217 Today: Local Muslims and Arabs have anxiety and aspirations for a second Trump term

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University of Illinois students protest and hold a study in at Grainger Library. Some students wore Kuffiyehs and put up posters on laptops and chairs.
  • Photo: Mae Antar / IPM News

Thursday, January 9, 2025

Today’s headlines:

  • Advocates in Illinois are concerned that the incoming Trump administration could pose a threat to the rights of transgender people.
  • Champaign voters will once again decide this spring whether to approve a property tax increase to help maintain the city’s only low-barrier homeless shelter.
  • A measure to confiscate guns from people who have an order of protection against them has passed in the Illinois legislature.
  • The number 13 overall Fighting Illini men’s basketball team won at home last night.

In today’s deep dive, we will look at how local Arabs and Muslims are viewing a second Trump administration and the conflict in the Middle East.

217 Today is produced by Stephanie Mosqueda. Reporting today contributed by Arjun Thakkar, Anulika Ochuba, Alex Degman and Mae Antar.

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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.