Category: politics and the environment

Celebrating the Eighth Anniversary of My Blog, Nature in Chicagoland

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, @FPDCC, astronomy, biking, birdwatching, books, botanical gardens and arboretums, bouldering, camping, canoeing, canyons, cemeteries, Chicago, chicago park district, Chicago Parks, Chicago River, Chicago stories, climbing, conservation, conservatories, cross-country skiing, Des Plaines River, Driftless Region, election candidates, eskers, fall colors, family and friends stories, far, far away from Chicago, farms, fens, fiction, fishing, FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF DUPAGE COUNTY, FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF KANE COUNTY, Forest Preserve District of Will County, Forest Preserve of Cook County, Galena Illinois, gardening, ghost hunting, glacial kames, hiking, holiday gifts, horseback riding, Iceland, Illinois, Illinois Department of Natural resources, Illinois Nature preserves, Indiana, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, insects, Iowa, Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Jordan, Kansas, kayaking, kids activities, Lake County Forest Preserves, Lake County Illinois attractions, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lee County (IL), local history, MCHENRY COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT, meteorology, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, museums, music, National Park Service, Native American History, nature art, nature calendars, nature centers, Nature Conservancy, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, orchids, Pennsylvania, pets, photography, poems, politics and the environment, prairies, presidents, product reviews, Rockford, Illinois, settlers and Indians, skywatching, sledding, snowshoeing, social issues, social justice, South Dakota, spring wildflowers, train travel, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. history, Upper Peninsula of Michigan, volunteering, waterfalls, winter activities, Wisconsin, zoos

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” Today is the eighth anniversary of the founding of my blog, “Nature in Chicagoland,” and I’m so happy to have written nearly 300 articles about woods, wetlands, prairies, lakes, and other natural areas in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana. I’m pleased that my articles on … Continue reading Celebrating the Eighth Anniversary of My Blog, Nature in Chicagoland

Meet Sharon Waller: A Candidate for Election to the Board of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

by anders458, posted in Chicago, Chicago River, conservation, election candidates, Illinois, politics and the environment, Uncategorized

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” UPDATED OCTOBER 2024 What is the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago, and why should it matter to you? The MWRD plays a major role in treating wastewater, reducing flooding (increasingly important as Illinois’ climate becomes wetter due to global climate change), and reducing … Continue reading Meet Sharon Waller: A Candidate for Election to the Board of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Meet Susanna Ernst, a Candidate for Alderperson of Chicago’s 45th Ward

by anders458, posted in Chicago, Chicago stories, election candidates, Illinois, politics and the environment, Uncategorized

When an alderperson or other elected official fails to hold himself or herself to high levels of ethical behavior and personal and professional decorum and is under multiple investigations by the FBI, the Chicago Board of Ethics, the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, and the Office of the Inspector General, the public loses confidence in them, … Continue reading Meet Susanna Ernst, a Candidate for Alderperson of Chicago’s 45th Ward

Meet James Suh, a Candidate for Alderperson of Chicago’s 45th Ward

by anders458, posted in election candidates, politics and the environment, Uncategorized

When an alderperson or other elected official fails to hold himself or herself to high levels of ethical behavior and personal and professional decorum and is under multiple investigations by the FBI, the Chicago Board of Ethics, the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, and the Office of the Inspector General, the public loses confidence in them, … Continue reading Meet James Suh, a Candidate for Alderperson of Chicago’s 45th Ward

Earth Day Essay Collection is a Great Read Any Time of the Year

by anders458, posted in books, conservation, holiday gifts, politics and the environment, Uncategorized

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND BLOG UPDATED APRIL 2025 I was intrigued when I received a press release about David C. Mahood’s new book, Kings of a Lonely Kingdom: Earth Day Essays, Poems, and Musings on Nature (ISBN 978-0-9994876-2-4, 2021, 208 pages, $19, plus shipping). For 10 years on Earth … Continue reading Earth Day Essay Collection is a Great Read Any Time of the Year

Meet Yumeka Brown: A Candidate for Election to the Board of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

by anders458, posted in Chicago, Chicago River, Des Plaines River, Illinois, Lake Michigan, politics and the environment, social issues, Uncategorized

This is my third interview with candidates for the board of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago. The election will be held on November 8, 2022; early voting is ongoing. You can also read my interviews with board candidates Patricia Theresa Flynn and Daniel Pogorzelski. You might ask…why is the MWRD important … Continue reading Meet Yumeka Brown: A Candidate for Election to the Board of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Meet Daniel Pogorzelski: A Candidate for Election to the Board of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

by anders458, posted in Chicago River, Illinois, Lake Michigan, politics and the environment, Uncategorized

What is the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago, and why should it matter to you? The MWRD plays a major role in treating wastewater, reducing flooding (increasingly important as Illinois’ climate becomes wetter due to global climate change), and reducing the amount of stormwater (which collects and transports animal waste, garbage, pesticides, … Continue reading Meet Daniel Pogorzelski: A Candidate for Election to the Board of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Meet Patricia Theresa Flynn: A Strong Candidate for Election to the Board of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

by anders458, posted in Chicago, conservation, Illinois, politics and the environment, Uncategorized

What is the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago, and why should it matter to you? The MWRD plays a major role in treating wastewater, reducing flooding (increasingly important as Illinois’ climate becomes wetter due to global climate change), and reducing the amount of stormwater (which collects and transports animal waste, garbage, pesticides, … Continue reading Meet Patricia Theresa Flynn: A Strong Candidate for Election to the Board of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

A Vote for President Trump is a Vote for an Unhealthy Environment

by anders458, posted in conservation, politics and the environment, Uncategorized

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER & AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND The job of protecting the environment—ensuring clean air, soil, and water; protecting federal land from mining and logging, and mitigating the effects of climate change—starts at the top with President Trump, but his efforts as an environmental steward have been abysmal. In his nearly 4 … Continue reading A Vote for President Trump is a Vote for an Unhealthy Environment

Meet Eira Corral Sepúlveda: A Strong Candidate for Election to the Board of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

by anders458, posted in Chicago, Chicago River, conservation, Illinois, Lake Michigan, politics and the environment

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND Eira Corral Sepúlveda is running for election to the board of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago. I think the average person takes the MWRD for granted, but it plays a major role in treating wastewater, reducing flooding (increasingly important as Illinois’ climate becomes wetter due … Continue reading Meet Eira Corral Sepúlveda: A Strong Candidate for Election to the Board of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago