Save Milan Bottoms

06/04/2026

06/02/2026

Hey Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, City of Rock Island Government, Dylan Parker, Augustana College - Illinois, Stern and Hughbanks,

Can you provide an update on the status of the required permits for this project? Community members have raised concerns about whether all necessary approvals have been obtained before construction activities proceed.

What guidance has IDOT provided regarding the access road? Is any expansion proposed, and if so, how would impacts to adjacent wetlands be avoided and permitted?

Given the presence of federally regulated waters and wetlands in the area, transparency regarding permitting, environmental review, and regulatory compliance is important to the public. If permits have been issued, please share them so residents can review the applicable conditions and requirements.

The community deserves clear answers and accountability regarding activities that affect sensitive habitat, wetlands, and other public resources.

05/29/2026

Turtles are on the move right now, and they're STUBBORN. That's because they're out looking for a place to lay eggs (sometimes in gravel near the road, unfortunately). 🐢 🚧

Give them a hand during World Turtle Week (and beyond) without making them grumpier 👇

If you see a turtle trying to cross the road and it's safe for you to do so:
Pick up the turtle with both hands (with gloves if you have them) by the shell, and from behind. Do NOT pick up a turtle by its tail! (It can cause spinal damage.)

For snapping turtles, you may want to just encourage it across the road rather than picking it up. If you do pick it up, grab the snapper by its back legs with its head facing AWAY from your body. ***Trust us on the "away from your body" part.***

Always move the turtle in the direction it was already moving. Otherwise, it will just try to cross again after you leave. We said they're stubborn, remember? Do not take the turtle to a different location, and especially not home with you. They don't need to be rescued, just a crossing guard. 🐢🚸

If the turtle is sitting in gravel, leave it be, as it's likely nesting.

Wash your hands thoroughly after handling a turtle.

05/26/2026

At some point, we have to acknowledge the inhumanity and recklessness that can accompany unchecked power and profit-driven decision-making.

Throughout this process, we have repeatedly watched public trust be undermined. When community members shared information in good faith, that information was later used in ways that appeared to limit public access to the very lands where independent data collection was needed to demonstrate the presence of critical habitat for endangered species.

Time and again, we have witnessed decisions that raise serious concerns about transparency and accountability: a former mayor helping advance a project benefiting a neighbor, developers moving forward with construction before all regulatory approvals were in place, and elected officials voting in favor of a project despite overwhelming public opposition expressed directly before them. We also observed individuals with political and institutional connections attempting to exert influence through their relationships with local government and public agencies.

These actions represent more than isolated incidents. They reflect a pattern in which political influence, private interests, and development pressures appear to outweigh the voices of residents, the protection of wildlife, and the stewardship of public resources.

No community can afford to ignore such patterns. History shows that when power is concentrated and accountability is weakened, both people and the environment pay the price. If we want a different future, we must be willing to learn from the past, demand transparency, and insist that public officials serve the public, not special interests.

05/25/2026

Happy World Turtle Day! Watch out while driving on the roads from April through October when turtles are most active. Stay alert, follow the speed limit, and be prepared to brake if you see one of these slow moving reptiles.

Turtles, such as the state-endangered Blanding's turtle, can be long lived, so the loss of even one mother to a road collision can cause ripple effects in the population for decades to come. Every egg counts when it comes to saving an endangered species.

Learn more here https://www.dupageforest.org/turtle-crossing-season-2026

05/25/2026

05/25/2026

Could and should be us

05/23/2026

02/07/2026

A British woman has won a landmark court case that is drawing global attention to the unintended consequences of LED street lighting. By presenting scientific and environmental evidence, she successfully demonstrated that certain LED street lamps were negatively affecting human health while also causing harm to local wildlife. The ruling ordered the removal of the lights, marking a rare legal acknowledgment of light pollution as a public health and ecological issue rather than a mere nuisance.

The case highlighted how high-intensity LED lighting can disrupt human circadian rhythms by interfering with natural sleep cycles and melatonin production. Prolonged exposure to artificial blue-rich light at night has been linked to sleep disorders, stress, and metabolic disturbances. Beyond human health, the court examined evidence showing that LED street lamps disorient bats, insects, and birds, interfering with feeding, migration, and reproduction. Insects are particularly vulnerable, which creates cascading effects across entire ecosystems that rely on them.

This ruling sets an important precedent by recognizing environmental light exposure as a factor worthy of legal protection. It reinforces the idea that technological progress must be balanced with biological and ecological considerations. While LED lighting is energy efficient, this case shows that design, intensity, and placement matter. The outcome encourages cities to rethink urban lighting strategies that protect human health and biodiversity while still meeting safety and infrastructure needs.

02/07/2026

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1276875121082777&id=100062809037920&post_id=100062809037920_1276875121082777&mibextid=CDWPTG