217 Today: U of I dean Ruby Mendenhall is preparing to share a lifetime of writing as Urbana’s poet laureate

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Today’s headlines:

• Disability rights advocates are protesting an Illinois measure that would allow patients to take medication to end their lives.
• The next director of Illinois’ Department of Children and Family Services is telling state Senators why she’s right for the job.
• Illinois’ Senate Democratic Caucus has introduced several proposals to help with food accessibility across the state, especially in schools and food deserts.
• Illinois lawmakers are considering rules to govern how carbon emissions are captured and stored.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll hear a conversation with Urbana’s new poet laureate Ruby Mendenhall about her life and poetry.

217 Today is produced by Stephanie Mosqueda. Reporting contributed by Alex Degman, Mawa Iqbal, Jade Marceau and Reginald Hardwick.