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

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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.
  • Photo: Teresa Homsi / Harvest Public Media

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.

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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.