David Mercer

Read the latest stories and analysis from David Mercer.

FILE - This April 5, 2007 file photo shows a male prairie chicken at the Prairie Ridge State Natural Area south of Newton, Ill. A state program that flew prairie chickens to a couple of wildlife preserves in southern Illinois earlier in 2014 generated headlines and fair amount of outrage. (AP Photo/Journal Gazette, Stephen Haas, File)

Energy and Environment

Closer Look: Prairie chickens an election issue

David Mercer · June 15, 2014 9:03 pm

In this May 28, 2014 photo, Jamie and Daniel Cobb pose in the backyard of the their home, now being rebuilt, in Washington, Ill. The Cobbs had lived in their house less than a year when it was destroyed by a tornado in November 2013. The couple expect to be able to move back in within a few months. (AP Photo/David Mercer)

Survival stories turn to rebuilding stories

David Mercer · June 10, 2014 7:11 am

FILE - This Monday, Nov. 18, 2013 aerial file photo shows people walking down a street where homes once stood that were destroyed by a tornado that hit the western Illinois town of Washington. Mayor Gary Manier said the city has issued more than 600 building permits for the more than 1,000 badly damaged or destroyed homes. But construction was slowed by the harsh winter and for many is just beginning. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

Washington rebuilding, but no end in sight

David Mercer · June 10, 2014 7:10 am

The exterior of an Office Max store in Chicago. Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is pushing to give small companies in the state equal access to the tax breaks that big corporations have. The plan takes aim at special EDGE credits _ tax breaks a small number of big companies like Sears Holding Corp. and OfficeMax have sought by going directly to the General Assembly with threats to leave Illinois. Madigan's plan would make the tax credits available to businesses with fewer than 100 employees, and target credits at areas of high poverty and unemployment. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

Tax-break expansion plan raises concerns, shrugs

David Mercer · May 19, 2014 4:00 am

Illinois issues draft of fertilizer plant permit

David Mercer · May 9, 2014 10:03 pm

Students walk past the Alma Mater statue, a landmark on the University of Illinois campus in Urbana, Ill. Public universities in Illinois are bracing for waves or retirements because a state pension-reform law will sharply cut their retirement funds. (AP Photo/David Mercer)

Illinois schools struggle to soften pension losses

David Mercer · May 5, 2014 4:00 am

IKEA buying Illinois wind-energy project

David Mercer · April 10, 2014 7:28 pm

After Boeing bid, Rockford targets high-tech jobs

David Mercer · March 11, 2014 12:00 am

One key piece for the new public-private digital manufacturing lab will be gathering and trying to make sense of massive amounts of data generated by any manufacturing process -- how long it takes, what's involved in the process, how much a mistake can cost -- that now may not be used at all.

New Illinois lab to link companies with research

Associated Press, David Mercer · February 26, 2014 5:00 am

Illinois has joined more than 20 other states trying to lure Boeing's production of the 777x airliner out of Washington state, but the company's long list of requirements could prove expensive. (AP/The Boeing Co.)

Experts: Boeing plant move unlikely for Illinois

David Mercer · December 18, 2013 5:00 am

Caterpillar drops Boy Scouts support over gay ban

David Mercer · June 13, 2013 4:00 am

FILE - In this April 27, 2011 file photo, film critic Roger Ebert welcomes people to the opening of the 13th annual Ebertfest film festival in Champaign, Ill. Through his television shows, movies reviews and essays, Ebert belonged to the world beyond nearbyUrbana, Ill., where he grew up. One part of Ebert's life that got little attention as the nation mourned his sudden death April 4, 2013, was how much he meant to this university town. This year's Ebertfest runs April 178-21. (AP Photo/The News-Gazette, Robert K. O'Daniell, File) MANDATORY CREDIT

Robert Ebert links to his Urbana home remained tight

David Mercer · April 20, 2013 4:00 am