217 Today: NPR’s student podcast challenge is looking for entries from middle and high school students

If you’re a middle or high schooler, NPR wants to hear from you for their annual student podcast challenge.

Thursday, April 13, 2023

Today’s headlines: 

  • Illinois will receive just over $67 million as part of a multi-state settlement with the e-cigarette maker Juul.
  • A federal judge in southern Illinois heard arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit challenging the state’s recent ban on many high-powered weapons and high-capacity magazines.
  • A substance use and mental health researcher at the University of Illinois says her research indicates that many drug users nationwide are using methamphetamine and opioids simultaneously.
  • Local organizations that help provide housing for new immigrant families in Champaign-Urbana are seeing an increase in need.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn more about how students can submit their own podcast to NPR for an annual competition. 

Reporting today contributed by Mawa Iqbal, Camryn Cutinello, Elisa Eaton, Luis Velasquez and Emily Hays.

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.