217 Today: Extreme weather can leave a trail of destruction and a lasting health impact

Catherine Hillestad, the CEO of Adair County Memorial Hospital in Greenfield, Iowa, stands in the medical-surgical unit. A tornado in May damaged the entire hospital, shutting it down for months for repairs.

Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Today’s headlines:

  • As the school year kicks off, University of Illinois administrators are reminding students of their right to free speech while reminding them to stick to policy.
  • Drivers in Urbana could see the local fuel tax more than double next year.
  • Some Yankee Ridge Elementary families are excited about the new school, but some are still unsure about the change.
  • Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is trying to increase access to the court system through public libraries.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn more about the public health impact of natural disasters.

217 Today is produced by Stephanie Mosqueda. Reporting today contributed by Mae Antar, Anulika Ochuba, Stephanie Mosqueda, Mawa Iqbal and Natalie Krebs.

 

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.