217 Today: After fatal shootings, Rantoul police recommended more training. They just sent one officer to a gun range

The Rantoul Police Department failed to follow through on recommendations to further train officers on how to use force after the city’s first two fatal shootings.

Monday, February 5, 2024

Today’s headlines: 

  • U.S. Senator Dick Durbin is promoting federal legislation to crack down on social media companies that allow online abuse and mistreatment of children.
  • An Illinois nonprofit is getting $160 million from the National Science Foundation to study new, more efficient ways to remove “forever chemicals” from tap water.
  • The University of Illinois’ men’s basketball team pulled out a victory after blowing a double-digit lead late in regulation.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn more about how the Rantoul Police Department still hasn’t implemented any department-wide trainings after the village’s first-ever fatal shootings by police.

Reporting today contributed by Alex Degman, David Schuster and Farrah Anderson.

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.