Blasting puts Miss. River in ship shape

Jan. 12, 2013
 Crews have completed the most critical phase of removing bedrock that threatened barges along a crucial stretch of the drought-starved Mississippi River in southern Illinois.

Durbin to assess Mississippi River rock-removal effort

Jan. 5, 2013
THEBES, Ill. — Two federal lawmakers from Illinois will get a firsthand look at urgent efforts to clear some Mississippi River bedrock that's crimping shipping on the waterway.Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep.

Mississippi River rock removal brings relief to shippers

Dec. 20, 2012
“The barges can’t get through there, they’ll just tear their bottoms right out,” explained Chicago tugboat owner John Kindra.

Drought could re-reverse the Chicago River

Dec. 17, 2012
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers warns low water in Lake Michigan could lead the river to flow back into the lake - its original direction, by the way.

Morning Shift: The ol' switch-a-roo

Dec. 4, 2012
On Tuesday's show: the latest on charges against Venecko, a review of the Illinois political landscape, the pros and cons of students grading teachers, and low water levels in the Mississippi River.

Drought threatens to close Mississippi to barges

Nov. 29, 2012
After months of drought, the nation's main inland waterway could become impassable to barges.

Un-reversing the river

Jul. 12, 2011
Back in the 19th century, Chicago had a problem: Its river went the wrong way, washing sewage into its drinking water supply in Lake Michigan, spreading diseases like cholera and dysentery. The solution sounded crazy: turn the river around.