"A train carrying crude oil along the banks of the Mississippi River derailed Thursday in a rural area of northwestern Illinois south of the town of Galena, starting a fire and leading the authorities to recommend that nearby residents leave their homes."

"FRANKLIN GROVE, Ill. — For the first time in almost two centuries, wild bison are roaming east of the Mississippi River."

"The Obama administration and two states have given notice of plans to appeal a federal judge's order that restored legal protection to gray wolves in the western Great Lakes region.The Obama administration and two states have given notice of plans to appeal a federal judge's order that restored legal protection to gray wolves in the western Great Lakes region."

"The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio made history Wednesday in a ruling refusing to allow AEP Ohio to saddle ratepayers with extra charges to subsidize the continued operation of a 1950s-era coal-fired power plant that it owns along with FirstEnergy and other state utilities."

"Most of Michigan’s congressional delegation backed legislation introduced Thursday to stop Asian carp and other invasive species from entering the Great Lakes."

"The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday approved legislation that orders the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to fight the toxic algal blooms that tainted drinking water from Lake Erie last summer."

"Gray wolves in the western Great Lakes region are protected by federal law once more."

"FLINT, Mich. -- In 1994, activists opposing the construction of a wood-fired power plant here asked U.S. EPA for help, arguing the project would spew toxic pollutants into their poor, largely African-American neighborhood."

"Amid pressure from neighborhood groups and Mayor Rahm Emanuel, BP later this year will halt shipments of dusty petroleum coke to Chicago sites across the border from its giant Whiting, Ind., refinery."

"Lamenting that the 'oil and gas industry has gotten its way,' Ohio Supreme Court Justice William M. O’Neill has tongue-in-cheek visions of drilling rigs rising amid the homes of Upper Arlington. By a 4-3 vote, the justices ruled that the state has 'exclusive authority' and that cities and counties can neither ban nor regulate fracking through zoning laws or other restrictions."