Does Your Home Contain Radioactive Gas?

Over 40 percent of Illinois homes contain dangerous levels of radon gas. For less than $10, you can find out if your's is one of them.

Does Your Home Contain Radioactive Gas?

Over 40 percent of Illinois homes contain dangerous levels of radon gas. For less than $10, you can find out if your's is one of them.

How much would you pay to protect your family? Radon gas is a silent, odorless threat to over 40 percent of Illinois homeowners, according to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. The EPA reports this naturally-occuring radioactive gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Luckily, the state is offering an inexpensive solution for residents to test their homes and protect their families. For less than $10, radon test kits are now available to Illinoisians via this website. Cook County also offers radon test kits for $7. Residents can obtain one by mailing a $7 check or money order to: Cook County Dept. of Environmental Control 69 West Washington Street, Suite 1900 Chicago, IL 60602. Inexpensive radon test kits are also…

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UPDATE: Mokena Oil Tank Leak Recovery Moving Rapidly, Not a Health Risk

The Mokena oil tank spill indeed poses no known health risk, but officials acknowledge that someone should have notified the public.

Cleanup of the oil spill at the Chicap Pipeline in Mokena is moving along at a rapid pace. More than 700 of the 900 barrels of oil that leaked Nov. 20 at the facility, 18401 Wolf Road, has been sopped up. According to a spokesperson for Enbridge Pipeline Distributors, the recovery process is expected to be completed by the end of the week. Officials said there's no health risk resulting from the 900 barrels of crude oil that spilled in unincorporated Mokena on Nov. 20, but they acknowledged that more information could have been given to the public over the weekend.  The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is the federal agency responsible for overseeing the safety of the nation’s natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline…

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Weekly Wrapup

What Made Headlines From Jan. 16-22

The executive director for the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra announces his departure, a local filmmaker talks about his new film, and a website names Gardeenia one of the best wedding florists in the Chicago area.

“Although I was torn about the prospect of leaving the (Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra), I realized opportunity comes when it comes and not necessarily when it’s convenient.” --Edmund Feingold, executive director of the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, discussing his decision to leave the IPO for a job with the Monterey (Calif.) Symphony. Approximate number of tons of road salt used in an average sweep to cover all of Frankfort's streets. We broke down the numbers behind the village's use of road salt during the winter. The Frankfort florist was named one of the best wedding florists in the Chicago area by The Knot website. The Orland Park property owner agreed to pay $35,000 in damages, among other penalties, after he was sued for …

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Frankfort Square Park District Earns EPA Award

The honor recognizes the district's work on Island Prairie Park.

Next week, the Frankfort Square Park District will receive the 2010 Environmental Protection Agency and Chicago Wilderness Conservation and Native Landscaping award for its work at Island Prairie Park. But the award is not just another plaque on the wall for the park district. Rather, the recognition is proof of the district’s commitment to the community to make the most of the natural and recreational resources available, said executive director Jim Randall. “The awards are nice, but they’re really a vehicle for making people aware of what we’re doing," he said. "People aren’t as exposed (to nature) like they used to be." The EPA and Chicago Wilderness award specifically recognizes the district’s effort to create or redevelop “green …

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patrick markham

9:23 am on Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up! This park project Helps the Food Pantry. Jim Moustis Township supervisor and Jim Holland Mayor, helped steer a OSLAD grant through the bureuacracy to make this all possible. The atmosphere Julia provides not only helps those in need but is open to all community ideas and looks forward to some great participation and ideas for ways this …   more ›