217 Today: Health problems from alcohol use soared in the Midwest during the pandemic

By Brian Moline and Farrah Anderson
Jun 6, 2022

Monday, June 6, 2022

Today’s headlines:

A coal plant in the Chicago suburb of Waukegan is slated to close this month after operating for almost a century. But local activists and officials say the plant will stay with Waukegan residents until its owner removes two “ponds” of coal ash from the shores of Lake Michigan.
Three candidates are in the running to become the next executive director of the Greater Community AIDS Project.
The national bicycle shortage continues to challenge local bike shops. Although the industry is slowly recovering, bike and bike part prices continue to increase.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn how pandemic alcohol use has accelerated health trends already taking place in the Midwest.

217 Today is produced by Farrah Anderson. Reporting today contributed by Sydney Wood, Caroline Kubzansky and Natalie Krebs.

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