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217 Today: Some communities buy up and forgive millions in medical debt. Is it enough?

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Cleveland Ward 13 representative Kris Harsh was one of the city council members to suggest working with the nonprofit RIP Medical Debt to cancel city residents' past-due health care debts.
  • Photo: Taylor Wizner / Ideastream Public Media

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Today’s headlines:

  • An attorney for Sonya Massey’s family says the U.S. Department of Justice is now investigating her death
  • Urbana Schools are working to source more locally grown produce thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  • Black bear sightings are rare, but not impossible in Illinois.
  • Democratic Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is not rejecting the idea of becoming Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn about how some cities in the Midwest have started buying up medical debt to help their residents.

217 Today is produced by Stephanie Mosqueda. Reporting today contributed by Mawa Iqbal, Anulika Ochuba, Jess Savage, Dave McKinney and Taylor Wizner.

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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.