Articles by Regional Reporter, Illinois Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco
Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco is the Midwest regional reporter for Grist and WBEZ Chicago. He previously covered waterways, wildlife, and agriculture for the Mississippi River Basin Agriculture and Water Desk, Harvest Public Media, and WNIJ Northern Public Radio.
All Articles
-
![Road into forest in Illinois]()
![Road into forest in Illinois]()
How the Trump administration is fast-tracking logging in Illinois’ only national forest
Facing pressure to increase timber harvests, the Forest Service is sidestepping rigorous environmental reviews and limiting public participation.
-
![Birds sitting on marshlands]()
![Birds sitting on marshlands]()
Illinois has few remaining wetlands. A Trump administration proposal could decimate what’s left.
If the rule takes effect, more than two-thirds of Illinois’ wetlands could lose federal protections.
-
![Three plumbers in green jackets installing a new water service line.]()
![Three plumbers in green jackets installing a new water service line.]()
‘They’re playing games’: Illinois lawmakers press Trump administration over stalled lead-pipe funding
Congress appropriated $15 billion to replace lead pipes across the country. Is the Trump administration withholding it?
-
![Electrical power lines running through Chicago with blue sky in the background]()
![Electrical power lines running through Chicago with blue sky in the background]()
Illinois takes steps to address high energy costs, betting big on battery storage
The state legislature passed a bill that will add a surcharge for customers in the short term, but should pay it back more than 10-fold over the next 20 years.
