217 Today: UIUC graduate to become first Black professor teaching manga in the US

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Thursday, April 4, 2024

Today’s headlines:

  • Members of Illinois’ hospitality industry are rallying hard against an effort to eliminate the state’s tip credit for tipped workers.
  • The Democratic National Convention will be in Chicago later this summer. Planners say they want the event to be considerate of the environment.
  • The not-for-profit parent of WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times announced layoffs at both news organizations.
  • The Fighting Illini women’s basketball team won the inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament against the Villanova Wildcats.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll listen to a conversation with manga artist Kofi Bazzell Smith about his latest and final exhibit at the Krannert Art Museum.

217 Today is produced by Stephanie Mosqueda. Reporting contributed by Mawa Iqbal, Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco, Dave McKinney Colin Hislope 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.