217 Today: Some school districts are using COVID-19 aid to catch up on construction. Is your district one of them?

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Sullivan CUSD 300 Superintendent Ted Walk gives a tour of a new pre-kindergarten classroom on July 18, 2023. Walk says the infusion of federal COVID-19 aid allowed Sullivan to save up for construction projects.
  • Photo: Emily Hays/Illinois Public Media

August 1, 2023

Today’s headlines:

  • Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited central Illinois to highlight President Biden’s 2021 Infrastructure and Jobs Act.
  • An Illinois lawmaker wants to regulate the way auto insurance companies are setting their rates.
  • State Representative Mike Marron says he will not seek a fourth term in the Illinois House.
  • Farmers have been benefiting from high crop prices, but also face rising interest rates and higher costs for things like fertilizer.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn more about how COVID-19 relief money is fueling a boom in construction projects in schools.

217 Today is produced by Stephanie Mosqueda. Reporting contributed by Mawa Iqbal, Jim Meadows, Eva Tesfaye and Emily Hays.

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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.