217 Today: Insects hold our planet together — but they’re disappearing. A national study aims to learn more

Tom Wassmer points at a malaise trap, which is used to collect samples of flying insects for research. A biology professor at Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan, Wassmer is among many entomologists who say insect species are at risk.

November 8, 2023

Today’s headlines:

  • Illinois lawmakers are demanding to know how the Department of Employment Security will recoup money paid out through fraudulent unemployment claims.
  • With just days left in the fall legislative session, Republican lawmakers are urging their Democratic colleagues to preserve the Invest in Kids Act.
  • Illinois lawmakers ordered an audit of the state-run healthcare programs covering undocumented residents.
  • University of Illinois Police have requested almost a million dollars in federal funding to open a Real Time Crime Center.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn about a new study that aims to understand insect trends across North America.

217 Today is produced by Stephanie Mosqueda. Reporting contributed by Alex Degman, Mawa Iqbal, Farrah Anderson and Teresa Homsi.

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.