After a scandal exposed widespread lead contamination in Chicago schools, new legislation requires regular lead testing.
After long negotiations about standards and testing practices, Illinois has finally reached a deal and will pass a bill mandating lead testing in Illinois schools and licensed day-care facilities. Among other provisions, the Bill SB550 would require, "…schools built before the year 2000 that serve students fifth grade and younger, would be required to test for lead in all its drinking water sources, as well as sources of water used for cooking at the schools," according to reporting from Natasha Korecki in Politico.
One sticking point was where funds would come from for lead abatement. This bill requires schools to fund their own testing rather than require their water suppliers to pay for it. Jen Walling of the Illinois Environmental Council spoke on the possible costs. "Walling estimated the cost of testing for each school at $500 to $5,000. Much larger costs come in if lead is present and mitigation is required," Koreki writes.
FULL STORY: Illinois poised to require lead testing in public schools, day care centers
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
How California Transit Agencies are Addressing Rider Harassment
Safety and harassment are commonly cited reasons passengers, particularly women and girls, avoid public transit.
Significant Investments Needed to Protect LA County Residents From Climate Hazards
A new study estimates that LA County must invest billions of dollars before 2040 to protect residents from extreme heat, increasing precipitation, worsening wildfires, rising sea levels, and climate-induced public health threats.
Federal Rule Raises Cost for Oil and Gas Extraction on Public Lands
An update to federal regulations raises minimum bonding to limit orphaned wells and ensure cleanup costs are covered — but it still may not be enough to mitigate the damages caused by oil and gas drilling.
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