Illinois Public Media News

In-depth reporting from WILL, NPR, the Associated Press, and other sources

Contact WILL News at willnewsroom@illinois.edu

Play

WILL Newscast

Barack Obama
Pete Souza/Public Domain

President Obama’s Speech At The University Of Illinois

On this special edition of The 21st: President Obama has been on the political sidelines since he left office. But no more. In an hourlong speech at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the former president rebuked President Trump, calling him "a symptom, not a cause" of today's political climate. He also encouraged the nearly 1,100 students in attendance to vote in this fall's midterm elections, saying "our democracy depends on it."

The Middle Fork River running next to the coal ash ponds at the Vermilion Power Station
Darrell Hoemann/The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

Loose Regulations Allow Coal Ash To Threaten River

Each year thousands of families boat down the Middle Fork branch of the Illinois Vermilion River below an embankment that holds back 3.3 million cubic yards of toxic coal ash sludge stored in three large ponds. Coal ash pollution is leaching into the river, and the riverbank is eroding under the ponds. We examine what's a stake in this investigative report.

More articles →