217 Today: Federal drought relief policies leave some farmers out to dry

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Wilburn Harris owns about 70 head of cattle in Drexel, Missouri. He would have had to sell many last year if not for federal drought relief.
  • Photo: Harshawn Ratapal / KBIA

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Today’s headlines:

  • The American Red Cross is asking people to donate blood to help keep the national supply stocked after Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused the cancellation of hundreds of blood drives in recent weeks. 
  • A display outside of the Illini Union on U of I’s Urbana campus Monday featured artwork calling for awareness of Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas last year.
  • Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton says she wants to keep communication open with Lincoln-area residents who are upset about plans to close the Logan Correctional Center.
  • A researcher at the University of Chicago has been awarded the Nobel Prize in economics.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn how some federal drought relief policies leave some farmers out to dry.

217 Today is produced by Stephanie Mosqueda. Reporting today contributed by Elissa Eaton, Adelyn Mui, Lisa Kurian Philip, Eric Stock and Harshawn Ratanpal.

 

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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.