217 Today: Despite a critical deadline extension, Illinois craft cannabis businesses are worried

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An Illinois resident shows the different stages of ripeness of her cannabis plants.
  • Photo: Emily Hays/Illinois Newsroom

Friday, March 3, 2023

Today’s headlines: 

  • The state of Illinois has launched a website for residents to track the progress of a newly created Reparations Commission.
  • Following a year of declines – the state’s economic growth rate increased slightly last month. 
  • Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day, a University of Illinois tradition with a history of heavy drinking, is not expected to draw an increased police presence this weekend.
  • The Fighting Illini men’s basketball team defeated the Michigan Wolverines Thursday night in double overtime.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn more about an extension the State Department of Agriculture granted craft cannabis businesses in Illinois.

217 Today is produced by Farrah Anderson. Reporting today contributed by Claudia Morrell, Jim Meadows, Elissa Eaton, Colin Hislope and Alex Degman.

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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.