Friday November 13, 2020
Today’s headlines:
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Governor JB Pritzker is warning of another possible stay-at-home order for Illinois as Coronavirus stats keep climbing.
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Today is the last day for in-person classes at the Champaign Unit Four and Urbana school districts until January. Both districts say they’re switching to remote instruction only, starting Monday per recommendations from the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District.
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Meanwhile, Carle is announcing new restrictions for visitors beginning today. They will allow no visitors for patients at Carle Hospital, except under extenuating circumstances.
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As for the numbers, the state of Illinois set new records yesterday for the number of new COVID-19 cases — and the number of people hospitalized with the disease.
In today’s deep dive, as COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise across Illinois, we’ll hear from Decatur Memorial Hospital’s Chief Medical Officer to see how they’re coping. He talks with Illinois Newsroom’s Christine Herman.
217 Today is produced by Olivia Butts and hosted by Brian Moline. Reporting today contributed by Hannah Meisel, Jim Meadows, and Christine Herman.
Thursday November 12, 2020
Today’s headlines:
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Illinois set another record yesterday for COVID-19 cases. The state Department of Public Health reported more than 12,600 cases and 145 deaths, the highest fatality level since May.
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Cash bond could be eliminated in Illinois if a push by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus is successful.
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Voters in 23 counties have passed advisory referendums supporting separate statehood for downstate Illinois. Twenty counties passed the question in last week’s election alone.
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A survey of IHSA schools shows a majority of respondents don’t plan to play basketball over the winter. Only about three dozen say they plan to start the season on time. More than 200 other schools are still undecided.
In today’s deep dive, we’ll hear from the administrator of the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Champaign County, across Illinois, and throughout the country.
217 Today is produced by Olivia Butts and hosted by Brian Moline. Reporting today contributed by Maureen McKinney, Eric Stock, and Jim Meadows.
Wednesday November 11, 2020
Today’s headlines:
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COVID-19 patients are filling hospital beds in Illinois at levels close to the state’s peak in coronavirus infections this past spring with no signs of slowing.
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Two regions in central Illinois are seeing COVID hospitalization rates more than three times the amount they experienced in the spring.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced the number of Veterans Day activities this year. But some will still be held, including a program in downtown Urbana this afternoon.
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Five more people in Champaign County have died from COVID-19 since Monday (11/9).The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is now reporting a total of 37 deaths from the virus.
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The University of Illinois’ Urbana campus is urging all faculty and staff to increase testing from once to twice per week due to a surge in cases among campus employees.
In today’s deep dive, with men dominating the farming world, farm equipment is designed to be used by male farmers. Illinois Newsroom’s Dana Cronin will tell us what’s being done to help female farmers.
217 Today is produced by Olivia Butts and hosted by Brian Moline. Reporting today contributed by Hannah Meisel, Sean Crawford, Jim Meadows, and Dana Cronin.
Tuesday November 10, 2020
Today’s headlines:
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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is blaming COVID-19’s sharp resurgence in part on local officials’ lax enforcement of state rules.
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The City of Urbana is exploring a new geothermal energy program to help de-carbonize heating.
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During a Board of Education meeting last night, Champaign Unit 4 Schools officials discussed plans to return middle and high school students to some form of in-person instruction come January.
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Champaign County announced 40 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, for a total of more than 7,100. Currently, there are 420 active cases of the virus and 32 total deaths.
In today’s deep dive, Indiana’s state prisons have been plagued by staffing issues for years. But the Miami Correctional Facility suffers the most, and the pandemic has only made staffing issues worse.
217 Today is produced by Olivia Butts and hosted by Brian Moline. Reporting today contributed by Hannah Meisel, Lecia Bushak, Lee Gaines and Jake Harper.
Monday November 9, 2020
Today’s headlines:
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The outgoing and incoming representatives in Illinois’ 15th congressional district have differing opinions about the news of Joe Biden’s election as president.
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Students at the University of Illinois say they are breathing a sigh of relief that the 2020 presidential election seems to have reached an end.
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The number of confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases continued to mount over the weekend in Illinois, with more than 22,000 cases reported over the weekend. The state’s seven-day case positivity rate has continued to grow, and is now at 10.6%.
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Champaign County reported three deaths linked to COVID-19 over the weekend, for a total of 32 deaths due to the coronavirus since the pandemic began.
In today’s deep dive, as the harvest season comes to a close, there’s one midwest farmer looking at harnessing the most modern technology for his livestock.
217 Today is produced by Olivia Butts and hosted by Brian Moline. Reporting today contributed by Jim Meadows, Farrah Anderson, and Amy Mayer.