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217 Today: Drunk driving costs the U.S. billions in medical expenses and lives lost. One school uses a simulation to raise awareness

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Students at Westfield High School participated in impaired driving simulations led by law enforcement officials. It's part of an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of driving under the influence of substances. While there isn't enough research supporting the efficacy of these hands-on activities, researchers say they could prove more helpful than abstinence-only methods, which typically involve scare tactics.
  • Photo: Elizabeth Gabriel / Side Effects Public Media

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Today’s headlines:

  • Despite community members speaking out against it, the Urbana City Council voted to increase its police force by four last night.
  • Champaign-Urbana is home to around 6,000 Congolese people – to celebrate their presence, one Congolese man is starting a new annual African festival.
  • Illinois’ state climatologist says there’s no strong, detectable link between climate change and recent dust storms that have caused havoc on Interstate 55.
  • Two years ago, the nation’s highest court overturned Roe versus Wade, leaving abortion access up to the states.
  • Last week, President Biden announced a plan to allow some non-citizen spouses of U.S. citizens to stay in the country while they apply for permanent residency.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn about one Indiana school’s effort to raise awareness about driving under the influence among students.

217 Today is produced by Stephanie Mosqueda. Reporting today contributed by Mae Antar, Ryan Denham, Mawa Iqbal and Elizabeth Gabriel.

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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.