Illinois department of public health

Concerns about brain cancer cases in Piatt County grow, but Illinois public health agency yet to investigate

Lessie Ann Patterson lived in Monticello, Illinois, for 25 years before dying in 2015 from glioblastoma, a rapidly advancing brain cancer with an average survival time of 12 to 18

By Molly Hughes, Stephanie Orellana and Nazala Salauddin, for Investigate Midwest

/ 17 Mar 2025

Concerns about brain cancer cases in Piatt County grow, but Illinois public health agency yet to investigate

In the Midwest, state oversight has forced some employers to provide better housing for migrant farmworkers. But regulations remain spotty.

While oversight of H2A farmworker housing is enforced by the federal government, migrant farmworker housing is state jurisdiction. Some Midwestern states inspect twice — others not at all.

By Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest and Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest

/ 16 Dec 2022

In the Midwest, state oversight has forced some employers to provide better housing for migrant farmworkers. But regulations remain spotty.

The Trump Administration told an Illinois health department to leave Rochelle Foods alone. Then a second COVID-19 outbreak struck the plant.

A May 1 conference call with federal, state and local health officials sent one message: Despite a COVID-19 outbreak amongst it workers, Rochelle Foods was to remain open. This fall, a second outbreak at the plant wasn’t publicly reported.

By Derek Kravitz, Brown Institute for Media Innovation, Georgia Gee, Stabile Center Investigative Journalism, Columbia Journalism School, Madison McVan, Investigate Midwest and Ignacio Calderon, USA TODAY Network Agriculture Data Fellow, Investigate Midwest

/ 17 Jan 2021

The Trump Administration told an Illinois health department to leave Rochelle Foods alone. Then a second COVID-19 outbreak struck the plant.

More confidential Illinois outbreak reports show how COVID-19 spread over the summer

Newly obtained confidential outbreak data shows how COVID-19 spread through communities this summer.

By georgia-gee-stabile-center-for-investigative-journalism-columbia-journalism-school-derek-kravitz-brown-institute-for-media-innovation-and-sky-chadde-midwest-center-for-investigative-reporting, Georgia Gee, Stabile Center Investigative Journalism, Columbia Journalism School, Derek Kravitz, Brown Institute for Media Innovation and Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest

/ 23 Nov 2020

More confidential Illinois outbreak reports show how COVID-19 spread over the summer

Find Illinois COVID-19 outbreaks in your area

Confidential Illinois data reveals where about 2,600 separate COVID-19 outbreaks have occurred across the state.

By Investigate Midwest staff

/ 7 Oct 2020

Find Illinois COVID-19 outbreaks in your area