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View the story “‘Eight Forty-Eight’ for 08.22.12” on Storify]
‘Eight Forty-Eight’ for 08.22.12
Wednesday on Eight-Forty-Eight, host Tony Sarabia covers all the environment-related issues plaguing the Chicago area right now (and in the past).
Storified by · Wed, Aug 22 2012 06:49:30
First, we look at West Nile: According to the U.S. Centerfor Disease Control and Prevention, The United States is having the biggestoutbreak of West Nile virus since 2004. While Texas is the hardest hit,Illinois has reported cases in 38 counties, compared to only 15 last year.
CDC West Nile Virus Homepage2012 West Nile virus update: as of August 14 Thus far in 2012, 43 states have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mo…
In the Chicago area, two public officials have come down with West Nile, including Lombard’s village president, who died over the weekend. Illinois Director of Public Health, Dr. LeMar Hasbrouck, talks about the virus, and what people can do to reduce their chances of getting it.
We’re also talking about how we can plan for climate change: While the Chicago area has (thankfully) cooled off, we all know from personal experience that this summer’s weather has been one of extremes. Many areas of the country have seen the worst drought in 50 years.
City of Chicago Climate ActionFrom the start, the charge and scope of the Chicago Climate Task Force was broad and ambitious. Dozens of experts and a nationally recogn…
In some cases, the extreme heat has pushed the nation’s infrastructure to the brink, as seen this New York Times article. Highways are cracking, railways are kinking. In Illinois, a nuclear power plant’s cooling ponds recently exceeded temperature limits. Environmental experts have been warning that the nation’s infrastructure wasn’t built to withstand the intense weather conditions, projected to become even more severe in coming decades.
Rise in Weather Extremes Threatens Infrastructure - NYTimes.com1 day ago … From highways to power plants, the concrete, steel and engineering that undergird the nation's infrastructure are bei…
Vicki Arroyo, executive director of the Georgetown Climate Center, and Aaron Durnbaugh, the director of sustainability for Loyola University, examine the problem and look at what’s being done nationally and in Chicago to prepare our roads, railways and grid.
Here’s Vicki at doing a Ted Talk, where she tells us how to adapt to storms and floods, prepare for heat and drought and adapt for rising seas.
Protect what we cherish from the coming climate changes: Vicki Arroyo at TEDGlobal201227 June 2012 Vicki Arroyo knows a thing or two about climate change. A lawyer by training, she is the executive director of the Georgetow…
And WBEZ history blogger John Schmidt quizzes listeners on extreme Chicago weather: Call 312.923.9239