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Thursday, March 28, 2024

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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

IL: Sustainable Agriculture and Farming

Agricultural officials saod bringing broadband connections to rural Illinois countries could provide farmers with data that could increase both crop yields and annual profits. (Wikimedia Commons)
New tool gauges economic effects of expanded broadband in rural IL

By Will Wright for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Illinois News Connection reporting for The Daily Yonder-Public News Servi…

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Farmers in Illinois and across the country are concerned over whether Congress will complete its work on a new Farm Bill by the end of the current term. (Adobe Stock)
Farm Bill delays could affect food benefits for many Americans

The once-every-five-year Farm Bill will likely be extended to six years this time around, as Congress seems months away from finding a path forward…

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Researchers used
Illinois Environmental Group Seeks Ban on Pesticides Harmful to Bees

An Illinois group reported toxic pesticides are causing irreversible damage to young, developing bees, putting the bee population in decline and food …

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Mexico and Canada are the largest importers of meat into the United States, but other countries such as Brazil, Australia and Japan sell significant amounts of beef, pork and lamb here as well. (Simone van den Berg/Adobe Stock)
Proposed USDA Rule Change Would Limit Use of 'Product of USA' Labels

A proposal by the U.S. Department of Agriculture would change the rules on what foods can be labeled "Product of USA." Current regulations allow …

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Many of Illinois' soil and water conservation priorities are laid out in the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, which was released in 2015. (Adobe Stock)
IL Advocates Push for Greater Awareness of Soil Health

Illinois environmental advocates are pushing lawmakers in Springfield to recognize the importance of soil health. The General Assembly is …

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Seamus Ford is the co-founder of the Harambee Community Garden in West Chicago. According to the Trust for Public Land, there are more than 29,000 garden plots in city parks in the 100 largest U.S. cities. (Jordyn Harrison)
In Chicago, Community Gardens Give New Life to Abandoned Land

By Jordyn Harrison for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Jordyn Harrison and Jonah Chester for Illinois News Connection reporting for the YES! Media-…

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According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 15,000 water bodies across the country have nutrient-related environmental problems. (Adobe Stock)
IL Bill Could Impact Waters as Distant as Gulf of Mexico

Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill proponents say could benefit water quality not only locally, but in places as far-flung as the Gulf of …

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Illinois has a goal of reducing the nitrogen and phosphorus going into its waterways by 45% by 2025. But conservation groups say the state is far behind in reaching that goal, and needs more funding for these efforts. (Adobe Stock)
Protecting Mississippi River Key Focus of IL Fund

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - A bipartisan effort to extend a conservation fund in Illinois continues ahead of next week's budget deadline. Supporters in the …

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Illinois' Partners for Conservation Fund, which has been around since the mid-1990s, supports conservation programs, including the Soil and Water Conservation Districts around the state. (Adobe Stock)
IL Budget Crunch Leaves Ag Conservation Funds in Danger

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Some Illinois farmers say they want to help protect natural resources, but incentives are crucial to making that happen. A …

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Illinois farmers are experiencing rainier springs and drier summers because of the changing climate. (EJRodriquez/Adobe Stock)
Agriculture Steps Up to Meet Climate Change

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- With farms and ranches on the front lines of climate change, organizations have come together to launch the Food and Agriculture …

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Soil conservation practices can help soybeans and other crops become more resilient to extreme weather. (USDA/Flickr)
IL Farmers Focus on Soil Health to Fight Climate Change Impacts

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Amid the challenges of another rain-soaked spring and a global pandemic, hundreds of Illinois farmers are using conservation …

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Stunted or curled leaves on trees are a sign of herbicide damage. (Prairie Rivers Network/Flickr)
Groups say Herbicide Threatens Keystone Tree Species in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — It was just a few years ago that the approved use of a powerful herbicide was expanded to soybeans. Now environmental …

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