217 Today: Illinois remains a place where transgender people can receive care in the Midwest

Nurse MJ Hanlon prepares a blood pressure monitor at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District. Hanlon is trans and said she doesn’t feel safe traveling to many states around Illinois.

Friday, May 12, 2023

Today’s headlines: 

  • The Illinois House of Representatives passed four measures aimed at protecting and expanding access to reproductive healthcare this week.
  • The Illinois House has passed a measure to let regular citizens bring the gun industry to court in certain instances.
  • The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation will hold its next social equity lottery this month.
  • A fire ravaged three buildings in downtown Gibson City Thursday. 

In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn more about how Illinois is continuing to provide care for transgender people despite bills targeting them in neighboring Midwest states.

Reporting today contributed by Mawa Iqbal, Alex Degman, Mae Antar, Jim Meadows and Owen Henderson.

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.