Environment
Beaches were filled Monday as daytime temps reached 95, just shy of a record for the date. Some relief is in sight late Monday into Tuesday, when showers are forecast to move into the area. But the heat will stick through the end of the week.
On Friday, three of Searocket and Imani’s eggs hatched, two before 6 a.m and another midmorning, according to Tamima Itani, lead plover monitor at Montrose Beach.
The Chicago area is under an extreme-heat warning until very late Monday night.
The heat index reached 106 Saturday and an extreme heat warning is in effect until Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Residents are urged to stay indoors in air conditioned spaces. The city has opened multiple cooling centers.
The city’s outdoor pools opened for the summer on Saturday, coinciding with the year’s first major heat wave. Eager residents came out to swim, with many describing their visits as family traditions.
Temperatures are expected to reach the mid 90s on Saturday and continue climbing throughout the weekend and into Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures in the city won’t drop below 75 degrees overnight, and some areas could see them stay as high as 80.
The storms are expected Wednesday in the late morning and afternoon, especially southeast of Interstate 55 in eastern Illinois and northwest Indiana, according to the National Weather Service.
Scattered showers and storms are forecast to move into the area beginning Wednesday morning and through the afternoon.
A June 27 public meeting is set to discuss the demolition plans for the more than century-old grain silos on the city’s Lower West Side.
Los costos de electricidad están aumentando debido a la mayor demanda de energía en todo el país, relacionado en gran parte con los centros de datos y la inteligencia artificial.
It’s been a slow return to seven days, and the Chicago Park District’s pool season will be short this year, ending just before Chicago Public Schools students return Aug. 18.
Testing on June 7 by utility Aqua, which serves Kankakee and Will counties, found elevated nitrate levels in water from the Kankakee River. Nitrates can be harmful to infants.
At least 16 counties across the state, including, McHenry and DuPage, have had cases of West Nile Virus in birds, mosquitoes and horses, though no human cases have been reported so far this year.
The six female alpacas range in age from 1-24 years old. Their names are Starlight, Zsa Zsa, Maya, Sara, Grettle and Gracie.
The famed reptile emerged with her longtime mate late last month in the Chicago River near Goose Island. But a new, unnamed turtle in the area has conservationists wondering if there is trouble in paradise.
The male calf was born Saturday morning and seemed to be healthy, but he suddenly became unresponsive Wednesday evening and died, the zoo said.
Electricity costs are climbing due to increased power demand across the country, largely related to data centers and artificial intelligence.
Water sampling results from the private utility company Aqua Illinois revealed nitrate levels from agricultural fertilizers exceed guidelines, creating a threat to babies that can result in illness or death.
A severe weather system passes through the Chicago area Sunday, bringing rain, high winds and hail to parts of the suburbs. The storms moved out by 5:30 p.m., but they left power outages and some flight delays at O’Hare and Midway. More storms are possible Monday before clear skies return Tuesday.
“Every birth is a remarkable learning opportunity, and the scientific information we gain benefits marine conservation efforts,” Dr. Mike Adkesson, Brookfield Zoo Chicago president and CEO, said.
Smoke coming in from Canadian wildfires settled over Chicago, causing unhealthy air quality conditions for at-risk groups. The Environmental Protection Agency is set to send out another air quality alert for Saturday.
Another large fire exacerbated by climate change is threatening the health of Chicagoans. Government officials issued an air pollution “action day” on Thursday.
Most people exposed to the virus do not develop symptoms, though illness typically occurs two to 14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito, officials said.
The Instagram and Facebook parent has a 20-year agreement with Constellation Energy to buy electricity from its operation in downstate Clinton.
The chicks, nesting at the University of Illinois Chicago campus, died May 28. The university has hosted peregrines for more than 25 years, providing a sanctuary for the once-endangered species. Ornithologists at the Field Museum are looking into the cause of death.
The Trump administration said it would cancel 24 grants worth more than $3.7 billion, including $170 million for Chicago-based Kraft and $75 million for beverage maker Diageo.
Business groups said the bill aimed at addressing rising power needs by adding wind and solar and battery storage would cost electricity customers at least $7 billion.
Clear skies over Chicago could create favorable conditions to see the aurora borealis, forecasters say. By Monday, the chance of seeing the lights drops significantly. The lights are visible thanks to a geomagnetic storm caused by a coronal mass ejection passing over Earth.
The fires began earlier this week in the province of Manitoba. The smoke will bring hazy skies and could potentially affect air quality in Chicago.
As electricity costs climb, legislators push a plan to speed up solar and wind projects, end a moratorium on new nuclear plants and promote energy efficiency.