This weekend’s weather is wreaking havoc all over the place. More than 100 flights at O’Hare were cancelled due to the weather. Delays averaged more than two hours yesterday. As of this morning, the Aviation Department had not reported any delays for today. more ›

Things are a mess at the Caterpillar plant in Rockdale (near Joliet) this morning after a holding tank overflowed, sending 65,000 gallons of oil sludge spilling out into the surrounding area. Of that, 6,000 gallons wound up in the Des Plaines River. By Sunday night, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency officials claimed the spill had been contained and, according to spokeswoman Maggie Carson, "there is no evidence of a fish kill or harm to water fowl." Ginny Narsete, a spokeswoman for the U.S. EPA, said there was not enough oil or sludge in the water to cut off the oxygen supply to any fish in the river, the biggest danger in these situations. Of course, it was a three mile stretch of the Des Plaines that was affected, so while it's not out of the question there wasn't much harm to wildlife, it's still 6,000 gallons of oil sludge; that's going to mess with some part of the eco-system, right? Officials insist there is no eminent danger to any humans living in the area, though. more ›

"Grinders" via pantagrapher. more ›

A week ago, there were snakes everywhere we turned. But today, we learned that wild rattlesnakes are a disappearing species, and a recent survey found only 10 in a prairie near the Des Plaines River. more ›

"His options were quickly running out" via p2wy more ›

River Reversal? more ›

Last week Chicagoist commented on the abundance of May showers that were predicted. Little did we know that we were in for a week or more of torrential lightening, thunder, hail and tornado-producing storms. On TV, all of the local stations have had a weather bug in the corner for days warning us of the danger of floods. The abundance of rain has caused many Illinois rivers to overflow. There has already been some flooding... more ›