217 Today: A nurse reflects on starting her career during the COVID-19 pandemic one year later

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Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022

Today’s headlines:

  • Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker vetoed a bill that would have required school districts to give paid time off for COVID-related absences. But, the governor has agreed with teachers unions to introduce similar legislation.

  • More than 350 Champaign teachers rallied Monday over contract negotiations, and they’ll vote Wednesday about authorizing a strike over whether Champaign Unit 4 Schools should extend the elementary school day.

  • As businesses continue to grapple with widespread labor shortages, one Illinois researcher suggests they take a closer look at the labor reserve of people who would join the workforce under different conditions.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll check in with a nurse one year after graduating from nursing school and starting her career in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

217 Today is produced by Farrah Anderson. Reporting today contributed by Susie An, Emily Hays, Tim Shelley and Peter Medlin.

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Farrah Anderson

Farrah Anderson is a 2024 graduate of the University of Illinois. At Illinois Public Media, Anderson works as a general assignment reporter focusing on police and investigative stories.