217 Today: Chicago Fulbright scholar ‘embarrassed to be American’ after Trump cut funding for her work in Africa

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Dr. Nicole Williams poses with a student in Uganda.
  • Photo: Provided

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

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Today’s headlines:

  • A portion of North Vermilion Street near Main Street in downtown Danville will be closed to traffic starting tomorrow for the demolition of the Vermilion County Courthouse Annex.
  • A new U.S. Supreme Court decision could impact teacher training programs in Illinois. 
  • There’s a bill moving through Springfield that would limit “crime-free” housing laws in Illinois
  • The Trump administration wants to rewrite a rule that governs what the Clean Water Act protects.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn how a Chicago Fulbright scholar sees firsthand how President Trump’s efforts to slash government spending are changing how the world sees Americans.

217 Today is produced by Stephanie Mosqueda. Reporting today contributed by Jim Meadows, Isabela Nieto, Mawa Iqbal, Kate Grumke and Anna Savchenko.

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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.