217 Today: Wednesday, August 4, 2021

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Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Today’s headlines:

  • Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly says he’s hopeful a new law will help slow illegal gun transfers, as universal background checks will be required for all private gun sales.

  • Local health officials are encouraging people who’d previously decided against getting the coronavirus vaccine to reconsider.

  • Bald eagle populations continue to rebound in Illinois and across the country.

  • WCIA-TV reports that Gov. JB Pritzker will announce new coronavirus protocols today, which could include a statewide mask mandate for schools.

In today’s deep dive, we learn more about a new group led by formerly incarcerated people that has launched a campaign to end what it calls “permanent punishments” for people who have been convicted of felonies.

Reporting today contributed by Hannah Meisel, Christine Herman, Jim Meadows and Vivian La.

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Brian Moline

Brian Moline is the Managing Editor of Illinois Newsroom and host of Morning Edition for Illinois Public Media/WILL. He's been with WILL since 2015, after a long stint at WDWS-AM in Champaign where he covered both news and sports for more than a decade. If you have story or interview ideas, you can reach Brian at bmoline@illinois.edu.