New from Alex Nitkin: Johnson administration faces credibility crunch over a key plank of $1.25B bond plan
illinoisanswers.org/2024/04/25/joh…

Over the next 30 years, Illinois will see an increase of 30k properties that are at risk for substantial flooding, according to projections from First Street Foundation. Our map breaks down each country’s change in risk. Find your county here: illinoisanswers.org/2024/04/16/chi…

Use the map to view complaint hotspots for flooding complaints in Chicago, as well as the location of about 400 alley construction projects as a part of the city’s Green Alleys program: illinoisanswers.org/2024/04/18/chi…

For the past 30 years, two state agencies have purchased over 4,000 flood-prone properties through buyout programs. View this map that plots nearly every property buyout from 1993 to 2023: illinoisanswers.org/2024/04/23/ill…

NEW from Laura Stewart: A state government home buyout program has helped hundreds of people move out of harm's way. But for many, it takes too long.
illinoisanswers.org/2024/04/23/ill…

Illinois Answers Reporters Meredith Newman and Alex Nitkin were on City Cast Chicago to discuss their recent series on flooding in Illinois.

You can listen to the episode here: chicago.citycast.fm/podcasts/will-…

Illinois Answers reporter Meredith Newman will be on ABC 7 Chicago this morning to discuss her story covering flooding in Illinois.

Watch live at 8:45 a.m. here: abc7chicago.com/watch/live/
And read the story here: illinoisanswers.org/2024/04/16/chi…

Green alleys are a special type of infrastructure to prevent flooding, one of Illinois’ most threatening natural disasters. Their construction in Chicago has skewed heavily toward the city’s North and Northwest Side. Read more here: illinoisanswers.org/2024/04/18/chi…

Also check our interactive heat map to compare flood complaint density to green alley abundance in your neighborhood.
Here's the North Side 40th Ward (1,947 flood complaints in 2021-23; 23 green alleys) vs the West Side 24th ward (2,143 complaints; five green alleys)

Illinois Answers Project Project's Meredith Newman joins the Steve Steve Cochran to discuss the reasons behind the surge of extreme rain events, what makes flooding Illinois' most threatening natural disaster, and solutions to prevent the next flooding disaster.
wlsam.com/2024/04/18/ill…

NEW from Alex Nitkin: ‘Green Alleys’ prevent flooding, but vulnerable neighborhoods must wait in line.
illinoisanswers.org/2024/04/18/chi…

Flooding is Illinois’ most threatening natural disaster and touches every corner of the state.

Read more here: illinoisanswers.org/2024/04/16/chi…

The Illinois Answers Project interviewed a range of experts on flooding, climate and infrastructure to explore how prepared Chicago and the state are to combat the growing environmental threats its residents face. Read the first in the series here: illinoisanswers.org/2024/04/16/chi…

When it comes to preventing severe flooding, there’s not one fix. Over the next few weeks, Illinois Answers will examine what city and state agencies are doing to protect residents.

Read the first piece in this series, from @merenewman, here: illinoisanswers.org/2024/04/16/chi…

Thanks to Illinois Answers Project for recognizing two Injustice Watch projects as finalists for the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting — Carlos Ballesteros's investigation w/WBEZ into medical releases and david jackson's series on elder financial exploitation.