Trail along Swift Road near Lombard home.

Students from several DuPage County high schools recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Sustainable Design Challenge by displaying their green building projects to the public at DuPage County’s Administration Building in Wheaton.

Yorkville city staff provided a closer look at the project, including what construction has already been started and what work residents of Kendall County can soon expect.

State Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet hosted the first Green Escape Earth Day Event to promote environmental awareness in Joliet on Wednesday evening. Nearly a dozen groups were on hand and some were handing out free plants, seeds and juvenile trees.

First Presbyterian Church of La Grange has received certification as an Earth Care Congregation by the Presbyterian Church USA

Bloom Lockport and the Lockport Township Park District are the latest Will County community organizations to launch a community garden initiative, designed to help residents grow their own produce.

The Green Escape program on Joliet will bring together a wide range of community partners and environmental experts on Wednesday at Trinity Services Community Health Center, located at 2000 Glenwood Ave. in Joliet.

Area residents gathered Tuesday in DeKalb to support a "250 Trees for Tomorrow" initiative launched by DeKalb Township outside Elder Care Services to mark the nation's anniversary.

Residents filled City Hall Monday to oppose plans for a new subdivision at Red Gate Farm near St. Charles, citing the density of the homes and additional traffic, including around St. Charles North High.

Backpack Biologists meets 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, May 1-31, at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook:

From Capitol News Illinois: A bill that cleared the Illinois House would give the state’s EPA emergency rulemaking powers to address plastic pellet spills and their affect on stormwater runoff

Yorkville resident Alicia Castillo announced she is running for mayor because she sees a lack of affordable housing, minimal social services, high taxes and low employment opportunities.

Free, all-ages activities will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 25 at the Will County forest preserve.

Four local leaders in sustainability have been recognized with DeKalb’s annual STARR Awards for their work in small business, government, a learning garden and a pawpaw advocate.

From 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Hoover Forest Preserve, located at 11285 W. Fox Road, Yorkville, will host a Earth Day event. Earth Day was started on April 22, 1970, to show the importance of protecting the planet’s resources.

The Earth Day park cleanup and community shred events will both take place on Saturday, April 25.

Yorkville Mayor John Purcell indicated there’s “no more appetite” from the City Council for data center proposals outside of what’s already been approved.

The developers, Yorkville Nexus V LLC, Green Door Capital, requested the vote be tabled to the April 28 meeting, according to the city.

Will County will kick off its series of spring recycling events on Saturday, April 18 with Recyclepalooza in Joliet.

From Capitol News Illinois: As Illinois officials remain strongly committed to closing coal-fired power plants, federal policies under the Trump administration are creating uncertainty, spurring legal action and a push by some to keep the plants open

Around 30 gallons of hazardous concentrated bleach leaked from a semi-trailer in Aurora yesterday. Authorities said some of the hazardous chemicals leaked into nearby storm drains.

Volunteer registration for the Romeoville Repair Cafe is open on the JJC website through Saturday, April 11.

Entering what one resident described as a “crisis,” St. Charles approved utility rate hikes of around 50% over four years. The increases will cover $417 million in upgrades, including $84 million to replace lead pipes.

Yorkville has shined in past national competitions, placing fifth nationally in both 2022 and 2018 in their city-population category.

The vote on the 80-acre Meyer data center is now likely to be at the next Yorkville City Council meeting. A zoning commission unanimously voted against the project before changes were made.

Soon, St. Charles residents will no longer need to have workers come into their homes to read their water meters. A city project is upgrading systems to make the work a little more hands-off.

Fire brings more light into forests, which is crucial for young oak tree growth, but many land managers are concerned about how non-native plants affect fire intensity and young tree survival rates.

The city of Yorkville approved the 540-acre Project Steel data center, with 16, two-story warehouses. The approval came after hours of residents urging the city to slow down approval for data centers.

Lake County is starting a new sustainability program to recognize local businesses that are working to be more environmentally friendly.

As we head into the spring landscaping season, the city of St. Charles is offering free bagged yard waste collection for its residents. With brush and compost pick up around the corner, here's what you need to know.

Several Yorkville residents have voiced concerns about possible pollution into nearby residential areas

A formal battery storage facility proposal could be submitted to Prairie Grove in the coming months. Here's a look at what developers, opponents and the village president have said about it.

The Maple Syrup Magic event is returning to the Will County Forest Preserve District on March with new entertainment and activities for attending families.

The Yorkville City Council voted at 12:51 a.m. Wednesday in favor of a 1,037-acre project the city says will redefine the town’s future.

DeCarbon DeKalb will partner with Northern Illinois University Sustainability to host its third annual DeKalb County Earth Fest in April for community members to explore DeKalb County climate adaptation pathways.

The developers of the Project Steel and Project Cardinal data center projects in Yorkville submitted up-front checks following the mayor's request. The vote is Monday on Project Steel and the $275 million school referendum remains on March 17 ballot.

The Lake County Forest Preserves’ Board of Commissioners on Feb, 11 approved the purchase of about 29.4 acres to expand Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda.

The U.S. Forest Service did not say when the controlled burns would start. County emergency management officials will be notified when burning begins.

Hikers may come upon winter fish kills this time of year in ponds or small corners of lakes in the McHenry County Conservation District.

Once an improbable sighting, wild swans have returned to the Fox River Valley and across Kane County. Local environmental efforts over the decades have helped the resurgence.

Dog park users and their pups are invited to warm up with coffee, cocoa and social time at Lower Rock Run Preserve in Joliet

Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) visited Gander Mountain Forest Preserve on Feb. 18 after securing a $1 million federal grant for the Lake County Forest Preserves.

The Crest Hill City Council approved additional measures to work on mitigating the forever chemical contamination in the city's drinking water.

From Capitol News Illinois: The debate over how to regulate data centers in Illinois is intensifying as lawmakers struggle to balance a host of competing interests.

The city of Crest Hill is holding a special meeting Monday to address its next steps in its ongoing efforts to combat PFAS in it’s water system.