Wednesday, February 1, 2023

PNS Daily Newscast - February 1, 2023
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New Mexico legislation would boost protections for LGBTQ students, Idaho makes a big jump in higher-education attainment, and this year's Monarch butterfly winter count showed significant improvement.

2023Talks - February 1, 2023
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The Senate considers police reforms in the wake of Tyre Nichols' killing, members of Congress want a new vote on the Equal Rights Amendment, and George Santos voluntarily steps down from his committee appointments.

The Yonder Report - January 26, 2023
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"Brain Gain?" Research shows rural population is actually growing, especially in recreational areas; other small towns are having success offering relocation incentives like free building lots, cash, complimentary dinners and even internet credits; and researchers say the key is flexibility and creativity.

Illinois

Storage batteries hidden behind this Bronzeville mural will be part of a microgrid system that will render the entire Chicago neighborhood energy-independent. (ComEd)

Monday, January 30, 2023

Chicago's Bronzeville Neighborhood Gets Its Own Power Microgrid

By Francesca Mathewes for Reasons to be Cheerful.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Illinois News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journal…

About 6% of all cars sold in the United States in 2022 were battery-electric powered, but officials say the number of EVs is expected to grow to 25% by 2030. (ake1150/Adobe Stock)
Report: EVs Could Impact Future Highway-Maintenance Funding

Most experts agree that putting more electric vehicles on the road is a positive step toward fighting climate change, but a new report warns that …

In 2022, the top 10 states, plus the District of Columbia, certified 1,202 LEED projects and nearly 343 million gross square feet, a 72% increase in just one year. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)
Illinois Places 2nd for Green Building Program

The 2022 ranking of "green" buildings shows Illinois in 2nd place, demonstrating a commitment to LEED certification, according to the U.S. Green …

In 2022, there were almost 4.5 million gun background checks in Illinois, the highest rate among the 50 states, according to FBI background check data. (megaflopp/Adobe Stock)
Illinois Legislature Approves Controversial Ban on Assault Weapons

Illinois has become the ninth state to approve a statewide ban on assault rifles and high-capacity ammunition magazines. On Tuesday, the Protect …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says exposure to <a href=sites polluted with coal ash can cause cancer, respiratory issues and other serious health problems. (Nady/Adobe Stock)">
EPA Filed Fewer Civil Cases Against Industrial Polluters in 2022

The EPA's enforcement of federal pollution rules has plummeted. In 2022, the agency referred 88 cases to the Justice Department for civil …

Backers of the Workers' Rights Amendment, approved by voters in 2022, say it will put an end to the existing gaps and exclusions in labor laws by guaranteeing union rights for all Illinois workers. (WH_pics/Adobe Stock)
New Year Brings Wide Variety of New Illinois State Laws

It's a new year, and more than 180 new laws are going into effect, which Illinoisans need to know about. The 2022 General Assembly passed bills …

By diverting juveniles away from detention, Redeploy Illinois estimates it has saved the state $158 million, tax money that would have otherwise been spent on incarceration costs. (gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)
Redeploy Illinois: A Model for Juvenile Justice Reform

Redeploy Illinois is a community-based alternative to incarceration, which keeps kids in their home communities. For decades, most youthful …

Easterseals advises parents to have their child evaluated as early as age 2 for symptoms of autism. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)
Advocates Say Illinois Families Need More Help for Autistic Children

The rate of autism among American children has grown steadily over the past three decades, but advocates say funding support is not keeping up with …

The number of restaurant workers in the United States fell from 12.6 million to 11.2 million between 2010 and 2021, according to the website Statista. (ADavit85/Adobe Stock)
IL Lawmakers Back Measure to Create Restaurant Workers' Bill of Rights

In response to massive pandemic-related layoffs, proposed legislation in Congress would create a Restaurant Workers' Bill of Rights for people in the …

Illinois educators are recruiting current and retired teachers, prospective teachers, college students and community members to train as high-impact tutors. (Wikimedia Commons)
IL Educators Plan 'High-Impact' Tutoring to Accelerate Learning Recovery

Illinois educators are investing millions of dollars to accelerate the learning recovery process for students who fell behind their grade level during…

Under the Expanded Child Tax Credit, the number of American children living in poverty in 2021 dropped by 46%. (Pexels)
Illinois Child Advocates Demand Action on Renewing Child Tax Credit

As Congress moves toward its deadline to pass a new budget, social advocates are urging lawmakers to reinstate the Enhanced Child Tax Credit for next …

Climate driven-drought has left only driftwood and sand in the channel where the Mississippi and Missouri rivers converge. (Rob Shepard-Danita Delmont/Adobe Stock)
Illinois Groups Urge New Approach to Managing Mississippi River

Drought has devastated the Mississippi River, turning parts of the 2,350-mile channel into dry streambeds and shallow pools. As barge traffic in …

 

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