Superfund site

After three years of challenges, including failed nesting attempts due to storms and predators, the American bald eagles Peter and Sarah in Shelby Township's Holland Ponds Park successfully fledged an eaglet in 2026. The pair, named in honor of local Underground Railroad operators, demonstrated strong site fidelity despite previous setbacks. The park, once a Superfund site, has been restored into a natural habitat.

The Illinois legislature failed to pass a bill to keep the Chicago Bears in the state, leaving the team to consider relocation options. The Bears will evaluate sites in Arlington Heights and Hammond, while Indiana offers up to $1 billion in incentives. A modified bill allowing local stadium authorities in Cook County municipalities was approved by the Senate but stalled in the House.

A lead smelter and factories in downtown Omaha, Nebraska, contaminated soil for over a century, leading to lead poisoning risks. The EPA and Omaha have attempted cleanup efforts, but in 2019, the EPA acknowledged its plan may be insufficient, prompting a reevaluation. Journalists from ProPublica and Flatwater Free Press tested over 600 yards, revealing public unawareness of the Superfund site's risks.

Omaha, Nebraska, faces significant lead contamination due to a Superfund site, yet most children aren't tested for lead. A lack of universal testing laws in Nebraska contrasts with 13 other states that require lead screening for all kindergarten-aged children, leading to missed cases of elevated lead levels.