217 Today: Heart screenings can detect teens’ abnormalities. But what about their problems?

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Ashley Williams was inspired to provide heart screenings after Indianapolis, Ind. high schooler John Stewart collapsed during a basketball game in 1999 due to idiopathic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
  • Photo: Elizabeth Gabriel / Side Effects Public Media

Monday, April 8, 2024

Today’s headlines: 

  •  Southern Illinois towns along the line of totality are holding events and celebrations for Monday’s solar eclipse.
  • Thousands of eclipse chasers are descending on southern Illinois and Missouri hoping for a chance to see Monday’s celestial spectacle.
  • There’s a statewide advisory board that meets four times a year to figure out ways to address Illinois’ opioid crisis.
  • A first-year gymnast for the University of Illinois was one of 4 gymnasts to take home titles at the State Farm Center on Saturday night.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn more about why medical experts are debating if heart screenings that can detect abnormalities and prevent complications should be mandated.

Reporting today contributed by Madison Holcomb, Brian Munoz, Mawa Iqbal, Mae Antar and Elizabeth Gabriel.

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Farrah Anderson

Farrah Anderson is a 2024 graduate of the University of Illinois. At Illinois Public Media, Anderson works as a general assignment reporter focusing on police and investigative stories.