217 Today: The evolution of Black sacred music

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  • Photo: Courtesy of University of Illinois Black Chorus' Facebook Page

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

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Today’s headlines:

  • The University of Illinois is taking steps to make campus more bike-friendly.
  • The Illinois Secretary of State’s office has unveiled an interactive portal at its website that helps users determine if they need a REAL ID.
  • School districts in Champaign-Urbana are figuring out what to do if Immigration and Customs Enforcement comes to their doors.
  • Illinois Governor JB Pritzker proposed legislation yesterday that would allow community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees for in-demand career fields.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll listen to a conversation with Professor Ollie Watts Davis, the founder and director of the U of I’s Black Chorus.

217 Today is produced by Stephanie Mosqueda. Reporting today was contributed by Anna Koh, Emily Hays, Isabela Nieto and Kennedy Vincent.

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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.