217 Today: Big box grocers dominate some markets. That impacts small grocers and food deserts

Tiktok Instagram Facebook-f
Many prices at small independent grocery stores are higher than their competitors.v
  • Photo: Elizabeth Gabriel / Side Effects Public Media

Friday, December 20, 2024

Today’s headlines: 

  • President-elect Donald Trump has nominated two University of Illinois alumni to serve in his cabinet.
  • The Illinois State Police is overseeing investigations into a triple homicide in Mahomet and the death of a suspect in the case after a shootout with police in the Chicago suburb of Berwyn.
  • Illinois U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth met with Northern Illinois University leaders this week in Washington.
  • Defense lawyers for former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan called their first witness in his federal corruption trial.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn about some of the challenges independent grocers face in low-income areas and food deserts.

217 Today is produced by Stephanie Mosqueda. Reporting today contributed by Emily Hays, Jim Meadows, Peter Medlin, Dave McKinney and Elizabeth Gabriel.

WILL and the Illinois Newsroom are committed to bringing you in-depth, relevant coverage that keeps you informed and engages you with our community and state. Join with thousands of others to keep this important public media-based resource available to all. Donate today >>

Stephanie Mosqueda

Stephanie Mosqueda is a senior majoring in journalism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with minors in Spanish and public relations. She is the 217 Today producer and a reporter for the Illinois Student Newsroom.