217 Today: Drought delivers a big blow to wildlife already grappling with disease and habitat loss

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A hand covered in a fabric glove holds up a turtle.
A student from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln holds a painted turtle from a pond in western Nebraska. Data from this turtle population showed how drought conditions may impact painted turtles, such as slowing growth and lowering survival.
  • Photo: Elizabeth Rembert / Harvest Public Media

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Today’s headlines:

  • We may see our first snow of the fall season tonight.
  • Senate Republicans are balking at plans by the Democratic majority to confirm judges before the Senate and the White House change hands.
  • Physics and art may seem unlikely to combine, but an exhibition at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign suggests otherwise.
  • The U-S Department of Justice is investigating Sangamon County after the July killing of Springfield resident Sonya Massey.
  • Illinois nursing homes that aren’t meeting the state’s minimum staffing levels will have to pay fines starting next year.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn about the long-term impacts of droughts on animals. 

217 Today is produced by Stephanie Mosqueda. Reporting today contributed by Linda Kenyon, Adelyn Mui, Mawa Iqbal and Elizabeth Rembert.

 

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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.