14 08, 2026

The House Nobody Can Afford to Tear Down

2026-08-07T14:20:28-05:00

A companion piece to "Small Towns, Big Pipes," our series on the infrastructure crisis facing small communities across Illinois. Earlier articles followed the money underground. This one follows it to the empty house on the [...]

The House Nobody Can Afford to Tear Down2026-08-07T14:20:28-05:00
13 08, 2026

What Actually Worked

2026-08-07T14:19:49-05:00

Another companion piece to "Small Towns, Big Pipes," our series on the infrastructure crisis facing small communities across Illinois. Every article until now has described the problem. This one is about the way out, because [...]

What Actually Worked2026-08-07T14:19:49-05:00
12 08, 2026

The Volunteer Government

2026-08-07T14:18:59-05:00

Another companion piece to "Small Towns, Big Pipes," our series on the infrastructure crisis facing small communities across Illinois. Earlier articles asked why small towns can't fund or staff their water systems. This one asks [...]

The Volunteer Government2026-08-07T14:18:59-05:00
10 08, 2026

Nobody Left to Run It

2026-08-07T13:05:58-05:00

Another companion piece to "Small Towns, Big Pipes," our series on the infrastructure crisis facing small communities across Illinois. Earlier articles covered the pipes, the plants and the money. This one is about the people, [...]

Nobody Left to Run It2026-08-07T13:05:58-05:00
6 08, 2026

Nowhere to Put the Water

2026-08-05T22:28:27-05:00

Another companion piece to "Small Towns, Big Pipes," our series on the infrastructure crisis facing small communities across Illinois. Parts 4 and its health companion covered what happens when storm drainage fails. This article is [...]

Nowhere to Put the Water2026-08-05T22:28:27-05:00
3 08, 2026

The Problem in the Solutions

2026-08-02T22:35:26-05:00

Part 5 of "Small Towns, Big Pipes," the conclusion of our series on the infrastructure crisis facing small communities across Illinois. If you've read this far in the series, you've probably had the same reaction [...]

The Problem in the Solutions2026-08-02T22:35:26-05:00
30 07, 2026

When It Rains

2026-07-29T10:50:29-05:00

Part 4 of "Small Towns, Big Pipes," a series on the infrastructure crisis facing small communities across Illinois. Drinking water has a water bill. Sewer service has a sewer bill. Storm drainage, the third system [...]

When It Rains2026-07-29T10:50:29-05:00
27 07, 2026

Where the Waste Goes

2026-07-29T10:49:32-05:00

Part 3 of "Small Towns, Big Pipes," a series on the infrastructure crisis facing small communities across Illinois. Nobody thinks about water after it goes down the drain. That is the whole point of a [...]

Where the Waste Goes2026-07-29T10:49:32-05:00
23 07, 2026

Old Pipes, New Rules

2026-07-29T10:48:54-05:00

Part 2 of "Small Towns, Big Pipes," a series on the infrastructure crisis facing small communities across Illinois. Turn on your kitchen faucet and clean water comes out. It feels automatic, like flipping a light [...]

Old Pipes, New Rules2026-07-29T10:48:54-05:00
20 07, 2026

The Water Under Main Street

2026-07-29T10:48:35-05:00

Part 1 of "Small Towns, Big Pipes," a series on the infrastructure crisis facing small communities across Illinois. Every small town in Illinois runs on three systems almost nobody thinks about. One brings clean water [...]

The Water Under Main Street2026-07-29T10:48:35-05:00
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