Deputy Natalie Phelps Finnie pinned as new Illinois DNR director

DNR’s new leader is a southern Illinoisan who has spent the past 18 months as a deputy under former director Colleen Callahan. She comes from a family that has strong connections to the state’s outdoors – and even stronger connections to politics. Assuming Natalie Phelps Finnie  is approved by the Illinois Senate, she will  become the second woman to head DNR. Callahan, who held the job since 2019, was the first. Callahan stepped down Jan. 16 at the request of Gov. J.B. Pritzker.