217 Today: Midwest offers untapped potential for maple syrup production

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Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Today’s headlines:

  • Governor J.B. Pritzker says the state is monitoring the latest COVID-19 subvariant, Omicron BA.2, which is picking up speed in Illinois.
  • U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois says he was compelled by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s plea to a joint session of Congress last week.
  • Lawmakers in Springfield are attempting to address stigmas around mental illness and substance abuse by paying employers to hire those in recovery.
  • Illinois has launched a new initiative to combat opioid overdose deaths. The State of Illinois Overdose Action Plan, or SOAP, will distribute more Narcan overdose kits.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll take a look at the potential for growth in the maple syrup market across the lower Midwest, including Illinois.

217 Today is produced by Farrah Anderson. Reporting today contributed by Alex Degman, Joe Deacon, Emily Hays and Katie Peikes.

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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.