Illinois

Rural Illinois has lost population over the past decade. It’s gained in diversity.

Reflecting a national trend, rural counties in Illinois have seen an exodus of, primarily, white residents. Increases in Hispanic residents have fueled an uptick in diversity.

By Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

/ 15 Dec 2021

Rural Illinois has lost population over the past decade. It’s gained in diversity.

GRAPHIC: Illinois pumps out pumpkins

More than 80 percent of the pumpkins grown in Illinois will be processed into pie filling or other food products.

By Madison McVan, Investigate Midwest

/ 28 Oct 2021

As labor pool shrinks, farmers turn to foreign workers

Illinois farmers said they're having an increasingly hard time finding locals to perform labor-intensive farm jobs.

By Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

/ 23 Sep 2021

As labor pool shrinks, farmers turn to foreign workers

COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates Illinois’ ‘quiet curse’ of food insecurity

About 180,000 more Illinois residents are expected to struggle with access to food this year compared to 2019, according to new research. Rural areas in southern parts of the state will likely suffer the most.

By Da Yeon Eom, Investigate Midwest

/ 23 Aug 2021

COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates Illinois’ ‘quiet curse’ of food insecurity

‘Most of the time, it doesn't work out’: Black farmers wait for debt relief as white counterparts sue

White farmers have sued to prevent the USDA from forgiving loans to farmers of color. “Why are things always being stopped for us?” one asked.

By Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

/ 4 Aug 2021

‘Most of the time, it doesn't work out’: Black farmers wait for debt relief as white counterparts sue

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.

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

‘Buy it or else’: Inside Monsanto and BASF’s moves to force dicamba on farmers

Internal company records show the companies knew crop damage from their weed killer would be extensive. They sold it anyway.

By Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest

/ 4 Dec 2020

‘Buy it or else’: Inside Monsanto and BASF’s moves to force dicamba on farmers

Despite hundreds of millions in tax dollars, ADM’s carbon capture program still hasn’t met promised goals

Archer Daniels Midland, one of the world's largest agribusinesses, has yet to make good on its promise to capture a million tons of carbon a year at its Decature, Illinois, facility.

By Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest

/ 19 Nov 2020

Despite hundreds of millions in tax dollars, ADM’s carbon capture program still hasn’t met promised goals

EPA documents show dicamba damage worse than previously thought

The pesticide harmed tens of thousands of farmers, overwhelmed state agriculture departments and damaged research plots across the United States, according to documents the federal agency released Tuesday. Wide swaths of natural areas and rural communities were also poisoned.

By Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest

/ 29 Oct 2020

EPA documents show dicamba damage worse than previously thought

Six years and Tuscola residents still waiting on Cronus fertilizer plant

The company behind the proposal, Cronus Chemicals Inc. has periodically announced new construction dates, new business partners, new leadership and new cost estimates that still leaves the 250-acres of open field farmland undeveloped.

By Claire O'Brien, Therese Pokorney, Reily Sharpe/For Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

/ 30 Jul 2020

Six years and Tuscola residents still waiting on Cronus fertilizer plant

Testing accelerated at Rantoul meat processing plant hit by coronovirus outbreak

Rantoul Foods, one of Central Illinois’ largest meat processing plants, accelerated its mass testing Friday as the number of confirmed cases at the plant rose to 55.

By Pam Dempsey, Investigate Midwest

/ 8 May 2020

Testing accelerated at Rantoul meat processing plant hit by coronovirus outbreak

Rural Illinois has lost population over the past decade. It’s gained in diversity.

GRAPHIC: Illinois pumps out pumpkins

As labor pool shrinks, farmers turn to foreign workers

COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates Illinois’ ‘quiet curse’ of food insecurity

‘Most of the time, it doesn't work out’: Black farmers wait for debt relief as white counterparts sue

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

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

‘Buy it or else’: Inside Monsanto and BASF’s moves to force dicamba on farmers

Despite hundreds of millions in tax dollars, ADM’s carbon capture program still hasn’t met promised goals

EPA documents show dicamba damage worse than previously thought

Six years and Tuscola residents still waiting on Cronus fertilizer plant

Testing accelerated at Rantoul meat processing plant hit by coronovirus outbreak

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