Articles filed under Region
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McDonald’s is the latest fast food chain to offer fancier drinksApr 28, 2026 2:57 pm - McDonald’s said Tuesday it will launch six crafted beverages in U.S. restaurants May 6. It’s joining other chains, like KFC, Wendy’s and Taco Bell, that have elevated their drinks in order to lure customers away from rivals like Starbucks and Dutch Bros.
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After year of drama, Crystal Lake park board eyes shake-upApr 24, 2026 1:40 pm - A shake-up on the Crystal Lake Park District board might be on the horizon, as the annual appointment for board president is planned for next month. The Crystal Lake Park...
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Lawmakers eye water use transparency requirements for data centersApr 23, 2026 11:22 am - Data centers’ impact on water resources is one of the biggest concerns about the facilities, and it was the main topic of the final hearing about data center regulations in a House committee on Wednesday. The hearing revolved around the need for transparency, and lawmakers heard from water resource groups and a data center industry representative about the best way to do it.
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Bill would give Illinois EPA greater oversight of manufacturers’ plastic pellet runoffApr 21, 2026 10:56 am - A bill that cleared the Illinois House would give the state’s EPA emergency rulemaking powers to address plastic pellet spills and their effect on stormwater runoff. Plastic pellets are small round objects; the building blocks of plastic manufacturing, shipped from pre-production plastic manufacturers to production facilities then melted and molded into common plastic products. Unintentionally spilled pellets can end up in the state’s waterways when blown by the wind or carried by stormwater, potentially harming birds, turtles and fish.
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Citizens Utility Board urges state authority to reject merger of 2 water suppliersApr 20, 2026 1:56 pm - A proposed merger between the parent companies of the state’s two biggest private water utilities – Illinois American Water and Aqua Illinois – would not serve the public interest, according to experts at the Citizens Utility Board. The consumer watchdog group recently filed testimony urging the Illinois Commerce Commission to reject such a union over concerns about market consolidation, aggressive acquisitions of municipal systems and shoddy service quality.
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Fight over Illinois’ swipe fee law heats up as implementation deadline nearsApr 18, 2026 4:00 pm - A unique-to-Illinois law prohibiting banks and credit card companies from charging swipe fees on tips and taxes is set to take effect July 1, but opponents are challenging its legality in federal appeals court and blitzing the airwaves with ads calling for its repeal.
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Measles in Illinois: What to know about vaccination ratesApr 15, 2026 11:15 am - State public health data shows that measles vaccination rates among Illinois schoolchildren are above the threshold recommended to prevent outbreaks of the highly contagious viral infection.
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The Biz Week That Was: Dutch Bros Coffee coming to Elk Grove, soaring gas prices, and Candy Hall of FameApr 11, 2026 11:36 am - ‘Brewing soon’: Elk Grove Village lands one of first Dutch Bros Coffee shops in the suburbs Dutch Bros Coffee — the drive-through West Coast chain popular with young...
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Pritzker joins bipartisan group of governors pushing for data centers to pay their own electric billsApr 11, 2026 7:22 am - As data centers pop up across the U.S., demand for power is surpassing supply in some regions and solutions are costly.
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Illinois Extension celebrates National Volunteer WeekApr 10, 2026 6:11 pm - National Volunteer Week from April 19-25 celebrates volunteers who support Illinois Extension's mission, with 4-H volunteers serving as club leaders, project superintendents, and mentors who guide youth through hands-on learning and skill development.