A small Illinois town is no longer officially dirty
What happened
US environmental regulators have officially declared Alton Township, Illinois, to have clean air. The area no longer violates federal sulfur dioxide limits.
Why it matters
This is a small, local win for air quality. It means the area has met federal standards for sulfur dioxide, a pollutant that causes respiratory problems and acid rain. For residents, it means cleaner air and fewer health risks from this specific pollutant.
The signal
Watch for any new industrial development in Alton Township that might challenge this clean air status, or if the area's air quality monitoring data shows a reversal.