217 Today: Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021

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Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021

Today’s headlines:

  • Illinois’ violent crime rate is about 7 percent above the national average, according to new FBI data released last week.

  • Advocates for the homeless say they’re working to close a critical gap in services in Champaign County—and they’re looking for the public’s help.

  • Officials at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign say they soon won’t let unvaccinated undergraduate students access most online class materials—unless they get tested regularly for COVID-19.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll talk to the administrator of the health department in Jackson County to get answers to some frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccine booster shots.

217 Today is produced by Farrah Anderson. Reporting today contributed by Hannah Meisel, Justin Malone, Vivian La and Steph Whiteside.

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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.