217 Today: Investigative reporters discuss possible cancer cluster in Piatt County

Tiktok Instagram Facebook-f
A view looking north on Independence Street, just south of Marion St. in Monticello, IL on Friday, June 14, 2024.
  • Photo: Darrell Hoemann / C-U Citizen Access

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Audio Player

Today’s headlines:

  • Chris Mosier is the first trans athlete to represent the United States in an international competition and spoke about gender liberation and sports in Urbana on Saturday.
  • The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus was teaming with students and vendors last weekend to celebrate Earth Month.
  • State officials are preparing for the possibility that the ongoing national measles outbreak could spread to Illinois.
  • Shoppers can expect to pay more for chocolate Easter eggs and bunnies this year as cocoa prices have skyrocketed over the past few years.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn how community members are raising concerns about the rates of brain cancer in Piatt County, but advocates say Illinois’ public health department has been slow to investigate.

217 Today is produced by Stephanie Mosqueda. Reporting today contributed by Sam Rink, Giuliana Means, Kulsoom Khan, Anna Pope, Molly Hughes, Stephanie Orellana and Nazala Salauddin.

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.