Claire Hettinger/ Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

Midwest Center sensors find potentially hazardous pesticides near schools, parks and homes

For one year, the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting periodically sampled for pesticide drift in five locations surrounded by agricultural fields in Central Illinois, where large numbers of corn and soybeans are planted. Five air sensors put up by the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporti

By Claire Hettinger/ Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting and Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest

/ 17 Dec 2020

Midwest Center sensors find potentially hazardous pesticides near schools, parks and homes

Reporter's Diary: Illinois Farm Bureau encourages farmers, ag business be considered essential business

The American Farm Bureau Federation said they called on Congress to include farmers in rescue measures. The new agreement includes as much as a $14 billion increase in the United States Department of Agriculture’s, USDA’s, borrowing power through the Commodity Credit Corporation. This measure is set

By Claire Hettinger/ Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

/ 2 Apr 2020

Seeking a Cure: Mental health access scarce in rural, farming communities

With farmers facing increasing stress and depression, Midwestern states and national farm groups are making more efforts to better provide services to alleviate the high rate of suicide among the

By Claire Hettinger/ Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting and Pam Dempsey, Investigate Midwest

/ 14 Feb 2020

Seeking a Cure: Mental health access scarce in rural, farming communities

EPA fines Frontier Ag over Clean Air Act violations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, reached a settlement Monday with Frontier Ag Inc. concerning three facilities in Kansas that were violating the Clean Air Act in Oct. 2018.

By Claire Hettinger/ Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

/ 4 Feb 2020

This was the next step on our pesticide drift project

Last week, we hosted a discussion regarding our pesticide drift sensor project. Twenty-five people from various industries including scientists from the University of Illinois, local public health officials, the Champaign County Farm Bureau, and environmental focus groups gathered at the Champaign-U

By Claire Hettinger/ Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

/ 11 Nov 2019

This was the next step on our pesticide drift project

Experts advocate for human rights to a healthy environment

President Trump withdrew this week from the Paris Climate Agreement, a global effort to combat climate change. Earlier this year, Illinois Engagement Reporter Claire Hettinger attended the annual Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Environment Congress at the University of Illinois. This is wha

By Claire Hettinger/ Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

/ 7 Nov 2019

Experts advocate for human rights to a healthy environment

President Trump makes surprise phone call during Decatur Farm Progress Show

United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue took the stage at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois, Wednesday to discuss the U.S.-China trade war, trade agreements and other problems facing farmers. He was interviewed by long-time agriculture journalists Max Armstrong and Orion Samuel

By Claire Hettinger/ Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

/ 30 Aug 2019

President Trump makes surprise phone call during Decatur Farm Progress Show

Farming today is challenging and expensive. Here’s what these farmers had to say about their profession.

The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting set up a booth at the annual Historic Farm Days event with the goals to meet more farmers and discuss changes in the agriculture industry.

By Claire Hettinger/ Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

/ 2 Aug 2019

Farming today is challenging and expensive. Here’s what these farmers had to say about their profession.

Midwest Center hosts first dinner and docs

Farmers, chicken enthusiasts and community members came together to eat dinner and watch a documentary at the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting’s event Dinner and Docs held June 18 The City Center in Champaign, Illinois. The documentary was a Netflix film called “Rotten: Big Bird,” which sh

By Claire Hettinger/ Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

/ 25 Jun 2019

Midwest Center hosts first dinner and docs

Chicken farming hobby highlights changing industry

Sonja Solomonson is in the minority of farmers who produce chicken and other poultry. She lives on a small farm with a small flock, while her competitors raise thousands of birds, contracted with one of the major agribusiness companies. Five companies — Tyson Foods, Pilgrim’s Pride, Sanderson Farms,

By Claire Hettinger/ Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

/ 18 Jun 2019

Chicken farming hobby highlights changing industry

USDA recalls 60,000 pounds of local beef

The USDA recalled more than 60,000 pounds of raw beef from the Aurora Packing Company, Inc. in North Aurora because the meat may be contaminated with E. Coli.

By Claire Hettinger/ Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

/ 29 May 2019

Join us for dinner and a movie; we want your questions

The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting is hosting its first Dinner and Docs event on June 18. It will be an evening of dinner, a documentary and discussion around U.S. chicken production. The event will also highlight how the media covers issues of food and farming.

By Claire Hettinger/ Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

/ 15 May 2019

Claire Hettinger/ Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

Midwest Center sensors find potentially hazardous pesticides near schools, parks and homes

Reporter's Diary: Illinois Farm Bureau encourages farmers, ag business be considered essential business

Seeking a Cure: Mental health access scarce in rural, farming communities

EPA fines Frontier Ag over Clean Air Act violations

This was the next step on our pesticide drift project

Experts advocate for human rights to a healthy environment

President Trump makes surprise phone call during Decatur Farm Progress Show

Farming today is challenging and expensive. Here’s what these farmers had to say about their profession.

Midwest Center hosts first dinner and docs

Chicken farming hobby highlights changing industry

USDA recalls 60,000 pounds of local beef

Join us for dinner and a movie; we want your questions

THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS

MEMBER OF