217 Today: Farmers may lose a USDA program that helps them adapt to climate change

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Climate projections in the Midwest include warmer, wetter springs and drier summers with hotter nights. For farmers, these changes can increase the risks of pests and plant diseases, disrupt pollination and decrease yields.
  • Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Today’s headlines: 

  • Tax season is here. And as people prepare their tax returns, some may wonder: Can artificial intelligence help me with that? 
  • Governor JB Pritzker will present his 8th budget on Wednesday amid tremendous uncertainty over federal funding.
  • A Republican State Senator from Central Illinois is proposing a series of bills he says would boost consumer protections and limit utility rate hikes.
  • A Republican State Senator in Illinois has filed a bill that would ban companies from using  groundwater in the Mahomet Aquifer for data centers.
  • Civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson Senior died this morning at age 84.

In today’s deep dive, the federal government created regional climate hubs more than a decade ago, to help producers adapt to climate change. But now funding for the climate hubs is uncertain.

217 Today is produced by Giuliana Means. Reporting today contributed by Jakia Hines, Ben Szalinski, Abisola Dahunsi, Haya Panjwani, and Rachel Cramer.

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Giuliana Means