(SPRINGFIELD) There’s another push to expand nuclear energy in Illinois as State Senate Republicans have introduced Senate Bill 1527 that would allow for the expansion of nuclear power beyond small modular reactors. The measure removes provisions prohibiting the construction of new nuclear power reactors with a nameplate capacity of more than 300 megawatts of electricity. Illinois now has six nuclear power plants, the most of any state.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois EPA has announced a funding opportunity that will provide grants to units of local government for the collection and disposal of household sharps. Applicants may be eligible for funding of up to $35,000 to cover expenses incurred in collecting, storing, and disposing of used sharps, with the list including needles, syringes, and lancets collected from private citizens only within their specific community.
(SPRINGFIELD) The 2025 title of “The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois” is up for grabs with the final four voting to end this coming Sunday on the MakersMadnessIL.com website. The winner of the sixth annual Makers Madness contest will be announced next Wednesday. The final four includes a Remote Operated Oil Skimmer made by Elastic in Carmi, Donor Milk made by Mother’s Milk Bank in Elk Grove Village, an Aircrew Systems Tester made by Chemring Energetic Devices in Downers Grove, and Aerial Firefighting Pumps made by MTH Pumps in Plano. The contest is hosted by the Illinois Manufactures’ Association.
(SPRINGFIELD) A couple of notes from the State DNR : the final two days of the 2025 Youth Spring Turkey Hunting Season is this weekend, both tomorrow & Sunday, from a half hour before sunrise to 1:00 each afternoon : the 2025 Illinois spring trout fishing season opens early tomorrow morning at 58 streams, ponds, and lakes throughout Illinois – Casey Park in Clark County, EIU Campus Pond in Charleston, Forest Park Lagoon near Shelbyville, the Game Farm Pond near Mt. Vernon, the Boston Pond at Stephen A. Forbes Recreation Area near Kinmundy, Turkey Run Shelter Pond at Sam Dale State Fish & Wildlife Area west of Johnsonville, and Beall Woods Lake at Beall Woods State Park south of Mt. Carmel.