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Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis visited Chicago to host a sold out premier showing of their new documentary film, This Changes Everything. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it. I know … Read More
Nearly half of Illinois voters oppose fracking, according to a new poll by the Simon Institute. The statewide poll reveals 48.6% oppose fracking while only 31.8% believe it should be … Read More
Happy birthday Abraham Lincoln! When Lincoln anniversaries come around I sometimes enjoy comparing the views of the first Republican president to the Republican party of today. Tax policies offer a … Read More
One of Bruce Rauner's first appointments as Governor is a troubling sign for citizens hoping he'll protect the public and environment from toxic pollutants. Rauner's new Policy Adviser for Environment … Read More
Illinois environmentalists are cheering the spectacular success of the movement to ban fracking in New York. The victory is justifiably spurring reflection on how it was done. What happened in … Read More
This was a difficult election for Democrats and it was even worse for Democrats still pushing fossil fuels. The Democratic co-chair of the Congressional Coal Caucus lost his seat along … Read More
There's a simple lesson for Illinois Democrats from the Tuesday election. If you want to get re-elected as a Democrat in Illinois all you have to do is govern like … Read More
Yesterday Illinois was facing an environmental and economic crisis from fracking that was greenwashed by a Democratic Governor who told us regulation can make it safe. Voters were asked to … Read More
It seems fitting to know now that the first meeting to discuss the governor's concept for the EAA was at a restaurant called “The Chop House.” The EAA most certainly … Read More
The state of Illinois is throwing millions of taxpayer dollars at another coal-to-gas plant just two years after a similar project ended in failure. The Coal Development Fund has so … Read More
Will the climate movement have a serious contender for President in 2016? Now's the time to find someone strong on the most urgent crisis of our time and serious about … Read More
Dear Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan: I realize the state of Michigan is out of your jurisdiction, but I wanted to bring to your attention that one of your citizens … Read More
The trouble with letting television tell the story of our recent history is that it tends to overemphasize events designed for the camera. For example, the made-for-TV version of the … Read More
Bloomberg News reviews studies on the link between birth defects and living near fracking sites. It's compelling. Multiple studies show increased rates of congenital heart defects, low birth weight, and … Read More
Last week Gary Naeyaert of Great Lakes Education Project tweeted an image that sparked outrage with many people in the state and earned the organization dedicated to destroying public education … Read More
Illinois may be more famous for imprisoned Governors, but as a coal state struggling with its energy future, some of our politicians have wacky things to say about fossil fuels. … Read More
Fracking has begun in Illinois. Governor Pat Quinn's Department of Natural Resources issued a permit for a test well at a site where oil fracking is planned. The well isn't subject … Read More
Illinois is facing an extraction crisis. Expanded coal mining and the looming threat of fracking will create an unprecedented two-pronged threat to southern and central Illinois. Grassroots groups on the … Read More
The Chris Cline coal campaign contribution scandal has grown bigger than I ever expected. CoalGate is getting wide press coverage and resulted in a second acting director of Mines & … Read More
Cupid delivered a Valentine's Day message about fracking to Governor Pat Quinn. Rising Tide Chicago posted video and pictures of Cupid's visit to Quinn's office with the message that the … Read More
Tony Mayville is a candidate for State Representative in southern Illinois and Chairman of the Washington County Democratic Party. He has also supervised the Mine Safety division and served as acting director … Read More
A disturbing new video of poisoned water, leaking oil rigs, and lax enforcement at Illinois oil wells highlights why proposed fracking regulation won't protect the state's environment or people. The … Read More
The MoveOn.org Fracking Fighter petition to ban fracking in Illinois got off to a fast start! It's just shy of the first 500 signatures. The comments people add are fun … Read More
An Illinois ban on fracking is inevitable. The question is whether it will happen before or after a major fracking disaster. The public comment period on Illinois' draft regulations ended … Read More
Elves erected a fracking well on Governor Pat Quinn's lawn earlier today in recognition of his enthusiastic advocacy for launching an Illinois fracking boom. No more artificial green for Quinn … Read More
Have you heard the wonderful news? Today the state senate in the great state of Michigan passed a bill that would provide religious freedom in schools! That's right, now everyone … Read More
That's what Chris Christie shouted today while his wife smiled at New Jersey public school teacher, Melissa Tomlinson, who dared approach him at the Rutgers football game rally and ask … Read More
Last week the headlines asked a question, and no one has really provided an answer. the question was “Is Kevyn Orr living too large in Detroit?” Local news reported that … Read More
Especially when they know they're being used as a guinea pig against their own best interests. Guinea Pigs used in research never end up living happier, healthier lives either. The … Read More
Not many of us are old enough to remember the comic strip Li'l Abner, the dim witted hillbilly from Dogpatch. There was a cave called the “skonk works” where the … Read More
Proposal 1 was defeated in Michigan on Tuesday. This is good news (for now) for the state. Rick Snyder has already promised to draft a new Emergency Dictator law and … Read More
It was during the late winter of 1774 in London the House of Lords argued what to do with the American colonies after they were informed anonymous men dressed as … Read More
The 2012 Republican Party platform is reported by CNN to include the goal of a Constitutional ban on all abortions, making no exceptions for rape or incest survivors. This is … Read More
Start a discussion about 20th century industry in America and images of factories humming with production probably fill your head. It's nice that romantic image fills your head because the … Read More
Today, June 5th in the state of Wisconsin the most important election of the year to date will take place. The people of Wisconsin will have the choice to elect … Read More
In the wake of the November elections we’ve heard a lot of talk about the Republican Party’s shortcomings. They were cast out of Washington due, in large part, to disconnected … Read More
