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City Cast Chicago

Let us help you find Mother Nature in this concrete jungle.

October is peak fall foliage season in Illinois, which is why we're helping you plan your trips to take in all the crisp autumn colors. Let’s go leaf-peeping 🍂

 helps residents see when and where leaves are changing. Fall foliage is expected to peak by the second week of October in Northern Illinois and by the end of October in Central and Southern Illinois.

Forest Preserves of Winnebago County in Rockford

Chicago has plenty of spots to take in the autumn colors

. Score other leaf-peeping tips from our colleagues in 

October is peak fall foliage season in Illinois, which is why we're helping you plan your trips to take in all the crisp autumn colors.

Where to Peep Leaves in Illinois

Urban Almanac

Chicagoans are urged to turn off their lights this time of year to 

. But there’s another reason residents should keep their lights off: light pollution.

Excess artificial lighting of night skies in cities caused by street lamps, homes, office buildings, and billboards.

Animals’ migration, habitat formation, and sleeping patterns can be affected.

People’s circadian rhythms can be disrupted.

Stargazing in the city with the naked eye is nearly impossible, and becoming more difficult in the Chicago suburbs. That’s why some 

How Can Light Pollution in Chicago Be Fought?

The city has already replaced most streetlights with LED lights

, a Chicago Department of Transportation spokesperson told the Tribune.

But Ken Walczak, senior manager of the Adler Planetarium’s Far Horizons program, said LED lights still emit blue light and contribute to sky glow. Instead, he said the city should dim street lights and only use the amount of light it needs.

Plus, the city should also regulate the light pollution that businesses — like parking lots and gas stations — emit.

Another Reason Chicagoans Should Turn Off Lights? Light Pollution

About 5 million birds are expected to migrate over Chicago via the Mississippi Flyway, a migratory route between Canada and South America.

But not all birds make the journey: Some get injured or die along the way.

How Chicagoans Can Make Birds’ Trips Easier

 if you live in a tall or short building along the lakefront, which are often along flight paths. Some birds continuously circle the buildings and die from exhaustion or collision.

 if you find a dead or injured bird at 773-988-1867.

 to see how many birds are flying above you per night.

Why Chicagoans Should Turn Lights Off This Fall

The seasons are changing, and monarch butterflies will soon be migrating south. But there are plenty of ways Chicagoans can celebrate and help save the endangered pollinators.

 gives free milkweed seeds, a host plant for monarch butterflies, to Cook County residents who fill out a pledge.

 seeks to plant 150 million new milkweed stems in the state by 2038. Creating a Route 66 Monarch Flyway from Chicago to St. Louis is one of the efforts the org is working on.

 is the brainchild of Pilsen resident Claudia Galeno-Sanchez. The group educates about monarch butterfly preservation by giving out native plants and sharing butterfly garden building tips.

🎧 Galeno-Sanchez’s home is a stunning butterfly sanctuary

The seasons are changing, and monarch butterflies will soon be migrating south.

How to Save, Celebrate Monarch Butterflies in Chicagoland

Temperatures could feel as high as 115 degrees this week. Here’s what to know and how to stay safe.

The National Weather Service warns that “

” is expected around Chicagoland through Thursday as highs could reach nearly 100 degrees and feel even hotter.

The district said 99% of buildings had air conditioning as of last week, 

but failed to specify how many classrooms had air conditioning

, according to the Tribune. And classrooms without were supposed to be provided portable AC in time for the first day of school.

Chicagoans should stay inside, remain hydrated, wear loose cotton clothing, and minimize oven and stove use. Residents can take shelter at:

A cold front is expected Friday, but could come Thursday. Possible thunderstorms along Lake Michigan could also help the heat pass.

How to Beat ‘Oppressive’ Chicago Heat

What’s red, looks like a mini lobster, and has the potential to seriously affect local ecosystems? The red swamp crayfish, an invasive species that one ecologist is trying to remove from the Chicago River.

Where Did the Red Swamp Crayfish Come From?

Originally from the South, some theorize the five-inch crustaceans were used as bait or escaped from pet shops. Reuben Keller, a Loyola University freshwater ecologist, told WBEZ he suspects 

elementary schools probably released their class pets into the river

What Makes Red Swamp Crayfish So Dangerous?

As one of the most invasive species in the world, they compete with native species for food and habitat and can cause structural damage to property. That’s why they’re illegal in Illinois.

This Crayfish Isn’t for Eating … At Least in Chicago

Despite Louisiana fishers having long commercially harvested crayfish and 

, Keller recommends not eating the ones found in the river because much of the population lives by a sewage plant. (That’s a different approach from when 

Mostly Keller right now, whose lab has set up traps in the water that are emptied twice a week in the summer.

The red swamp crayfish is an invasive species that one ecologist is trying to remove from the Chicago River.

Will Red Swamp Crayfish Hurt Chicago River?

Northwest and Southwest siders who live near airports are deeply familiar with the sounds of planes taking off and touching down at O’Hare and Midway — and all the disturbances the noises cause.

A free program is helping eligible residents soundproof their homes.

Noise pollution is unwanted or disturbing sounds that affect everyday activities like sleeping and talking. 

Sounds that are above 85 decibels or higher can be harmful to our ears

, according to the National Institutes of Health. (A motorcycle emits up to 100 dB, and fireworks up to 120 dB.)

In addition to noise-related hearing loss, residents who live by airports are more at risk of developing high blood pressure and stress-related illnesses.

 has soundproofed more than 20,000 homes since the ‘90s. Milhouse Inc., Vice President of Program Management James Fifer and senior engineer Dan Mullane told Hey Chicago how it works.

Eligible homes in noisy areas by the airports are identified, and then installation includes new windows, doors, and even air conditioning (the latter helps residents keep windows closed in the summer).

The reception? More than 90% of survey respondents were satisfied with the change, Mullane said.

Check to see if you are in the eligible regions by O'Hare

. Complain to 311 about airport noise. (It’s one of the 

Chicago is the third noisiest city in the country

 due to airport operations, population density, and music fests, according to a study by 42Floors.

Correction: A previous version of this article misspelled Dan Mullane's name.

A free program is helping eligible residents near O'Hare and Midway soundproof their homes.

How Chicagoans Can Get Homes Soundproofed From Airport Noise

Illinois has had the most tornadoes in the country so far in 2023 — more than 100, according to the National Weather Service.

That’s not super unusual: Illinois usually ranks in the top 10. But an early start to tornado season in March — nearly 40 in a day — gave us a boost.

Tornado Season Longer, and “Tornado Alley” Shifting

we’re increasingly seeing tornadoes in the region during the offseason

, according to the National Weather Service.

Tornado activity is up across the mid-South and Midwest

, Northern Illinois University meteorology professor Victor Gensini told Axios. Climate change is likely playing a role, but research about how is in its infancy.

The lake and skyscrapers do not protect against twisters

In Chicago, sirens go off for three consecutive minutes when the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning, which means a tornado has been spotted. Your phone will also probably alert you about the threat. 

Experts advise taking shelter immediately inside

On the ground floor (e.g., basement, bathroom, closet)

Illinois has had the most tornadoes in the country so far in 2023.

Why Chicago Isn't Safe From Tornadoes

While wildfire smoke is putting air quality on Chicagoans’ minds, a Hyde Parker has been on a mission to make air cleaner at concerts in the city. 

 was born after Emily Dupree’s partner got COVID-19 at a concert in the city this year. Dupree crowdfunded nine HEPA purifiers to loan out to artists and venues to make shows COVID-safer.

Within a couple weeks of launching, there was more demand than there were purifiers, Dupree said.

Artists, venues, and galleries can check out HEPA purifiers, which usually cost $650 each, for free for a single event or a few months. 

, which will help get purifiers in the hands of more artists. Reach out to venues and express interest for more COVID-safe shows, including masking and testing requirements.

Air purification reduces not only COVID transmission but also effects of wildfire smoke. COVID safety is also a workplace issue for performers and workers at venues night after night.

“I think there is this kind of false perception that everybody has moved on from COVID,” Dupree said. “But what has happened is the people who do want COVID safety have been pushed out of these spaces. There is a big untapped market for COVID-safe shows.”

Check out a purifier at the Chicago Tool Library

Who’s Fighting For Clean Air at Chicago Concerts?

The City of Chicago has an Office of Climate and Environmental Equity, but critics say the city needs an environment department, not just an office.

That demand may be fulfilled if Mayor Johnson follows his transition committee’s 

223-page report detailing a four-year plan to “transform” Chicago.

 It includes the goal to “fully resource a new Department of Environment with a focus on environmental justice.”

The new department would advance policies to reduce pollution and increase environmental equity.

The department would aim to significantly increase environmental inspection and enforcement, and provide more transparency in zoning and permitting.

The report says this department should be permanent and immune to budget deficits.

Though the report recommends dedicating “substantial funding” to creating the department in the 2025 budget, the full timeline is not clear.

How different would this department be from the current office?

, Chicago departments typically have larger budgets and a greater level of accountability.

Questions remain about how the city will pay for this new department

 and the rest of Johnson’s efforts outlined in the lofty report.

How will the city pay for all this?

If the mayor follows his transition committee’s 223-page report detailing a four-year plan to “transform” Chicago, the city may see a new Department of Environment.